New Holland C238 Loses Drive Power in Turns
Fault Codes & Symptoms
Loss of drive power, particularly during turns or counter-rotation. Related symptoms: - General hydraulic weakness - Slow or weak auxiliary hydraulics - Whining noise from the hydraulic pump The machine feels weak and sometimes stops moving completely when I try to make a sharp turn or counter-rotate. It drives okay going straight ahead.
Confirmed cause: Broken internal spring in the hydrostatic charge pressure relief valve. Repair performed: Replaced the charge pressure relief valve assembly. Drained hydraulic fluid, replaced the hydraulic filter, and refilled with new fluid to remove any potential debris from the failed valve. Verification: Operated the machine and performed multiple tight turns and counter-rotations under load. The machine maintained full drive power without hesitation. Technician notes: - A weak charge pressure relief spring can cause intermittent issues that are hard to pin down. The problem is often more apparent during high-demand functions like turning or multi-function operations. - Always replace the hydraulic filter after a component failure in the charge circuit to prevent debris from circulating. - This symptom could also be caused by excessive internal leakage in a drive motor, which would be the next logical test if the relief valve had been found to be good.