Fuel Shut off Solenoid Diagnosis

Things you should know about a fuel shut off solenoid

The fuel shut off solenoid is part of the combustion system of a diesel engine. Diesel engines use compression instead of spark combustion and there is no way to shut down the engine through the ignition system. The fuel shut off solenoid shuts off the fuel supply to shut down the engine when the key is turned to the off position. It is located ahead of the injection pump, just before the upper intake manifold. If your fuel shut off solenoid fails, it should be replaced immediately to keep your diesel engine running. And how do you know if your diesel solenoid is bad?

Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Shut Off Solenoid

1. Smoke

Sometimes you will notice smoke coming from the engine. Meanwhile, there will be an annoying noise followed by slow acceleration. You won’t find this problem in the latest engine types, but if you have an older diesel engine, you should be alert, it's a symptoms of a bad fuel shut off solenoid. There is no better option that replacing the solenoid.

 

2. Engine shut off

When you're using lawn cart, if it shuts off suddenly, one of the main reasons is a bad fuel shut off in the solenoid. it's a symptoms of a bad fuel shut off solenoid. It usually happens when electromagnetic components are not getting enough power. So, when you try to start the engine, it shuts down without any prior warning. When the solenoid fail closed, the solenoid doesn’t open, therefore, you cannot get any fuel into the engine and it will not run. And when the solenoid Fail open,the solenoid will not close and therefore will not shut off the fuel. The engine, if running, will keep running. Once the solenoid fails, it can be difficult to start the car because your engine is not getting the proper fuel. To fix this, simply replace the solenoid with a brand new one.

 

3. Cold starts

There are many brands of fuel shut off solenoids, like kubota fuel shut off solenoid, fuel shut off solenoid for kohler engine, john deere fuel shut off solenoid. Poor engine starts can also be one of the symptoms of a bad fuel shut off solenoid. When you try to turn on your lawn mower or tractor a poor engine starts happens. It’s recommended that you clean the solenoid and try restarting the engine. If this issue still happens, you can claim the warranty or buy a new one.

 

4. Unstable idling

When there is a bad fuel shut off, you will see it being erratic while idling your garden cart. It can be annoying at times when you're idling your lawn mower and it will automatically turn off, or you will hear some sound, it's a symptoms of a bad fuel shut off solenoid. Simply replacing the solenoid or cleaning it properly should solve the problem.

 

5. Rushing noise

If you hear a harsh sound a few seconds after starting the vehicle, it's time to check your solenoid. Generally, this rushing noise doesn't last long but if you neglect it, the problem can worsen and eventually cause the engine to shut down completely. What you need t do is to clean the solenoid, or make sure it's not stuck. If you can't secure it into the correct position, a mechanic is a good potion.

 

6. Troublesome acceleration

If your fuel shut off solenoid goes out, you may experience a rough acceleration when riding a lawn mower. Someone did test to prove it. They used a lawn mower with a bad shut off solenoid, when they put a 50lb load, the mower had a hesitant acceleration. Meanwhile, the average speed of the vehicle is lower than usual. This usually happens when a solenoid sticks when controlling fuel flow. You can fix it manually by adjusting the solenoid or turn to a mechanic.

 

These are some of the main symptoms of a bad fuel shut off solenoid, hope this helps.