How to Troubleshoot and Fix a Sprinkler Zone that isn't Working + Printable Guide 

Awesome, awesome video, Cole. I couldn't figure out why my one zone wouldn't go on. I had tried a couple of different solenoids, and just thought maybe the rubber seal was too big or too small, or something weird. Finally, I decided it HAS to be something electronically(I could always get the zone to work my opening it by hand). Voltage was fine at timer. So then I went to valves and saw the "bad" zone wasn't getting the reading that the others were. BINGO! And even better, I realized right there and then that there's 4 extra unused wires!!! DOUBLE BINGO. So, I just changed wire colors at the timer and then at the solenoid, and done.....10 minutes and fixed what had been broken since last June, thanks to you! Thank you!

Had to replace my solenoid, but saved $ by not having to have pros come out! Thanks for the great video and guidance!

Thank You!! Excellent, easy to follow steps. You made this simple, had pictures and even I, could figure it out. My station 2 is now working perfectly. Appreciate your help!

I don't have a meter, but I did manage to get water started by turning valve 1/4 turn counter-clockwise! At least my grass won't die. Thanks!

Damm bruh let me just hire you to come do it you seem honest enough

THANK SO MUCH! I fixed my Bosch dishwasher as you instructed. This problem has bugged me for 2 ears.

I watched several videos on this topic. This was definitely the most straight forward very simplified and appreciated.

Excellent advise! My sprinkler was repaired at step 2!

Great Video, but still have a problem. I have 5 zones. Zones 1-4 work fine. Zone 5 is doing a rapid pressure cycle. It hits 60psi then shuts off, goes down to 40 psi, and clicks back on. This happens every 20 seconds when zone 4 is on. When zone 4 is off, the pressure is fine. Any ideas?

I accessed the zone two connection in the ground and I turned what I was supposed to turn a quarter turn and water started oozing out. It’s like it doesn’t have water pressure to pop up the sprinkler heads. How do I fix that? Thanks

Very good information!!.And great video!! However, I replaced the whole top part of the valve then the timer but still only 2 drip irrigation heads out of 7 work and the pressure seams very low. Everything was fine for years, so I'm very confused at this point!. Any idea what could be next??

good stuff. clear, concise, no BS subscribed, because ........more summer to come :)

Hi. I bought this exact same Sprinkler control but my previous control had a wire for the Master Valve (MV) and one for the common (COM) this one only has the COM port, What do I do with the MV wire? Thanks

Fixed after watching your video, Thank you

Thanks so much. Just what I needed to attempt to fix my system. However, I couldn't-print the list. It said the doc had been deleted.

What if one of the valves is operating, but just not at full flow capacity? I don’t not believe that there is a leak in the line. Would that be a faulty valve as well? Thanks for the info.

Thanks! Wasn't sure on voltage on our system. I think the timer is bad, it's only been dropped 150,000 times from where it's mounted. May correct that. I belong to procrastinators anonymous (I'll do it later). I'll do some checking and get it done! Thanks again!

Hi I have water to the one zone, but the sprinkler heads do not come up. water just flows out. I have changed the diagram three times. every time it starts working properly, but only for a few cycles and then it fails again. It seems to be a pressure problem? I can pump one of the sprinkler heads Priming and then It will work, but then it does the same thing.

Nice video! Concise and clear. Thank you!

Much appreciated!

Hello, I have one zone that's not working I tried 3 different valves to turn on to see what happens but no water or anything happen. What does that mean? Even if all of my other zones work through controller but 1 and nothing happens if manually turn on through valves? Thanks

My sprinkler box says “Zone 2 err”. All other zones work but obviously zone 2 doesn’t. I know nothing about testing wires, I pretty much only know how to screw in a new lightbulb so this should be fun!

Thank you

I have 4 solenoids and they all work when I turn it quarter turn EXCEPT it seems multiple zones are controlled by each solenoid and one is still not firing???

Awesome video thank you!!

I've got a zone in which the water just dribbles out of some of the sprinkler heads. It happens when the zone is activated from the control box or activated manually at the valve. All the other zones are working fine. There is a big tree near the valves, so I'm thinking the sprinkler line got "pinched" by roots. Is there an easy way to toubleshoot where a bloackage might be? Any other thoughts? Thank you!

I turned the dial on my RainBird panel to TEST ALL Station. Which it did, all SIX zones ran for 2 minutes. Too my surprise, which I discovered 10 hours later, is that TEST all Stations would repeat, and repeat and repeat FOREVER until I turn the dial to OFF. WHY are we not warned about that? Or, is my rainbird control panel defective.

I have rain bird sprinkler system and and all zones work but 1 don't and when I turn it on manually the zone won't turn on could it be because it needs a new solenoid?

Zone one is running longer than the time it is set for. All of the other zones are working perfectly. We have unplugged the system and no change.

What do you meant with “bad timer”?

my problem is the zone will come on with the controller but not when I turn valve manually?

please help. I have a main water valve that feeds the front lawn. that's working, and the irrigation clock (Orbit) turns on front yard sprinkler zones via value box solenoids as expected. there's another water on/off valve that feeds the backyard. when I turn water on for backyard zones, all zones pop up (zones 4, 5, and 6)...the solenoids in backyard value box are not manually turned on, they're in auto mode (governed by the Orbit irrigation clock). what do you think is happening?!

I have a zone that won't turn off. Not sure if current opens it or closes it.

Printable guide not available. Thank you.

my rain bird sprinkler system's zone 8's sprinkler heads are not spraying, no pressure to push the heads up, but I can see the water flowing out of sprinkler head. at the mean time, the sprinkler box/valve in the ground start to filled/ flood with water. what could be the problem? thanks for your help

Some sprinklers same zone won’t turn on? Help

Whats the cost of a cillanoid???

Where’s The Link?

So all I need to do is run a single wire from controller and hook it to solenoid that’s not getting power to it

The printable guide link doesn't work

My valves work manually but when I turn off, one sprinkler is slowly leaking water.

tried to go to your printable Guide today 08/08/2022. .HAS BEEN TAKEN DOWN

Printable guide is no longer available...

Bro do you live in the Coachella valley just spotted the hat! 🧢

All my valves and solenoid are underwater.

My valve number 1 won’t turn on my sprinklers with the timer but manually it turns on 😂

I have six zones on my controller, but 4th and 5th zone are no longer showing on my programmer.......I have A1 to A4....A5 and A6 are no longer showing.....they do if I switch to run them manually....