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2 zones suddenly stopped working
Our Rain Bird system with 7 zones worked fine for a few weeks after starting it this summer, then suddenly zones 1 & 2 stopped working. They will turn on if you do it manually at the valves, but then they won't turn back off. We tried replacing the solenoids but that did not help. We even traded solenoid from a working zone. the Zone 1 solenoid now works in Zone 6 but not vice versa. What do we try next? It seems to be a huge coincidence to have 2 zones stop working at the same time.
time for an electrical check of the wiring
I'm 99% sure it's not the wiring from what you've stated.
If it was the wiring then zone 1 would have worked when you hooked up the wires from zone 6 which works but check the wire splices at the valves anyway in case there's a second issue.
Some valves wont shut off once opened manually with the bleeder screw due to the flow control open too far or an old diaphragm. This is a frequent problem with brass valve adapters.
It would help if we knew what model valves you have.
It's most likely the diaphragm's are bad.
Having two valves go bad at once is more than possible.
Could be you had some plumbing work done recently and debris got into the line clogging a port in two separate valves. Are valves 1 and 2 on the end of the manifold?
How did you get the valve to shut off?