John Deere 4200, 4300, 4400 Thermistor & Tractor Failing to Start. Part 2

[@JohnDoe-ny1wp]

My 4500 had the same solenoid/thermister problems. I finally got tired of it and invented a simple fix. The tractor will start WITHOUT the solenoid in but you have to push lever in to cut it off and it leaks oil badly. I cut the mounting plate off of the solenoid and a friend of mine machined a cam on it connected to a choke rod to push pin in to stop engine. I've ran this setup almost 3 years now with no issues or leaks. We made another one for my son-in-law. We're working on the patent now.

[@DavidRAllen-il3bx]

i bypassed my thermistor today on my John Deere 4500 tractor with a spring loaded toggle switch and it fixed the problem that I was having of the tractor just turning over and over but not starting. It's starting perfect now. Thanks for your help

[@Katya5cat]

Over the years I replaced about 2 dozen of those thermistors before I found another issue with my tractor. Aside from the fact that the thermistor goes bad there is also a diode block in the fuse panel. On older models they looked just like a relay. You can see that it has a different diagram than on the cover than of the relays. These go bad too. They are easy enough to diagnose and replace. I only found this out when the thermistor replacement didn't solve my problem. I found that moving the fuse panel made the diode block work again by accident. Turned out there was a bad connection inside the diode block and it made intermittent contact whenever I replaced the thermistor. It would work for a while and the lose contact. I have no idea when it went bad. I spent many a cold cold night replacing thermistors. I never kept any of the old thermistors but I have a sneaking suspicion that most if not all of them were good.

[@timberlinetactical]

Wow that's frustrating but glad you got it fixed!

[@jeanettebush2224]

UPDATE !! IDID IT you are awesome ! 🙌 Bro you make it look easy… ughhh lol 😂

[@MikeOrazzi]

Sounds like the same problem I'm having with my 4600. Thanks for the info.

[@timberlinetactical]

You’re welcome!

[@pulsedc30]

Thank you for the fix it worked perfectly on my 4600. Gary from the UK

[@timberlinetactical]

Gary Shilling that’s great to hear Gary! They’re good tractors I think this was just a stupid design.

[@pulsedc30]

@@timberlinetactical Yes love my 4600. this is second time the thermistor has played up and has been replaced. A lot easier with a switch and it makes a good anti theft device

[@timberlinetactical]

Gary Shilling I thought about hiding the button for that exact purpose.

[@steveclark2719]

so if i take the 2 wires that connected to the thermistor an connect them to a togle switch or a blow horn button that'll take care of that problem ??

[@timberlinetactical]

It should assuming the issue is correctly diagnosed and you get the correct wires.

[@scottf.3808]

Good DIY vid and info....Good stuff....

[@kellybybee6813]

Thanks for this video it did help me fix this issue now I have another. Tractors run until I place it in gear or engage PTO. I have jumped the seat safety switch and checked and cleaned all fuses. The fuse box has a lot of corrosion so I sprayed with WD 40 and cleaned it. Same issue. I have not checked the Transmission neutral safety switch yet. What puzzles me is the PTO or setting the sync reverser in forward or reverse. ANy ideas?

[@timberlinetactical]

Well it sounds to me like this is almost certainly a safety switch issue. You need to get a wiring diagram for your specific model and trace the components to see what could be causing it. Im more inclined to think that your particular model tractor has one of the little computers that all safeties feed into which is likely what has gone bad since you're having issues with multiple safeties. Basically the shutoff solenoid appears to be getting sent a signal that an unsafe condition has occurred and is killing the fuel. Might check the condition of your bypass connectors on the seat if you haven't done that and make sure corrosion hasn't got in there or that there is a break in that connection somewhere. Just put a meter on it and see if you have continuity. Past that I'll have to think on it a bit and repost if anything hits me.

[@WaltWW]

I have the same problem on my 3203. Everything works but kills engine when shifting from neutral. I also checked my seat switch and that is not the problem. What ended up fixing yours?

