R-Pro › Field cases › Transport refrigeration
Diesel Engine Fails to Start or Shuts Down Prematurely
Likely causes
Low fuel or clogged fuel filter
Check: Check fuel tank level — recommended filter replacement: 500 hours or 1 year
What to do: Refuel → replace fuel filter → bleed fuel line (use priming pump) → restart
Dead battery — 12V battery voltage below 11.8V
Check: Measure 12V battery voltage: ≥12.4V normal — <11.8V is discharged
What to do: Charge or replace battery → verify alternator output (13.8–14.4V) → test battery internal resistance
Faulty glow plugs — poor cold start
Check: Measure resistance of each glow plug: normal 0.5–1.5Ω — OL or 0Ω indicates faulty
What to do: Replace faulty glow plugs → attempt start after 5-second preheat → if 3 failures, wait 10+ seconds before retrying
Controller alarm forced shutdown — GLOW/FUEL/OIL alarm
Check: Check controller alarm codes (ALARM LIST menu) — photograph alarm history before clearing
What to do: Resolve alarm cause → reset alarm → retry start → if repeated alarm, inspect relevant component (oil level, coolant, fuel)
Thermo King SR: hold SET+ZONE buttons 3 seconds to access alarm codes — never crank more than 3 times consecutively after failed glow preheat (starter motor burnout risk).
All 565 cases work offline in R-Pro, with error codes for 62 brands and P-T data for 108 refrigerants.
Open R-Pro →Related cases
- Reefer Truck Fails to Reach Setpoint During Driving
- Temperature Variation Inside Cargo Box — Uneven Cooling by Zone
- Poor Temperature Recovery After Door Opening
- Temperature Rise During Engine-Stop Standby Mode Switch
- Multi-Temperature Cargo Box Zone Failure — Partition Fault
- Thermo King SR Controller Alarm Codes (00, 04, 17)