Why Your Exmark Zero-Turn Mower Won’t Start and What to Do About It

You turn the key in the ignition, but nothing occurs. The first step in diagnosing why the engine won’t turn over is to check the power going to the starter motor.

When the battery is low, the wiring and components are corroded or loose, the fuse is blown, the ignition switch is broken, the safety switch doesn’t work, the starter solenoid is broken, or the starter motor is broken, the Exmark zero-turn won’t turn over or crank.

Keep in mind the security measures outlined in your Exmark’s manual. Before making any modifications to the electrical system, disconnect the negative battery cable.

Never attempt electrical work on your own; instead, find a qualified mechanic who can help you out.

What to Do If Your Exmark Lawnmower Won’t Start

Is the Battery in Your Exmark Zero Turn Mower Dead or Faulty?

An insufficient or nonexistent charge from the battery will prevent the Exmark mower’s engine from starting. Maintaining a fully charged battery is essential.

Since uncharged batteries can freeze in freezing temperatures, this is especially important to remember while putting it away for the winter.

Follow the guidelines in “5 Things That Are Draining the Life of Your Lawn Mower Battery” to check the health of your battery.

To recharge your 12-volt battery, you should use a battery charger. Be sure to safeguard your eyes and skin from potential electrical shock before proceeding. Here’s how to use a charger for your lawnmower’s battery:

• Get at the terminals and batteries. A screwdriver may be required to access the battery. Never take the battery out of its housing.
• The positive cable should be plugged in first when connecting the charging cables. The plus sign cable, or the red cable, is this one. The cable’s positive end must be connected to the battery’s positive terminal.
• Join the negative end of the cable to the battery’s negative post. We’re talking about the negative- or black-shielded wire here.
• In order to avoid electrocution, avoid touching anything that isn’t covered in rubber.
• Determine the ideal charging current and voltage. Lawnmower batteries typically have a voltage level of 12 volts. Higher current speeds up the battery’s charging process. Initiate with no more than two camps and no more than ten amps of power. Charging slowly is preferable.

A new battery should be installed if the old one is unable to maintain its charge. You may get a replacement battery at any local hardware store, auto parts store, or lawn mower dealership.

Don’t forget to bring along your dead batteries. If you don’t return your old battery, most stores will charge you a core fee.

Your Exmark Zero Turn Mower’s Loose or Corroded Wires and Connections

The continual motion of the mower poses a threat to the integrity of the connections between the various cables and parts.

Make sure there is no break in the circuit by double checking all of the connections on your Exmark zero turn’s wiring and components. Look for signs of corrosion, which can disrupt electrical continuity, in all of the electrical components.

First disconnect the batteries, then take off any rusted wiring, components, or terminals.

Get some baking soda and a wire brush and see if you can get rid of this rusting (A ratio of 2 cups of water to 3 teaspoons of baking soda). If the corrosion is too bad, cleaning won’t be enough, then new terminals will need to be installed.

Your Exmark Zero Turn’s Fuse Blown

For further safety against electrical hazards like power surges and shorts, your Exmark was built with a fuse. Make sure there is no blown fuse in your mower.

Checking for a blown fuse can be done by touching the probes of a multimeter to the fuse’s individual prongs and reading the resulting resistance.

If the resistance reading is close to zero, the fuse is fine. If the resistance value is infinity, the fuse is probably blown.

Always use a fuse of the same amperage rating to replace a blown one. It’s best to have your Exmark sent to a repair shop or dealer if you keep having fuse failures.

The Exmark Zero Turn’s Faulty Ignition Switch

In the event that the ignition key switch is broken, turning the key produces no effect. The engine won’t turn over on your Exmark.

If you suspect the ignition switch is malfunctioning, you can test it with a multimeter by measuring the amount of resistance it presents. Find the prongs labeled “B” for the battery and “S” for the starter solenoid.

The key must be inserted and turned to the “on” position. One probe is touched to the B prong, and the second probe is touched to the S prong of the multimeter, which has been configured to measure resistance.

Resistance readings close to 0 ohms indicate a high-quality key switch for the ignition. If the resistance reading on your ignition key switch is infinite, you need to replace it.

Exmark Lawnmower with Faulty Safety Switch

To ensure your safety, Exmark has installed an operator presence control system. It’s possible that your Exmark won’t start due to a faulty safety switch.

You can use a multimeter to check the functionality of your switch. To troubleshoot, you can also temporarily disable the safety switch to see if the switch is faulty.

Never cut grass without first flipping the mower’s safety switch.

Never operate a lawnmower with the safety switch removed. Nobody can predict when they may require a safety switch, but having one available can prevent serious harm.

Faulty Exmark 0–Turn Starter Solenoid

The Exmark’s engine may be started using an electromagnetic switch called a starter solenoid.

When the spring weakens or the copper plate corrodes, the starter solenoid can fail. The solenoid may fail if the starting is weak, the battery is weak, or the ground is poor.

Your battery needs to be completely charged before you can test the starter solenoid. Follow the procedures outlined in “How to Tell Your Lawn Mower Solenoid is Bad” to determine if the solenoid is functioning properly.

Your Exmark Lawnmower’s Starter Motor Is Bad.

If your Exmark won’t start and you’ve already checked the battery, cables, cabling, ground, and starter solenoid, you need to check the starter. It is possible to take off the starter and test it.

Instead of blindly purchasing a new starter for your Exmark mower, I suggest having your local repair shop that specializes in beginning and alternator repairs inspect your current one and, if necessary, rebuild it.