[@lindagilmartin5682]

My problem is that when I turn the key the engine doesn’t crank, I just get a clicking noise on the right side. I believe there may be a safety switch, perhaps on the transmission, but I can’t get to it. How do I remove the green plastic panel. Thanks if you can help, love your videos. My tractor is a 4210.

[@timberlinetactical]

Linda Gilmartin most models have screws around the permitter of the panel and some spring loaded lock bolts. That sounds like maybe your starter has gone bad. When it’s the safety they generally won’t do anything. The click youre hearing is likely the fuel solenoid which wouldn’t active if the safeties were stopping it or if the thermistor was bad. Because starters are inexpensive I would probably swap it. This assumes you’ve tested the battery and know it’s good and have checked the wiring to the starter. You can test starters but they’re not that much and usually swap in twenty minutes so I personally just change them.

[@markcrook5935]

Thanks for doing this.....this is great!! I sent you back an email. Thanks for responding!

[@timberlinetactical]

Thank you for watching. Hope I was able to help!

[@MrNteresting]

Maybe silly q. Why can’t we just bypass it altogether instead of a normally opens button switch I have same issue on my 4300. Thank u

[@timberlinetactical]

Not silly at all. Couple reasons off the top of my head. first it would overheat the solenoid by supplying constant power to it. And second you wouldn’t be able to use the key to shutoff the tractor. Thanks for watching!

[@MrNteresting]

@@timberlinetactical New Q: Have u had it heard issue of tractor won’t start or make sound until u kick(adjust) forward hydro pedal just right?

[@timberlinetactical]

@@MrNteresting I haven’t but that’s almost certainly a safety switch somewhere either going bad or Gavin a dirty connection so should be fairly simple to fix

[@frodrickfronkensteen9241]

Anybody know if a 2013 JD 3038e utilizes a thermistor? Please!? My 3038e ran just fine one afternoon. I parked it and shut it down with no issues. The next day... it will crank but just won't turn over. Fuel line is good. Fuel pump is humming. It's not the seat safety switch. Not PTO sensor.| Before I run this thing into JD's service... and have them scam me out of thousand$ for what could be an easy cheap .98 cent part swap, I need to know what to look for. Anybody?

[@jhscheppele2448]

Quit talking about it and get to the point, 2 videos and we still don’t have a clue.

[@MichaelRHead-zv2zf]

The video doesn't really start until the 330 mark. we don't really care why you haven't posted a video in a while. just get to the point already.

[@timberlinetactical]

Great insight man. Love how rude you can be anonymously over the internet. I sincerely apologize for wasting 3.5 minutes of your time to give out free information. I hope my next video is up to your satisfaction... or maybe next time you’ll just say thanks for taking the time to post this information and your lessons learned at no charge to the rest of us. By the way KZbin numbers actually show that a channels base does care. So not only are you rude and entitled but you’re also wrong.

[@MichaelRHead-zv2zf]

@@timberlinetactical i forget how sensitive people are nowadays soo, im really sorry. it was a good video. you're a good looking guy. i like your tattoos. thanks for the information in the video. i will subscribe and like and all that. donate too if you would like me to.

[@MichaelRHead-zv2zf]

@@timberlinetactical and what do you mean anonymously over the internet? I literally have my first name middle initial and last name posted. Nothing about me is anonymous along with my picture. Hell you can even look at one of my videos of my remote control lawn mower and it shows my house and where I live.

[@DanPark68]

Dude sure does talk alot. Could have explained the fix in 3 min! Not 5 part video series

[@BenDover-ks1hb]

These tractors blow, if this tractor was mine I'd set it on fire and walk away.

[@timberlinetactical]

No you wouldn’t

[@BenDover-ks1hb]

Yes I would! I hate these pieces of trash!

[@JohnDoe-ny1wp]

@@BenDover-ks1hb You'd probably just Ben Dover.