Cat help

[russholio]

Got a question for you Cat guys....long story, but I'll give the Reader's Digest version. Buddy of mine has an 04 Sabercat 600 EFI. First time trying to start it this year, was summerized in the spring. New battery, new plugs. Turns over, getting spark, but won't start. Plugs appear to be dry. So it seems to be not getting fuel. The fuses that he checked are all good. Are there some hidden fuses and/or relay(s) that he should be looking for? Is there something simple he's overlooking, or is it definitely a deeper issue that needs to be taken care of at the dealer?

Thanks for any help!

[dofo1]

I am no Cat man by any means but I have heard that there is a way to prime the fuel pump by "hot wiring" it, if it was me I think I might try pouring a little gas in the spark plug holes and seeing if it will run. You might have to do this a couple of times.

[russholio]

Yeah, the guy at the repair shop (not a dealer so he didn't have the means of hooking up to the ECU to do a diagnosis) suggested that. But, for some reason my buddy didn't want to do it. He seems resigned to the fact that there's nothing he can do and will just have to take it in (despite my advice to try all the simple stuff first before paying somebody big $$ to fix it).

[stealthv]

Find the wires to the fuel pump and hook them up to a 12V battery (lawn tractor, vehicle, etc.) or in a pinch, use a 9V battery like in a smoke detector.

Sounds like the pump lost its prime - The battery trick will short circuit the pain of pulling and pulling the rope.

[russholio]

Thanks for the help. I passed it on to him, and he does have a shop manual and says he knows where the wires for the fuel pump are, so he should be able to handle it. How long does he need to leave it connected, or will he be able to tell by the sound when the pump is primed?

[stealthv]

When the pump primes, the pitch will change (pump working harder) and you'll hear the fuel return splashing in the tank.

[fcat700]

Tap the injectors lightly with a screwdriver handle then try to start.

[ezra]

there are also pop off valves in the tank reach in the tank and squeeze the pop off valve and make sure it is clicking open and closed. if they are stuck closed you cant get fuel.but I would also try dumping fuel in plug hole first.

[russholio]

Ok.....my buddy is reporting that fuel in the cylinders didn't work. Said it didn't even fire. Any other ideas? Time to take it in?

[dvision]

My F7 will not start unless there is a certain amount of gas in there. I sucked all the gas out last year and dumped 1/2 gallon in and about wore the rope out trying to get it to light. It had to go in for a fuel tank replacement anyway so I loaded it the hard way and the dealer told me I didn't have enough gas to get it started. I did the same thing this year, but after 20 or 30 pulls remembered and dumped 2 gallons in and it fired quickly.

[sabercat]

X2 the fuel. I have learned that the hard way. (lots of pulls)

[russholio]

Well, my buddy gave up after one attempt at putting a little fuel in the cylinders (ignoring all the other advice) and took it to the dealer. The verdict? The fuel system needed to be primed. I don't know yet what he paid, but he could have done it for free. Or taken me up on my offer to do it for half of whatever the dealer would charge! But he said I didn't know what I was doing (as if it were rocket science), so I guess now his wallet will be a few (or many) dollars lighter.

[firefighter1]

I had the same problem and took my crossfire to the dealer and he hooked a 12 volt battery up the fuel pump and it primed the system. One pull and it started. He stated because I kept it outside that summer it probably got moisture in it and maybe had a little rust inside it. He did not charge me though which was nice. Good lessen learned.