5 Most Common Westinghouse iGen4500 Problems

westinghouse igen4500 problems
westinghouse igen4500 problems

Whether it’s a power outage in your neighborhood or you are planning a camping trip with your friends, a generator is your best bet to get electricity. It serves as a backup for electricity and gives you the ultimate peace of mind. It goes without saying that almost every business needs electricity at all times.

However, natural disasters or power outages may occur and can last for days. This is where a generator comes in handy. It hits the nail on the head by providing you with much-needed electricity, so you work smoothly even during electrical blackouts.

Based in America, Westinghouse is a well-known company that specializes in manufacturing home appliances. With its quality products, it has developed a sound reputation over the years.

Although the company offers a wide range of products, it is particularly known for its top-of-the-line generators. The Westinghouse iGen4500 is one of the most sought-after generator models in the market. However, it can be quite hectic and irritating when the generator starts showing problems.

However, no matter how durable an electric appliance is, you cannot expect it to function properly forever. After some time, you may start facing a few problems for some reasons, and the Westinghouse iGen 4500 generator is no exception. There are several problems that you can face while using this generator.

Common Westinghouse iGen4500 Problems

Here are some of the most common Westinghouse iGen4500 generator problems and effective workarounds to fix them.

1. Battery Failure

Battery Failure

It’s no secret that battery failure is one of the most common generator problems. The battery may wear out due to excessive wear and tear. If the battery has been used for a few years and has started failing recently, you may need to replace the battery.

However, if the battery problem is caused because of some negligence, such as force shutting down the battery too often, then there’s a good chance that you can fix it. 

If that’s the case, all you need to do is check the circuit breaker in order to find out the flipped slot. Once you locate the flipped slot, simply flip it back into its original form. After this, the generator should start working.

Another reason can be dirty connection terminals that connect the battery to the generator. The dirt and debris might be preventing the connection between the battery and the generator. To solve this problem, you might need to clean the terminals.

Use a wire brush to scrub away all the dust and debris that has accumulated into the terminal connections over time. After you have cleaned the terminals, make sure to tighten them, so they stay in place.

2. Generator Leaks

Generator Leaks

If you have been overusing the Westinghouse iGen4500 recently, it may cause wear and tear to its coolant hoses. This leads to coolant leaks, which need to be fixed as soon as they are detected. Otherwise, you may have a complete system failure.

Therefore, it is recommended to check your coolants twice a year and check for any damage. If they are damaged, consider replacing the coolant with a new one. For prevention, you can change the hoses in the coolants periodically.

Another type of leak that these users usually face is fuel leaking into the tank. In such cases, the generator will not be able to start. These types of leaks often occur when the generator is new and has not been used regularly.

If you are having a hard time dealing with the problem, consider seeking professional help to get rid of the problem. Also, for future prevention, always remember to check the fuel level before using the Westinghouse iGen4500.

3. Fuel Problems

Fuel Problems

If the level of fuel is too low and you try to force turn on the generator, it will lead to a fuel leak into the tank. If your Westinghouse iGen4500 generator has run out of fuel, air may get into the system and hoses.

It is very time-consuming and hectic to get the air out of the system. Therefore, every time you are about to start the system of the generator, check the quantity of fuel. If you see that the fuel is low or don’t see fuel at all, consider refilling the fuel before starting the generator.

4. Dirty Air Filter

Dirty Air Filter

Generators need an air filter in order to clean out dirt and debris from the system. In case the air filter gets too dirty, it will not be able to do its job of filtering the air and removing any debris and dirt. It may create a few other problems as well, decreasing the lifespan of your generator.

So, it is a good rule of thumb to check the air filter every once in a while and clean it to remove the dust. Also, make sure to replace the air filter after several months.

To replace the air filter of your Westinghouse iGen4500 generator, first, turn it off to ensure your safety. Never perform any maintenance or repair while the generator is running. It only takes a few seconds, and it is for your own safety. And yes, turn off the fuel valve to stop the flow of fuel to the carburetor.

The air filter assembly is located on the left side of the Westinghouse iGen4500 generator. Now, take off the cover by simply unscrewing the knob with your hand.

The knob is located at the bottom of the air cleaner. Once you have removed the cover, remove the foam air filter in the housing. This foam filter can be oily at times, so be careful while taking it off.

After that, locate the metal grate in the air cleaner housing and remove it too. When it is removed, you will see a nut in the housing. Remove it using a screwdriver. Check to see if there are any other nuts in the housing.

If found, remove them all and then detach the rubber hose on the left side of your air filter assembly. For this purpose, you may need a pair of pliers. They will easily remove the clamps that are holding the rubber hose in place.

Once you have removed all the hoses, the air filter assembly should be free, and you can easily replace the old air filter. When you have replaced the air filter, reassemble the air filter assembly by reattaching all the nuts and bolts. Then, reinstall the hoses with the help of a pair of pliers to secure the clamp.

5. Loss Of Residual Magnetism

Loss Of Residual Magnetism

If you have not used your Westinghouse iGen4500 for a long time, it may lose its residual magnetism. It can also occur if the generator is connected to a load when it is turned off or if it has not been connected to loads in a very long time.

Regardless of the reason, if the loss of residual magnetism occurs, all you need to do is to connect the generator to 12-15 volts of battery. You can also plug it into a frill and then use the motion of that drill in order to generate the electrical current to help restore the magnetism within your generator.

Generator Maintenance Is Important

To make sure you do not face any problems again, experts recommend performing a maintenance check on your generator after every few days. Maintenance of your generator would certainly help you avoid facing these issues and save you from costly repairs.

Clean the air filters at least once every month and consider replacing them after some time, so your Westinghouse iGen4500 keeps working properly. And yes, keep an eye on its battery to avoid battery failure. Also, if the battery is showing any symptoms of worn out, replace the battery with a new one.

The Bottom Line

There are times when the Westinghouse iGen4500 may not function properly for some reason. Therefore, it is crucial to know how to deal with common problems related to generators, so you do not face any problems during blackouts.

If you encounter any problem with the Westinghouse iGen4500 and the above-mentioned solutions don’t work, consider referring to the product manual for further guidance.

3 thoughts on “5 Most Common Westinghouse iGen4500 Problems”

  1. The first week of this month (3/1 – 3/7/22) I contacted Westinghouse about problem with my iGen4500. It was suggested that I take it to local service/repair person. Because I was traveling with my travel trailer i should wait until I returned home.
    I have returned home and need to continue with service/repair.

    Reply
    • Hi Paul ~ I have only used my generator 3 times since purchasing it in May 2022. My last use was in very cold weather, and it would not work. The remote would not work, nor the push button, so I used the pull handle, and it would try to start, but did not. I changed the oil, even though I only had 48 hours of use, that wasn’t the problem, then changed the spark plug, that was not the problem, and dumped the gas, and out fresh in, that was not the problem. Then I read that this generator has had issues with the choke not turning over. So I took the cover off, tried to pull start it, and I believe that is the problem. It is apparently a common problem with this generator. Was that the case with your brand new generator by chance? I am not getting much help from Westinghouse.

      Reply
      • I’ve had the same issue,pull the side cover off and manually flip the black switch on the carburetor,id like to know why it does this,I just bought it and have had problems since the beginning

        Reply

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