MEP003A starter not engaging !!Fixed!!

[Rumblerommy]

*Edit*: there is no issue any longer. The cables were not on the correct battery terminals. She starts right up now!

First post.

First off, big thanks to everyone posting their experience and answering other’s posts. Information taught me a lot about the beast MEP003a.

I bought a 34 hour 1989 MEP003a off a municipal auction. Changed the oil filter, oil change, new spin off fuel filters, drained the fuel tank, cleaned all connections to starter and solenoid, and two new 600cca batteries from Walmart for $69 a piece (great batteries for the price). Finally ready to start first start, and nothing. No starter noise/action, only fuel solenoid activating. Tried knocking the starter and still nothing. Looked through the starter lockout, VR, relays in control panel, added more diesel. Nothing. Thought through everything I did and the almost nonexistent amount of modifications or tinkering this unit went through before me and started from square one. Downloaded the manuals from other members posts on here. Went through to find battery schematic and guess what….the positive and negative wires were attached oppositely. Red collar on one of the cables made me assume positive connection… I hope this helps anyone with similar issue when first receiving their unit. I know now.

I also tried jumpering the solenoid at the start and no spark. Starter moved freely and bendix too.

*Edit*: there is no issue any longer. The cables were not on the correct battery terminals. She starts right up now!

 

[Scoobyshep]

First post.

First off, big thanks to everyone posting their experience and answering other’s posts. Information taught me a lot about the beast MEP003a.

I bought a 34 hour 1989 MEP003a off a municipal auction. Changed the oil filter, oil change, new spin off fuel filters, drained the fuel tank, cleaned all connections to starter and solenoid, and two new 600cca batteries from Walmart for $69 a piece (great batteries for the price). Finally ready to start first start, and nothing. No starter noise/action, only fuel solenoid activating. Tried knocking the starter and still nothing. Looked through the starter lockout, VR, relays in control panel, added more diesel. Nothing. Thought through everything I did and the almost nonexistent amount of modifications or tinkering this unit went through before me and started from square one. Downloaded the manuals from other members posts on here. Went through to find battery schematic and guess what….the positive and negative wires were attached oppositely. Red collar on one of the cables made me assume positive connection… I hope this helps anyone with similar issue when first receiving their unit. I know now.

I also tried jumpering the solenoid at the start and no spark. Starter moved freely and bendix too.

from your description, id say starter. But to avoid jumping to conclusions lest do some metering.

From the power stud on the starter to chassis

when in start, chassis to trigger wire.

let me know what you get.

 

[Rumblerommy]

from your description, id say starter. But to avoid jumping to conclusions lest do some metering.

From the power stud on the starter to chassis

when in start, chassis to trigger wire.

let me know what you get.

She’s starting now. Didn’t make it clear that she starts right up after connecting the cables to the correct terminals on the batteries. I had them reversed initially.

 

[Scoobyshep]

She’s starting now. Didn’t make it clear that she starts right up after connecting the cables to the correct terminals on the batteries. I had them reversed initially.

Oh good to hear. While you are at it, look at tb4 in the control cube, on screw 3 is there a wire marked P59E16? There's a mod that should be done. If it's there it needs to move, otherwise there's a risk of starter burnout

 

[Rumblerommy]

Thanks for that tip. I will check in the morning. Where should it go?

 

[Scoobyshep]

Tb4 12, 13, or 14. All the ones I've ever done I've been able to clip some zip ties bring the wire up and over around to the left and down to the bottom fairly easily

 

[Rumblerommy]

Oh good to hear. While you are at it, look at tb4 in the control cube, on screw 3 is there a wire marked P59E16? There's a mod that should be done. If it's there it needs to move, otherwise there's a risk of starter burnout

Found a neat one pager. Thank you!

 

[Scoobyshep]

Yep. That's the exact writeup I had in mind.

 

[Rumblerommy]

Tb4 12, 13, or 14. All the ones I've ever done I've been able to clip some zip ties bring the wire up and over around to the left and down to the bottom fairly easily

There are only two wires on TB4-3: P56D16 and P59C16. No “E”.

 

[Scoobyshep]

Iirc there are only 2 wires normally, so it sounds like it still needs done. I can check when I get off work

 

[Guyfang]

You want me to make this thread just go away?

 

[Rumblerommy]

You want me to make this thread just go away?

Maybe after scoobyshep responds, but I feel like this minor error of incorrect battery connection should be on here for others to see. Unless after many searches I missed a thread that documented that scenario.

 

[peapvp]

Before some folks start chasing their tales,

the wire mod P59E16 was implemented on the majority of 002A / 003A during routine depot level maintenance many moons ago.

Before chasing down this wire, check your Plaque on top of the control cubicle. This Plaque was changed when the mod was implemented and the newer plaque was installed.

 

[Scoobyshep]

Before some folks start chasing their tales,

the wire mod P59E16 was implemented on the majority of 002A / 003A during routine depot level maintenance many moons ago.

Before chasing down this wire, check your Plaque on top of the control cubicle. This Plaque was changed when the mod was implemented and the newer plaque was installed.

View attachment 935407

I must have won the lottery on them then, 90% I've touched didn't have it done

 

[Scoobyshep]

Okay at my shop looking at these things and ones that haven't had it done had one version of schematic and the one that had it done already has a different version see attached the one that had it done looks like they just etched a couple of extra lines into it. Either way ones that were previously done or ones that I've done tb4-3 has only had one wire once completed

 

[Scoobyshep]

Before some folks start chasing their tales,

the wire mod P59E16 was implemented on the majority of 002A / 003A during routine depot level maintenance many moons ago.

Before chasing down this wire, check your Plaque on top of the control cubicle. This Plaque was changed when the mod was implemented and the newer plaque was installed.

View attachment 935407

Thanks for pointing that out, I never had the 2 close enough to notice

 

[Guyfang]

The problem with this MWO was that TACOM, the forerunner of CECOM, did it on the cheap. It was put out to folks that it needed to be done, in the P.S. magazine. So it was hit or miss. Lots of miss. Lots of folks never ever opened a P.S. mag in their life, sad to say. And they did not tell the units to upgrade the schematic plate. Few 002A and 003A gen sets ever went to rebuild, and no one ever looked at the plates. Why? Has nothing to do with running and pulling a load. Normally, when a MWO comes out, it comes with a real MWO document, instructions and ALL needed parts. To include rivits for a data plate. I have mentioned it several times here in the forum, and put the P.S. article in the TM section. But its easy to forget about it, as you can see if you LOOK at gen sets. In the late 70's this was a big problem, but money was tight, I guess.

 

[peapvp]

The problem with this MWO was that TACOM, the forerunner of CECOM, did it on the cheap. It was put out to folks that it needed to be done, in the P.S. magazine. So it was hit or miss. Lots of miss. Lots of folks never ever opened a P.S. mag in their life, sad to say. And they did not tell the units to upgrade the schematic plate. Few 002A and 003A gen sets ever went to rebuild, and no one ever looked at the plates. Why? Has nothing to do with running and pulling a load. Normally, when a MWO comes out, it comes with a real MWO document, instructions and ALL needed parts. To include rivits for a data plate. I have mentioned it several times here in the forum, and put the P.S. article in the TM section. But its easy to forget about it, as you can see if you LOOK at gen sets. In the late 70's this was a big problem, but money was tight, I guess.

Guy, I know you are getting old and you miss sleeping on top of a running 006A, but this was published in September 1990