Fischer Panda 4200 won't start

[mattttt25]

2013 Fischer Panda 4200. Was running fine this season. Over the weekend, I started it and put a load on it. 30 seconds later, it stopped. No alarms on the control panel. Would not restart.

- No alarms.
- Has fuel and coolant.
- When energized at control panel, clicking occurs at engine (it always did this, I believe it is the fuel pump priming).
- When start button is pushed, it sounds like the starter is spinning, but the engine does not crank.

Any ideas?

 

[Heartly Fishing]

Make sure,sure, sure your battery that starts the genny is up to spec, a weak battery will do as you explain.

 

[wspitler]

All a diesel needs is fuel and air and a good spin to start. If it shut down on it's own, look to the fuel shutoff valve and check corrosion on the electrical connection to the valve. When you shut it down or it shuts down on an alarm, the valve simply closes. It is powered open, so if it loses power for any reason, the fuel stops. If the starter spins, but doesn't engage the flywheel, it probably corroded at the bendix and needs some lubrication. The clicking is typically the fuel pump sound, which is normal. There is also a starter relay that can be a problem, but the starter would not spin if that relay was bad. A good hot battery is critical to starting a diesel as Heartly mentioned. Fuel is likely the issue, filter or electrical shutoff valve/relay most common. One additional unlikely cause: There is at least one fault that causes an auto shutdown that will not show as a fault on the panel. I seem to remember that a generator (not engine) overheat will cause an auto shutdown and show no panel indications.

 

[jsoucy]

I am having a similar problem with the Fischer Panda on my 2007 GW Marlin 300 that I purchased in April 2024. The generator worked fine at survey and I used it a few times really just to run it, which is what the surveyor and broker suggested.

I was out on the water a few weeks ago and started it to use a 110 outlet for a few minutes. Stopped it. Then about 30 minutes later started it again to use the microwave. It started fine, ran for 5 minutes, then died. I thought it was out of fuel.

But now it won’t start at all. Nothing happens when I press the On/Off button on the panel. The hour meter is not showing anything now either.

Any suggestions? I have called 2 diesel shops and haven’t gotten a call back yet.

 

[Fishtales]

I thought I read here that a valve adjustment (or need for one) can cause hard starts. Not sure I have it right.
I've had 2 starters fail over the years, that's about it. Finally did an impeller change this year.

 

[jsoucy]

I thought I read here that a valve adjustment (or need for one) can cause hard starts. Not sure I have it right.
I've had 2 starters fail over the years, that's about it. Finally did an impeller change this year.

What is odd is that is was running and then just died. Nothing at all happens when I press the On/Off button.

 

[HMBJack]

I agree it is likely starving from fuel but it could be the relay. You can try swapping the starter relay with the fuel relay (they are the same). After the swap, if the starter turns the engine, you know it's good. If not, you know it's bad.

For fuel, you must be sure the filters are clean and the check valve at the very top of the tank is not jammed up with crap. This check valve is at the top of the tank and is threaded to a 90 degree barbed fitting. Stuff growing in the bottom of your tank (from water) can get sucked up into this check valve and jam fuel before it gets a chance to fully flow into the fuel pump. There is also a small metal CO2 sized pre filter connected to the fuel pump. It may be clogged and you can't tell if it is because it is metal. This CO2 sized filter is sold at your local NAPA Auto Parts Store - part number 3046 (about $8).

In a 2013, you unlikely to have a failed fuel solenoid. In my case, as per below, I needed one. My generator is a 2006. Once I replaced the solenoid ($353), all was good. Solenoids do wear out over time. And when they fail, they fail closed thus starving the F Panda of fuel. And they can close (i.e. fail) after they get hot so you might see your generator run for a while then simply die.

F Panda won't start. Any Ideas?

2006 Fischer Panda 4200 installed in my 330 Express. 985 hours. My generator has been otherwise reliable but recently I can't get it to start. The starter turns the engine over and over but no start. About a month ago, I had gunk in my tank which plugged up the pump's pre-filter & fuel pump...

www.greatgrady.com

Hope this helps... Good luck!

 

[Fishermanbb]

I am having a similar problem with the Fischer Panda on my 2007 GW Marlin 300 that I purchased in April 2024. The generator worked fine at survey and I used it a few times really just to run it, which is what the surveyor and broker suggested.

I was out on the water a few weeks ago and started it to use a 110 outlet for a few minutes. Stopped it. Then about 30 minutes later started it again to use the microwave. It started fine, ran for 5 minutes, then died. I thought it was out of fuel.

But now it won’t start at all. Nothing happens when I press the On/Off button on the panel. The hour meter is not showing anything now either.

Any suggestions? I have called 2 diesel shops and haven’t gotten a call back yet.

Hard to tell from the pic but it looks like there is no power at the panel. Cold be a blown breaker (You can check that) but if there is no power there then you may have a blown panel that needs replacing. I had that happen to me on my 2006.

 

[Fishtales]

You should see the hours and lights when powered on prior to pushing the start button. If not, you got a power issue. Check the batt connections and the inline fuse that should be right near the battery.

 

[Fishtales]

I initially thought you had power and it was just cranking.