Cold-start the Quest Kodiak REP in X-Plane 12 with the correct PT6 sequence, Ng and ITT checks, abort points and failed-start fixes.
To cold-start the Quest Kodiak with SimCoders REP in X-Plane 12, load a cold-and-dark state, complete the REP walkaround, set fuel to BOTH and the condition lever to CUTOFF, then use the battery, boost pump, ignition and starter. Introduce fuel only at checklist Ng; monitor ITT and oil pressure throughout.
Set up a true cold-and-dark REP flight
Start from a ramp or parking position with X-Plane’s Start with engines running option disabled, then select the appropriate cold-and-dark state in REP. Our guide to setting an X-Plane 12 parking start with the engines off covers the simulator-side setup.
Use an X-Plane 12-compatible release of both the Kodiak and its REP package. REP can retain aircraft condition, battery charge, wear and failures independently of X-Plane’s basic starting option, so reloading the aircraft may not clear a previous fault.
- Complete the REP walkaround and remove inlet, exhaust and other protective covers.
- Remove tie-downs, but leave the chocks fitted for the start if REP provides them.
- Set the parking brake and confirm the area around the propeller is clear.
- Set the fuel selector to BOTH.
- Place the power lever at idle, propeller lever fully forward and condition lever at CUTOFF.
- Confirm the emergency power lever is in its normal, stowed position.
- Set the inertial separator for ground operation as specified by the installed checklist.
- Leave the avionics, generator and unnecessary electrical loads off.
Synchronise any throttle quadrant before starting. A mixture or condition-lever axis that is assigned twice can pull the virtual condition lever out of cutoff, or move it back from low idle just after light-off. This is one of the most common causes of an apparently correct REP start failing.
If the electrical, fuel and avionics order is unfamiliar, our general cold-and-dark aircraft workflow explains how the stages fit together without replacing the Kodiak checklist.
Quest Kodiak REP cold-start procedure
The PT6 must be rotating at adequate gas-generator speed before fuel is introduced, after which ITT, Ng and oil pressure become the critical indications.
- Apply battery power: Turn the battery on and verify that the indicated voltage is adequate for a start. Switch on the anti-collision light specified by the installed checklist, while leaving the avionics off.
- Pressurise the fuel system: Turn on the auxiliary or boost fuel pump and check the relevant fuel-pressure indication. Keep the condition lever firmly at cutoff.
- Engage the starter: Confirm that the propeller turns and that Ng, the gas-generator speed, rises smoothly. A stationary propeller, stalled Ng or unusually slow acceleration is a reason not to add fuel.
- Set ignition for start: Use the separate ignition control if fitted by the panel configuration. If ignition is coupled to another start control, confirm the expected annunciation rather than looking for a switch that is not present.
- Introduce fuel at the checklist Ng: Once Ng reaches the minimum printed in the installed Kodiak or REP checklist, move the condition lever positively from CUTOFF to LOW IDLE. Kodiak procedures commonly use a value in the low-teens range, but that rounded description is not a substitute for the checklist supplied with the installed version.
- Monitor light-off: ITT should begin rising promptly and Ng should continue to accelerate. Confirm that oil pressure appears within the checklist allowance. Keep one hand ready to return the condition lever to cutoff.
- Disengage the starter: Turn the starter off at the specified Ng, commonly around 50% in Kodiak procedures. Do not leave it energised once the engine is self-sustaining.
- Complete the after-start flow: Return ignition and the boost pump to their normal post-start positions, bring the generator and alternator online as directed, and verify stable voltage and charging indications before powering the avionics.
REP or aircraft checklist values take precedence over approximate figures quoted here. Different Kodiak cockpit packages and REP revisions can alter switch logic, annunciations and the exact starter cut-out point.
When should you abort a Kodiak PT6 start?
Move the condition lever immediately to CUTOFF if ITT approaches its limit, Ng stagnates after fuel is introduced, light-off does not occur or oil pressure fails to appear within the checklist allowance.
- No light-off: Ng rises normally but ITT does not. Cut off fuel rather than continuing to crank with fuel selected.
- Hot start: ITT rises abnormally fast or approaches the marked limit. Cut off fuel at once.
- Hung start: The engine lights but Ng stops accelerating below normal idle. Return the condition lever to cutoff.
- No oil pressure: Shut down within the time allowed by the installed checklist.
- Weak cranking: Ng rises too slowly to reach the fuel-introduction threshold. Do not move the condition lever out of cutoff.
After cutting off fuel, follow the REP checklist for ignition, pump and starter use. If the checklist permits, continue motoring briefly with the condition lever at cutoff to clear residual fuel and move cooling air through the engine. Respect the simulated starter operating and cooling limits; repeated attempts can drain the battery or add REP starter and engine damage.
Do not attempt an immediate relight merely because ITT is falling. Let the starter and engine recover, confirm adequate battery voltage, check for residual fuel and identify the original fault first.
Why does the REP Kodiak crank but not start?
A cranking Kodiak needs adequate Ng, ignition and uninterrupted fuel flow; the observed symptom usually shows which part is missing.
| Symptom | Likely cause and corrective action |
|---|---|
| Starter does nothing | Check battery power, battery charge, the starter control and REP’s maintenance or failure state. Use supported ground power or battery servicing if available rather than repeatedly cycling the switch. |
| Propeller turns but Ng rises slowly | The battery may be weak, the starter may be damaged or the engine may be very cold. Leave the condition lever at cutoff until adequate Ng is available. |
| Normal Ng but no ITT rise | There has been no light-off. Check ignition, fuel quantity, selector position, boost pump and whether the condition lever actually reached low idle. |
| ITT rises rapidly | Cut off fuel immediately. Fuel may have been introduced too early, starter speed may be inadequate or residual fuel may remain from an earlier attempt. |
| Engine starts, then dies | The starter may have been released before the engine became self-sustaining, or a hardware axis may have pulled the condition lever back towards cutoff. |
| Condition lever moves by itself | Remove duplicate mixture or condition-axis assignments, recalibrate the controller and match the physical lever position before trying again. |
| Engine runs but generator remains offline | Allow the engine to stabilise, check generator and alternator controls, then inspect REP for a persisted electrical fault. Keep the avionics off until electrical power is stable. |
If the Kodiak loads but the REP controls, menus or status indications are absent, treat that as a plugin problem rather than an engine-start problem. Check the package against our instructions for installing, enabling and reloading X-Plane 12 plugins, and inspect X-Plane’s plugin status and log for a failed load.
When is the Kodiak ready for avionics and taxi?
The Kodiak is ready for avionics when idle is stable, oil pressure is normal and the generator or alternator indications show a healthy electrical supply.
Power the G1000 only after those checks. If the displays remain dark or navigation functions are the next obstacle, our guide to operating and troubleshooting the G1000 in X-Plane 12 covers the display and flight-planning side.
Leave the condition lever at low idle during the initial warm-up and select high idle only when the aircraft checklist calls for it. Before taxi, complete the after-start and before-taxi checks, remove the REP chocks, test the brakes and confirm the inertial separator is appropriate for the surface conditions.