Kohler 5EC "1000 Error"

ziekman@cox.net

Active Member
Jun 23, 2009
1,242
Old Saybrook, CT
Boat Info
2012 45 Yacht
Engines
D6 Volvo Penta IPS
Has anyone ever seen, or know about what this error code means? It's not listed in the owners manual!!! The genny is only on it's second year - it was winterized and commissioned this spring by the marina, but when I went to test today, this 1000 Error came up. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!
 
I just got mine. Tried starting cold and got 1001 ERROR. Also got EC56 which is overheated air. It did run fine for an hour after we launched. A week later, nothing. The fuel switch makes a big click and then the fuel pump makes a peculiar sound.
 
I figured out the cause - switch on the unit was "not" in the Auto position. To start the genny from the helm, the switch must be in Auto. The marina winterized/spring commissioned it, but the new kid who did the work last week, didn't know any better. He put it on Auto to test, but then put it back where he found it.
 
My EC56 was because the connector to the sensor on the air intake vibrated itself loose. I reconnected and the generator was back online.
 
We received the same error on a 2008 Kohler with only 7 hours on it now reads error code 62? Manual says low sea water pressure. Does anyone have any tips on correcting this?
 
..... only 7 hours on it now reads error code 62? Manual says low sea water pressure. Does anyone have any tips on correcting this?

You didn't say if the seacock was full open or if you had checked the strainer for a buildup of whatever. Maybe you have sucked in some mud or the whatever.
Or, it could have a damaged impeller because someone ran it without first opening the seacock or without a prime.
 
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Funny thing I had the same EC 1000 yesterday and could nto figure out the problem. I'll try the auto function. Could something else however, either way it would not start 2 hours on the unit new this year.
 
Funny thing I had the same EC 1000 yesterday and could nto figure out the problem. I'll try the auto function. Could something else however, either way it would not start 2 hours on the unit new this year.
Jerry, We just purchased the boat a few weeks ago. We did run the generator and followed the start instructions a few times before. We did clean one screen, are there multiple seacocks and screens to check? When it stopped running we were in about 7 feet of water so could well be Lake Allatoona slime. Any ideas who to take it to for service if we can't get it working? It is still under warranty and has the extended Passport also?
 
You should be able to see fair amount of water coming from generator exhaust. If you don't see it, then you know that it's a water flow problem.

1. Close the seacock and make sure that the seastrainer is clean.
2. Open the seacock and try running it again. If no good you might have clogged scoopstrainer (possibly oicked up some eelgrass or seaweeds). You would have to dive under to see it with your eyes. Backing up sometimes gets it off, but no guaranty.
3. If the seastrainer and the scoopstrainer are clean, then you have to check the impeller condition.

These're the main 3 mechanical items that control/provide the waterflow. If all 3 are good and the water flow is poor, then you have a bigger issue.
 
The boat next to me is having this problem (also a Kohler gas generator), although a little different. The switch was in fact in Auto, but when we try to start the unit from the salon we get a 1000 ERR. The unit doesn't even try to crank. If I go into the bilge and move the switch from AUTO to RUN, I can start the generator and it runs perfectly (for two hours now). So we know the water flow is fine. But the entire time it's running in this mode I'm getting a 1000 ERR on the Kohler control pad in the salon. It's working fine, providing power, etc. I tried turning it off, switching back to AUTO and starting it from the salon, same thing, 1000 ERR. So either way I get the 1000 ERR but it's not water flow or some problem with the generator itself as the gen runs fine with I start/run it from the bilge. Any ideas?

Thanks!
Jason
 
I’m having a similar issue today ERR 1000 and auxiliary input fault with a 5EKD and I’m wondering if I somehow touched the “auto/run” switch when I winterized it. Where is this switch located? I don’t see it called out in my manual.
 
I’m having a similar issue today ERR 1000 and auxiliary input fault with a 5EKD and I’m wondering if I somehow touched the “auto/run” switch when I winterized it. Where is this switch located? I don’t see it called out in my manual.
The switch is the red rocker switch on the face of the control panel, just beneath the hour meter display (on the generator).
 
A bit of research here and I’ve discovered that the generator issue is due to me unplugging my beeping “end of life” CO detector. It seems the model of detector that I need is no longer available and newer units may require the addition of a relay so the genset will run.
 
I’m having a similar issue today ERR 1000 and auxiliary input fault with a 5EKD and I’m wondering if I somehow touched the “auto/run” switch when I winterized it. Where is this switch located? I don’t see it called out in my manual.
A bit of research here and I’ve discovered that the generator issue is due to me unplugging my beeping “end of life” CO detector. It seems the model of detector that I need is no longer available and newer units may require the addition of a relay so the genset will run.

So I removed the obsolete CO detector and found 2 harnesses connecting it to the boat. One 2 wire plug with house power B+ and ground. Another 4 wire plug but only 2 wires in the boat side (brown and yellow)

shorting then brown and yellow together cleared the “AF Fault” on the genset and allowed it to run normally.

I’ll be getting a new detector and leave it isolated from the genset.
 

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A bit of research here and I’ve discovered that the generator issue is due to me unplugging my beeping “end of life” CO detector. It seems the model of detector that I need is no longer available and newer units may require the addition of a relay so the genset will run.
Replace it with one of these Safe-T-Alert 62 Series Carbon Monoxide Alarm W/Relay - 12v - 62-541-Marine-Rly-Nc - Surface Mount - White
 

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