Generator Not Starting.
Find Why, Then Repair It.

A generator that will not start is one of the most common callouts we attend in Gauteng. This page is the set that will not start at all: silent, a click, or no crank. A standby set that only fails when the mains drops, or an engine that fires and then shuts down, is a different fault. Treating them as one “won’t start” problem leads to parts being replaced that were never the cause.

Before any repair, we establish whether the engine is being asked to start at all. A discharged battery, an open emergency stop, a tripped low-oil switch or a controller that is not issuing a start command can look identical to a failed engine. If the starter is not engaging, the fuel system is not the first place to look.

When the starter does engage, we move to fuel delivery, safety interlocks and control-panel inhibit signals. Diesel standby sets often shut down on low oil pressure or high temperature even during cranking if a sender is faulty. Petrol units more often fail at the carburettor, spark plug or stale fuel in the bowl.

We work on residential standby generators and commercial backup sets across Johannesburg, Pretoria, Sandton and the wider Gauteng area. Diagnosis is done on site so you get a clear explanation of the fault and a written quote before work proceeds.