Brand: Predator
Category: Portable Generator
Manual Type:
Language:
Manual for 2000 - Troubleshooting and error codes + PDF Download
Uploaded: April 8, 2025, 1:56 p.m.
Warranty Summary
The Predator 2000 portable generator has a limited 90-day warranty for retail and a two-year warranty for the emissions control system.
To operate the Predator 2000 generator:
1. Perform pre-start checks including oil and fuel levels.
2. Open the vent on the gas cap.
3. Move the Economy (ESC) Switch to the OFF position.
4. Turn the Combination Switch to the START position.
5. Pull the starter handle to start the engine.
6. Move the Combination Switch to the RUN position.
7. Connect 120VAC loads to the generator.
8. To stop, turn off loads, turn the Combination Switch off, and close the vent on the gas cap.
Troubleshooting and error codes
| Problem | Possible Causes | Probable Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Engine will not start | FUEL RELATED: 1. No fuel in tank or fuel valve closed. 2. Choke not in START position, cold engine. 3. Gasoline with more than 10% ethanol used. (E15, E20, E85, etc.) 4. Low quality or deteriorated, old gasoline. 5. Carburetor not primed. 6. Dirty fuel passageways. 7. Carburetor needle stuck. Fuel can be smelled in the air. 8. Too much fuel in chamber. This can be caused by the carburetor needle sticking. 9. Clogged Fuel Filter. IGNITION (SPARK) RELATED: 1. Spark plug cap not connected securely. 2. Spark plug electrode wet or dirty. 3. Incorrect spark plug gap. 4. Spark plug cap broken. 5. Incorrect spark timing or faulty ignition system. COMPRESSION RELATED: 1. Cylinder not lubricated. Problem after long storage periods. 2. Loose or broken spark plug. (Hissing noise will occur when trying to start.) 3. Loose cylinder head or damaged head gasket. (Hissing noise will occur when trying to start.) 4. Engine valves or tappets mis-adjusted or stuck. ENGINE OIL RELATED: 1. Low engine oil. 2. Engine mounted on slope, triggering low oil shutdown. |
FUEL RELATED: 1. Fill fuel tank with fresh 87+ octane stabilizer-treated unleaded gasoline and open fuel valve. Do not use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol (E15, E20, E85, etc.). 2. Move Choke to START position. 3. Clean out ethanol rich gasoline from fuel system. Replace components damaged by ethanol. Use fresh 87+ octane stabilizer-treated unleaded gasoline only. Do not use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol (E15, E20, E85, etc.). 4. Use fresh 87+ octane stabilizer-treated unleaded gasoline. Do not use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol (E15, E20, E85, etc.). 5. Pull on Starter Handle to prime. 6. Clean out passageways using fuel additive. Heavy deposits may require further cleaning. 7. Gently tap side of carburetor float chamber with screwdriver handle. 8. Turn Choke to RUN position. Remove spark plug and pull the start handle several times to air out the chamber. Reinstall spark plug and set Choke to START position. 9. Replace Fuel Filter. IGNITION (SPARK) RELATED: 1. Connect spark plug cap properly. 2. Clean spark plug. 3. Correct spark plug gap. 4. Replace spark plug cap. 5. Have qualified technician diagnose/ repair ignition system. COMPRESSION RELATED: 1. Pour tablespoon of oil into spark plug hole. Crank engine a few times and try to start again. 2. Tighten spark plug. If that does not work, replace spark plug. If problem persists, may have head gasket problem, see #3. 3. Tighten head. If that does not remedy problem, replace head gasket. 4. Have qualified technician adjust/ repair valves and tappets. ENGINE OIL RELATED: 1. Fill engine oil to proper level. Check engine oil before EVERY use. 2. Operate engine on level surface. Check engine oil level. |
| Engine misfires | 1. Spark plug cap loose. 2. Incorrect spark plug gap or damaged spark plug. 3. Defective spark plug cap. 4. Old or low quality gasoline. 5. Incorrect compression. |
1. Check cap and wire connections. 2. Re-gap or replace spark plug. 3. Replace spark plug cap. 4. Use only fresh 87+ octane stabilizer-treated unleaded gasoline. Do not use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol (E15, E20, E85, etc.). 5. Diagnose and repair compression. (Use Engine will not start: COMPRESSION RELATED section.) |
