winch only works when car is running?

[Wil Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wil]

Does anyone else have this issue?
my winch will work for about 10-15 seconds (ie running it out) but then stops working until start the car. This would be very annoying if stopped doing a deep water crossing.

I can hear a solinoid clicking, but no pull on the cable.

I will install a switch that locks the 2 batteries circuit together and see what that does. I have been meaning to do this for ages, just another reason to find a switch and get it done.

[DJD120GXL Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DJD120GXL]

Maybe there isn't enough charge to run the winch without the alternator running.

[ScoticusMaximus Member Find all posts View Profile Close ScoticusMaximus]

i would think it maybe some sort of safety to stop you depleting the battery

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

If you have stopped doing a "deep" water crossing then firstly you want to keep the engine running, secondly if its that deep and you've stopped, how your winch works is probably the least of your worries. Thirdly, I don't know if I have ever run my winch without the engine running, just seems to make total sense to have the engine running when using a high current drawing device like a winch.

It could be as simple as dirty contacts somewhere and a voltage drops stops it working, I had a similar issue with a fridge once, it would only run when the engine was running and hence voltage was higher, put in a better circuit and it was problem solved.


Cheers Andrew

[OziOffroad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close OziOffroad]

Is it getting hot?
Sudden stop or does it slow to a stop?
What's the voltage doing?

Mick

[bucket Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bucket]

If you have stopped doing a "deep" water crossing then firstly you want to keep the engine running, secondly if its that deep and you've stopped, how your winch works is probably the least of your worries. Thirdly, I don't know if I have ever run my winch without the engine running, just seems to make total sense to have the engine running when using a high current drawing device like a winch.

It could be as simple as dirty contacts somewhere and a voltage drops stops it working, I had a similar issue with a fridge once, it would only run when the engine was running and hence voltage was higher, put in a better circuit and it was problem solved.

Cheers Andrew

Couldn't agree more Andrew, I've never carried out winching without having the engine running. That little motor draws a lot of power and if you keep the engine going with a few revs on it, it should keep going. Even with your two batteries linked I'd keep the engine going.

[Cookie120 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Cookie120]

Couldn't agree more Andrew, I've never carried out winching without having the engine running. That little motor draws a lot of power and if you keep the engine going with a few revs on it, it should keep going. Even with your two batteries linked I'd keep the engine going.

+1 - winches need a lot of juice. Keep the engine running.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Winching 1:01 in my book as a qualified 4WD and recovery instructor. Always run the motor whilst winching under load. Its OK to test the winding mechanism with no load and engine off. Once you've confirmed that the drum will turn in both directions I always recommend disengaging the clutch and pulling the cable out manually. This helps prevent tangling and wire jams. If you are crossing water obstacles and your recovery plan is to use your winch then you are probably better off unwinding the cable and looping it around your bar before entering the water. My personal preference is to prepare with a snatch strap if in company or have the cable ready if traveling through the obstacle alone.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

A winch under load will draw 400 to 500 amps. Hence your battery will not last long without the engine running.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Might be a doggy relay, from memory the relays operate in pairs, might be
enough volts for one to come in but not the other.

[Bazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bazza]

The winch should work regardless if the motor is running or not. Get yourself a pair of jumper leads, connect them straight to the battery and then touch them on the winch motor terminals. Negitive to the negitive post of the motor, positive to one of the two positive posts ( one will run it forward, one will run it in reverse ). If the winch runs .... replace the solenoids.

Bazza.

[Wil Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wil]

Bazza

Super helpful, thanks. I have been thinking about getting a new control box and mounting it somewhere else as with the warn box and driving lights, a lot of the grill is restricted. This may be the justification i have been needing.

Cheers,

Will

[mcfqn Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mcfqn]

my old solenoid box on the front of my cruiser used to fail just being exposed to rain. the winch would wind out and not in. next time i would mount the control box under the bonnet or a sealed solenoid.