Do You Have a Bad Honda Mower Starter Solenoid? (Troubleshoot)
If you hear a clicking noise but the mower still won’t start, it’s probably the result of a faulty starter solenoid.
If the Honda’s engine turns over when the starter motor is used without the solenoid, the solenoid is probably broken. Battery chargers can be used to check the functionality of a starter solenoid that is attached to the starter.
Be careful when handling the starter solenoid. Always remember to use safe driving techniques as outlined in your Honda owner’s manual.
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Before diagnosing, repairing, or operating, be sure you’ve read and understood all of the safety recommendations in the equipment’s operator’s manual.If you don’t feel confident in your abilities or lack the necessary knowledge to make the repair securely, you should get some help from a specialist.
Table of Contents
What Does a Solenoid Do in a Honda Lawn Mower?
To turn the Honda lawn mower on and off, simply flip the solenoid. The starter motor is activated by pressing a button on an electromagnet switch.
The starter solenoid is typically attached to the starter motor, though this is not required for proper operation. Some lawnmower solenoids are placed in a more accessible location, such as near the battery instead of the starter.
3 and 4 Post Solenoids
This is a standard wiring diagram for solenoids with three or four terminals. Keep in mind that not every lawnmower has the same wiring diagram.
Some Honda lawnmowers’ wiring diagrams will cover advanced features like lights and 12-volt ports. These schematics just illustrate the bare bones of the wiring.
What Does the Solenoid Look Like on a Honda Lawn Mower?
Solenoids can take on a variety of visual forms. It’s possible that round and square shapes exist. Perhaps three or four posts protrude from it. On the top of the starter, we’ll fasten some solenoids.
The solenoid receives power from the Honda battery, specifically the positive (+) line. You can quickly and easily locate your solenoid by following the positive connection from the battery.
Every Honda engine with an electronic starter has a solenoid.
Why Does a Honda Lawn Mower Solenoid Fail?
An electrical switch known as a Honda solenoid. Things that use electricity have a 100% failure rate.
A spring and copper plate are housed inside the solenoid.If the spring in your Honda starter solenoid becomes too weak or the copper plate corrodes, your solenoid will stop working.
A weak starter, faulty battery, or poor ground might potentially cause the solenoid to fail.
When attempting to diagnose a solenoid, it helps to have some idea of what signs to look for.
Telltale Signs of a Faulty Honda Lawnmower Starter Solenoid
If you hear a click or hum when you turn the key to start your Honda riding or zero-turn mower, the starter solenoid may be broken.
If a wire starts to smoke or melt at high temperatures, it could be a sign that your solenoid is malfunctioning.
How to Recognize a Faulty Solenoid in a Honda Lawnmower
Items Required:
- A Volt-Ohms Gauge
- Screwdriver
- Continuous Lighting
- Test wrenches for slack wiring
- Screwdriver Alternative: Needle-Nose Pliers
- Charger for Batteries (Optional)
There are a number of techniques you can use to figure out what’s wrong with your lawn mower’s solenoid.
1. Ensure that your Honda’s battery is fully charged.
Check the voltage of your battery with a voltmeter to make sure it’s at least 12.3 volts. Check read our post “5 Things That Are Draining the Life of Your Lawn Mower Battery” to learn more about battery testing.
2. Preparing Your Honda Mower
- Place the brakes in park
- Put your lawn mower in park and give it a rest.
- Insert the key and turn it on.
3. Bypass Honda Starter Solenoid with Screwdriver
To avoid using the starter, lay a long screwdriver over the solenoid and touch the two cables. You need to locate the cable leading from the battery to the starter.
When the screwdriver touches the wires, it could cause a spark. Don’t freak out; this happens frequently.
Solenoid failure is more likely if the engine starts while bypassing the solenoid. Needle nose pliers can be used to bypass the solenoid if the screwdriver doesn’t do the trick.
Check for a poor ground or wires that are loose before replacing the starter solenoid. These obstructions may prevent the solenoid from receiving the power it needs to function.
4. Perform a Solenoid Test on a Honda Starter
Starter-mounted solenoids can be examined. Take off the engine’s starter and plug a battery charger into the solenoid to see whether it works. You can use this to check how well the starting is communicating with the solenoid.
After taking the starter off your lawnmower, connect the negative (-) clamp to the starter case and the positive (+) clamp to the solenoid’s large post and exciter wire. When the starter is out, we just do a quick bench test.
Can the Starter Solenoid of a Honda Lawn Mower Be Disconnected?
By inserting a long screwdriver across the solenoid, you may prevent the battery wire from making contact with the solenoid and instead directly power the starting on a Honda.
Take caution. A spark is to be expected from the connection and is completely natural. Never risk your safety by not donning the proper equipment.