| Engine stops suddenly | 1. Fuel tank empty or full of impure or low quality gasoline. 2. Low oil shutdown. 3. Defective fuel tank cap creating vacuum, preventing proper fuel flow. 4. Faulty magneto. 5. Disconnected or improperly connected spark plug cap. |
1. Fill fuel tank with fresh 87+ octane stabilizer-treated unleaded gasoline. Do not use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol (E15, E20, E85, etc.). 2. Fill engine oil to proper level. Check engine oil before EVERY use. 3. Test/replace fuel tank cap. 4. Have qualified technician service magneto. 5. Secure spark plug cap. |
| Engine stops when under heavy load | 1. Dirty air filter 2. Engine running cold. |
1. Clean element. 2. Allow engine to warm up prior to operating equipment. |
| Engine knocks | 1. Old or low quality gasoline. 2. Engine overloaded. 3. Incorrect spark timing, deposit buildup, worn engine, or other mechanical problems. |
1. Fill fuel tank with fresh 87+ octane stabilizer-treated unleaded gasoline. Do not use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol (E15, E20, E85, etc.). 2. Do not exceed equipment's load rating. 3. Have qualified technician diagnose and service engine. |
| Engine backfires | 1. Impure or low quality gasoline. 2. Engine too cold. 3. Intake valve stuck or overheated engine. 4. Incorrect timing. |
1. Fill fuel tank with fresh 87+ octane stabilizer-treated unleaded gasoline. Do not use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol (E15, E20, E85, etc.). 2. Use cold weather fuel and oil additives to prevent backfiring. 3. Have qualified technician diagnose and service engine. 4. Check engine timing. |
| Attached device doesn't have power | 1. Device not plugged in properly. 2. Circuit Breaker tripped. 3. Product needs service. |
1. Turn off and unplug the device, then plug it back in again and turn on. 2. Turn off and unplug device, reset Circuit Breaker, plug in device and turn on. 3. Have product repaired. |
| Attached device doesn't have power | 1. Device not plugged in properly. 2. Circuit Breaker tripped. 3. Product needs service. |
1. Turn off and unplug the device, then plug it back in again and turn on. 2. Turn off and unplug device, reset Circuit Breaker, plug in device and turn on. 3. Have product repaired. |
| Attached device begins to operate abnormally | 1. Problem with device. 2. Rated load capacity exceeded. |
1. Immediately unplug device. Have device repaired by a qualified technician, or replace device. 2. Lower the number of items plugged into the generator to stay within the rated capacity, or use a more powerful generator. |
Troubleshooting and error codes
| Problem | Possible Causes | Probable Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Engine will not start | FUEL RELATED: 1. No fuel in tank or fuel valve closed. 2. Choke not in START position, cold engine. 3. Gasoline with more than 10% ethanol used. (E15, E20, E85, etc.) 4. Low quality or deteriorated, old gasoline. 5. Carburetor not primed. 6. Dirty fuel passageways. 7. Carburetor needle stuck. Fuel can be smelled in the air. 8. Too much fuel in chamber. This can be caused by the carburetor needle sticking. 9. Clogged Fuel Filter. IGNITION (SPARK) RELATED: 1. Spark plug cap not connected securely. 2. Spark plug electrode wet or dirty. 3. Incorrect spark plug gap. 4. Spark plug cap broken. 5. Incorrect spark timing or faulty ignition system. COMPRESSION RELATED: 1. Cylinder not lubricated. Problem after long storage periods. 2. Loose or broken spark plug. (Hissing noise will occur when trying to start.) 3. Loose cylinder head or damaged head gasket. (Hissing noise will occur when trying to start.) 4. Engine valves or tappets mis-adjusted or stuck. ENGINE OIL RELATED: 1. Low engine oil. 2. Engine mounted on slope, triggering low oil shutdown. |
