Posted by apb (in NY) on Sunday, February 19, 2006 at 5:50PM :
In Reply to: Snowplow problem...help! posted by George in MI on Sunday, February 19, 2006 at 4:56PM :
To trouble-shoot the plow controls, you must first understand how they work, when they are working properly.
The control switches do two things: they activate solenoid valves to direct the fluid into the rams in order to raise or turn the blade, and the controls also activate a starter relay type solenoid (generally under the hood, near the battery) that turns on the pump motor, so that the fluid can be pumped into the ram that was selected.
If you hear clicking, then the raise/turn solenoids are (probably) OK. The other solenoid takes electricity from the real big + and - wires, and send it to the motor.
Most failures occur due to corroded connections, so go back, and check the + connection at the battery. Then check the - connection at the battery, or where ever it's attached to the truck.
Use a test lamp, or a meter, and have "soldier #2" activate the control switches, while you see if juice is getting to the + terminal on the motor. If it getting there, the motor is suspect. If not, then retrace the big wire(s) to the source, which is the battery.
Give us some update after doing these tests, and we will get you through this.
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