Shutdown faults
Generator Starts Then Stops
The engine has fired, and then it shuts down. That is not a no-start and it is not a crank with no fire. Something allowed it to run and then stopped it, or the supply that kept it running fell away. Possible causes include fuel, an oil-pressure shutdown, a temperature shutdown, a sensor, a controller alarm, charging, speed, or a load that the set will not hold.
- It did start
- Shutdowns are read
- Fuel separated from alarms
- Onsite across Gauteng
After it fires
Generator starts and stops after a few seconds
A shutdown a few seconds after start often sits in oil pressure, a fuel solenoid that drops out, or a controller that never sees the inputs it expects once the engine is turning. A shutdown after it has been running is more often fuel quantity, temperature, or a load it cannot hold. The timing is part of the diagnosis.
The controller message, if there is one, is kept. Clearing it without reading it throws away the reason the set stopped. A sensor can be wrong, and it can also be right. Both are tested.
Intermittent stops are booked with the conditions: off load, on load, after a set number of minutes, or only when a particular machine starts. That pattern decides which test comes first.
Possible causes
Fuel, oil, temperature and the alarm that stopped it
None of these is assumed from the fact that it stopped. They are the groups the tests separate.
Fuel supply problems
A blocked filter, air, a tank that is lower than it looks, or a solenoid that closes after the start. Fuel work beyond the simple restrictions is on the fuel-system page.
Oil pressure shutdowns
The engine may be protecting itself. Pressure and the sender are both checked. The shutdown is not bridged to keep it running.
Overtemperature shutdowns
Coolant, airflow and how long it ran before it stopped. A hot shutdown is not cured by resetting the controller.
Controller and sensor faults
A sender wire, a wrong reading, or a module that drops the run signal. The input is measured against the alarm text.
Generator stops when load is applied
It holds speed with nothing connected and dies when the building or a motor comes on. That pattern is the trips-under-load page.
How we diagnose intermittent shutdowns
The conditions are repeated where it is safe to do so, with the alarm watched, rather than a one-off start being called a repair.
Related Pages
Fuel, heat, speed and the controller
- Fuel Solenoid RepairsHold coil or shutoff that drops out
- Low Oil PressureAlarm that stops the engine
- Fuel System RepairsFilters, air and delivery
- Generator OverheatingTemperature shutdowns
- Low FrequencySpeed falls and the set will not hold
- Controller RepairsThe alarm and the module
- Generator Fault FindingHow the symptom is separated
Google reviews of ProService Generator Repairs
Google Review
Our commercial unit kept triggering a high-temp shutdown. They deep-flushed the scaled radiator, replaced a stuck thermostat, and modified our exhaust ducting to keep the block perfectly cool.
Google Review
Our diesel generator was losing power due to algae in the tank. They polished the diesel, chemically flushed the delivery system, and replaced the filters to restore perfect running conditions.
Common Questions
Questions about a generator that starts and then stops
Why does my generator start and then stop?
It started, then a shutdown, a fuel loss, or a load it could not hold stopped it. The cause is tested rather than assumed.
It only runs for a few seconds. What does that suggest?
Possible causes include oil-pressure detection, a fuel solenoid, or a controller input that is not proved after cranking.
It runs for a while and then dies. Is that the same fault?
Not always. A later stop is more often fuel quantity, temperature, or load than a start-interlock.
There is an alarm on the screen. Should I reset it and try again?
Write down or photograph the alarm first. Resetting it without that text makes the next test slower.
Can dirty fuel make it start and then stop?
Yes. A restriction can let it fire and then starve it. Filters and air are checked before pumps are replaced.
Can I bypass the oil-pressure switch to keep it running?
No. That protection is there to stop the engine. The pressure and the sender are tested instead.
It only stops when I switch the building on. Where do I look?
That is a load-related stop. Frequency, voltage, fuel under load and the breaker are the checks, on the trips-under-load page.
Still unsure what the fault is? Call or WhatsApp 082 057 4605 for onsite diagnosis.
Service Areas
Onsite visits across Gauteng
Technicians travel to the generator. These are the main Gauteng areas. Suburb pages sit under each region.
What to send before we attend
ProService Generator Repairs confirms an onsite visit from these details. Send what you have. A missing model number does not stop the booking.
- Location
- The suburb or site, so the visit can be booked in the right area.
- Make and model
- The generator brand and model, if they are known.
- kVA
- The size printed on the data plate.
- Fuel type
- Diesel, petrol, LPG, natural gas, or dual-fuel.
- Controller model
- The module name on the panel, when it is visible.
- Fault or alarm
- What the set does, and any text on the screen.
- Photos
- The generator, the data plate, and the controller or alarm. Send these on WhatsApp.
Book a Visit
Tell us how long it runs
A few seconds, several minutes, or only when the load connects are three different bookings. Include any alarm text.
- Call
- 082 057 4605
- Message us on WhatsApp