FUEL RELATED: 1. Fill fuel tank with fresh 87+ octane stabilizer-treated unleaded gasoline and open fuel valve. Do not use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol (E15, E20, E85, etc.). 2. Move Choke to START position. 3. Clean out ethanol rich gasoline from fuel system. Replace components damaged by ethanol. Use fresh 87+ octane stabilizer-treated unleaded gasoline only. Do not use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol (E15, E20, E85, etc.). 4. Use fresh 87+ octane stabilizer-treated unleaded gasoline. Do not use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol (E15, E20, E85, etc.). 5. Pull on Starter Handle to prime. 6. Clean out passageways using fuel additive. Heavy deposits may require further cleaning. 7. Gently tap side of carburetor float chamber with screwdriver handle. 8. Turn Choke to RUN position. Remove spark plug and pull the start handle several times to air out the chamber. Reinstall spark plug and set Choke to START position. 9. Replace Fuel Filter. IGNITION (SPARK) RELATED: 1. Connect spark plug cap properly. 2. Clean spark plug. 3. Correct spark plug gap. 4. Replace spark plug cap. 5. Have qualified technician diagnose/ repair ignition system. COMPRESSION RELATED: 1. Pour tablespoon of oil into spark plug hole. Crank engine a few times and try to start again. 2. Tighten spark plug. If that does not work, replace spark plug. If problem persists, may have head gasket problem, see #3. 3. Tighten head. If that does not remedy problem, replace head gasket. 4. Have qualified technician adjust/ repair valves and tappets. ENGINE OIL RELATED: 1. Fill engine oil to proper level. Check engine oil before EVERY use. 2. Operate engine on level surface. Check engine oil level. |
| Engine misfires | 1. Spark plug cap loose. 2. Incorrect spark plug gap or damaged spark plug. 3. Defective spark plug cap. 4. Old or low quality gasoline. 5. Incorrect compression. |
1. Check cap and wire connections. 2. Re-gap or replace spark plug. 3. Replace spark plug cap. 4. Use only fresh 87+ octane stabilizer-treated unleaded gasoline. Do not use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol (E15, E20, E85, etc.). 5. Diagnose and repair compression. (Use Engine will not start: COMPRESSION RELATED section.) |
| Engine stops suddenly | 1. Fuel tank empty or full of impure or low quality gasoline. 2. Low oil shutdown. 3. Defective fuel tank cap creating vacuum, preventing proper fuel flow. 4. Faulty magneto. 5. Disconnected or improperly connected spark plug cap. |
1. Fill fuel tank with fresh 87+ octane stabilizer-treated unleaded gasoline. Do not use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol (E15, E20, E85, etc.). 2. Fill engine oil to proper level. Check engine oil before EVERY use. 3. Test/replace fuel tank cap. 4. Have qualified technician service magneto. 5. Secure spark plug cap. |
| Engine stops when under heavy load | 1. Dirty air filter 2. Engine running cold. |
1. Clean element. 2. Allow engine to warm up prior to operating equipment. |
| Engine knocks | 1. Old or low quality gasoline. 2. Engine overloaded. 3. Incorrect spark timing, deposit buildup, worn engine, or other mechanical problems. |
1. Fill fuel tank with fresh 87+ octane stabilizer-treated unleaded gasoline. Do not use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol (E15, E20, E85, etc.). 2. Do not exceed equipment's load rating. 3. Have qualified technician diagnose and service engine. |
| Engine backfires | 1. Impure or low quality gasoline. 2. Engine too cold. 3. Intake valve stuck or overheated engine. 4. Incorrect timing. |
1. Fill fuel tank with fresh 87+ octane stabilizer-treated unleaded gasoline. Do not use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol (E15, E20, E85, etc.). 2. Use cold weather fuel and oil additives to prevent backfiring. 3. Have qualified technician diagnose and service engine. 4. Check engine timing. |
| Attached device doesn't have power | 1. Device not plugged in properly. 2. Circuit Breaker tripped. 3. Product needs service. |
1. Turn off and unplug the device, then plug it back in again and turn on. 2. Turn off and unplug device, reset Circuit Breaker, plug in device and turn on. 3. Have product repaired. |
| Attached device doesn't have power | 1. Device not plugged in properly. 2. Circuit Breaker tripped. 3. Product needs service. |
1. Turn off and unplug the device, then plug it back in again and turn on. 2. Turn off and unplug device, reset Circuit Breaker, plug in device and turn on. 3. Have product repaired. |
| Attached device begins to operate abnormally | 1. Problem with device. 2. Rated load capacity exceeded. |
1. Immediately unplug device. Have device repaired by a qualified technician, or replace device. 2. Lower the number of items plugged into the generator to stay within the rated capacity, or use a more powerful generator. |