I try
Thanks

do you have a good mobile auto-electrician near by. have had fun chasing electrical faults before. took a autolec to finally fix it.

fuse holders can be bad and not make good contact inline types in particular check fuses with multimeter on continuity test(ohms(resistance) a low reading is good, high or no reading bad. you can also check wires this way too. it is possible to have a bad spot in a wire and no visible damage.(i had that happen took the auto lec to find it when he did a continuity test he found there was a bad spot)

also check the simple things like fluid levels and earth connections to the frame, dad has had electrical gremlins fixed on the prime mover by removing and cleaning the earth connections.
also check all fluid levels and sensor connections a local mine spent $14,000 on a new ecu for a haul truck when all it needed was a top up of oil the engine watchdog was preventing damage the apprentice thought to check it after the new unity was fitted and it still wouldn't start. supplier said sorry no refund special ordered part. so simple things first.

if you have power to the ignition switch but no power any where else the switch could be faulty and they are not expensive and you may be able to use a generic ignition switch aslong as it has the appropriate contacts and switching sequence it would work.

get a service manual for it as it will have the relevant wiring diagrams and other info so you can fix it your self or at least understand how its supposed to be and you then have the info for a professional to do the work too.

Hi, trainzkid88.
Your story of the apprentice adding oil to the engine to cure the 'computer problem' reminds me of the time I cured a 'dying' transmission inna 2005 Honda Odyssey by adding 2 quarts of engine oil to the poor old engine - which had gone into limp mode.

The person driving it had not checked the engine oil - and probably none of the other fluids - in the 2 months that he had been driving it.

Just my 0.02.

Neil wrote:

Would you consider a limited call-out from the Cat dealer to run some tests? You could call them and ask them first how they'd troubleshoot. If it sounds like they have a real plan and the right equipment, it might just solve this quickly, particularly if they say they've seen this before. You can also say no more than 1hr labor to put a limit on it. If they sound squirrelly, then it didn't cost you anything beyond a phone call.

thats a good idea Neil. it could also work with a autolec too say cap it at no more than 2 hrs. and a good way to limit the call out fees.