What To Do If Your Forklift Won’t Start.
If you are having difficulties getting your forklift to start here are some simple remedies to try and pinpoint what the issue might be. When it comes to forklift problems this is typically an easy one to solve. Depending on how your forklift is powered here are some steps to follow to try and get it working again.
If your forklift is electric and won’t start, try troubleshooting by doing these steps…
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Check the charging level of your battery.
When was the battery last charged?
Was it charged properly?
Sometimes the battery is not charged properly; if something is wrong with the charger or if it wasn’t plugged in for enough time to charge then this can be the reason why you’re forklift won’t start. Make sure there is no debris in the charging port and let it fully charge before trying to start the forklift again.
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Test all auxiliary functions
Test brakes, lights and other functions to confirm if these are working or not. If they are not working, try to charge your battery fully or swap the battery to a newly charged one if you have one. If these are working then it could be another issue that would need to be diagnosed by a technician.
If your forklift is internal combustion starting issues could be more complicated. Try troubleshooting by doing these steps…
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Determine the age of the fuel
Has the fuel been in the tank for a long time?
If the fuel has been in the forklift for quite some time, then that could explain why it is not starting up. If the fuel smells sour, like varnish, or rotten eggs that could indicate that the fuel has gone bad. Be sure to drain the old fuel out and put new fuel into the forklift. Try and check now if the forklift will start up.
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Check the fuel levels
Is it empty?
Is there a smell of gas?
Do you see any visible leaks?
Gas has a strong and potent smell. If you can smell gas strongly and possibly see a leak under the forklift, then that could indicate a problem with the gas line or tank. The gas line will need to be repaired to get the forklift to run properly.
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Check your oil levels
Are they low?
Some forklift models don’t allow the fuel valve to open unless it has enough oil. Check for any leak or if the oil just needs to be replaced.
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Check the battery
Is it fully charged?
Ensure your battery has been charged properly. A poorly charged or dead battery could prevent the forklift from starting.
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Check the coolant
Is the coolant level low?
If the battery is working, then check your coolant level. Forklifts sometimes will not start if there is not enough coolant to prevent the forklift from overheating. Clean the radiator and add more coolant if needed.
If all these steps don’t help your forklift to start, reach out to us at Tynan Equipment. Allow our technicians to assist you and get your operation up and running. You can give us a call at 317-247-8474 or submit a service form online.
