Pressure Wash mistake....

Stephenson45 · Jun 1, 2017

I pressure washed my Gehl forklift (engine bay.....like a dummy)and now I am not getting power anywhere. I have checked all connections that I could see as well as fuses and all is well. If I am not getting any power from a brand new battery, what are some good starting points?

...I know...I asked for this when I used high pressure water. Feel free to rub it in. All comments welcome.

Mike M · Jun 1, 2017

Fist off ,start at the battery and see if it has voltage.

Dune Country · Jun 1, 2017

if battery has power follow the cable(s) and check for power and continuity along the way (at each connection)

Stephenson45 · Jun 1, 2017

Still getting 12V from the battery...just no where else.

Stephenson45 · Jun 1, 2017

I should be able to do this with a test light? Or is a multimeter the way to go?

old · Jun 1, 2017

Just because the battery is new means nothing. I have gotten more then one new battery that was not worth my time or $$ so start by making sure it is in fact good and has a good charge. Then clean all cable connection and make sure there clean tight and bright .

jeffcat · Jun 1, 2017

Hate to tell ya but you will need to go Point to Point. Going to be a whole bunch easier with a good helper on this mess. Voltage can Leak out at the funniest places. Water under pressure can emulsify with grease in a saftey switch and cause zero connection. Check clutch saftey switch and neutral switches first. Good luck. You gonna need some.

Steve@Advance · Jun 1, 2017

You didn't do anything wrong by pressure washing the engine compartment. Just something that needs to be done...

You most likely broke a wire, knocked an already weak connection apart with the wand or water jet.

Since you have no power, it should be fairly obvious. Do the test with the ignition or lights on so there will be a load on the system. Start at the battery itself. Check across the actual posts, (not the cables) first. Then start moving one test lead at a time, post to cable end, to other end of cable, etc. There will be a main power feed, a smaller wire coming off the positive battery cable, either down by the starter, or up at the battery. Follow that wire, checking with the test light or volt meter to ground.

The wire may go to a fuse, or a fuse link, or directly to the amp meter (if equipped). Look for a broken wire, heat discolored connection, rusty or corroded connection. Is there power at the big wire on back of the alternator? If not follow that wire, it should be hot all the time, should go directly to the battery cable or amp meter.

pete black · Jun 1, 2017

Washed golf cart couple weeks ago and got water in places that shouldn't be and cart would not run. Found forword/reverse switch wet, blew things off with leaf blower and then placed fan on switch and after things dried out it ran fine.

Copperhead don't play · Jun 1, 2017

Pete, I would not ever thought of drying it with a leaf blower. Thanks for the info.

rlp in Co. · Jun 1, 2017

A multimeter is always better. My neighbor fried his computer with a test lite.

showcrop · Jun 1, 2017

I would not venture to guess the number of times that I have pressure washed engines. My 1961 901 used to quit running while I was spraying the distributor. Since the restoration I can spray it no problem.

Dick2 · Jun 1, 2017

I guess drying would be the first thing to do, then start tracking down voltage from the battery to the engine and through out the electrical system. Some circuit is either grounded or open. The process of elimination should locate the trouble for you. I made a needle probe that I could attach to one of the leads on my voltmeter so I could just poke into the wire to track the voltage.

2510Paul · Jun 1, 2017

I agree with Steve@Advance. You did nothing wrong, maybe avoided a future fire. Dry it out and then track down the voltage as suggested below. Paul

Texasmark1 · Jun 2, 2017

I'd open all connections and blow them out with compressed air, leaving open for a time to dry out good. Next would be any open switch, like a toggle used for lights. The main culprit on electronically controlled engines is the key switch. If it contains a ground circuit in addition to the power input that is used to control what is controlled, the water and crud that has accumulated in the switch over time can make a path inside the switch between battery voltage and ground and be your source of a short circuit.

Pressure Wash mistake....

Stephenson45

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Mike M

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Dune Country

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Stephenson45

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Stephenson45

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old

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jeffcat

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Steve@Advance

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pete black

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Copperhead don't play

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rlp in Co.

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showcrop

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Dick2

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2510Paul

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