99 gt235 won't start, just clicks

[99gt235]

Hey guys!

I have a 99 gt235 that I bought last June and it ran all season without any issues. I winterized it before putting away and it ran fine after that. Once I put it in the garage, I pulled the battery and stored on a wooden shelf in my basement. Today I planned to use the mower and do some yard work. I put the battery on the trickle charger this morning and let it charge for a while. I got the mower out, dusted off, and put the battery in. Tried to start it, but it will only click. I thought maybe it wasn't getting enough juice, so I put the charger on it. Still nothing, only clicking. I have pulled the starter and hooked it to my car with jumper cables, jumped the starter and it spins/engages fine. Checked the battery voltage (14.6 w/ charger on, 12.4 w/o charger, 9.2-9.8 with key on, and 3-4 when trying to start). The voltages at the starter match what I'm seeing on the battery. I can spin the engine without any issues. While I had the starter out, I moved the gear that the starter spins and it moves fine. When I try to start it sounds like the starter gear is repeatedly banging off the gear it meshes with to start. I have tried everything I can think of, wiring looks good (no mice chewed thru them). I have read several other posts, but nothing seems to be the same symptoms. Any help/suggestions would be great since I'm out of ideas. Thanks!

 

[bruceatlam]

Did you try jumping it with your car?? Or try a different battery?? I think the battery is bad. Looks to me like it fails the load test. Voltage at the battery ought to be around 10 lowest when trying to start the tractor.

 

[99gt235]

I tried using an extra battery from my truck that I know is good and was charged. I will try jumping with my car tomorrow and see if that works. Thanks!

 

[Kish318420]

If battery is not the problem ( I would get checked at a local auto supply store like NAPA with a battery tester), then look at solenoid if equipped, then key switch.

 

[99gt235]

Hey, I jumped it with my truck and it started right up. I guess the battery went bad. The battery is only a year old, so hopefully there is some warranty. I appreciate the help!

 

[beenthere]

Figured was a bad battery.. Seems age has little effect on how long they can last... been my experience a few times.

 

[99gt235]

So I jumped the mower this morning and it started right up with the old battery, but not restart with battery alone (I figured this would happen). I was unable to find a battery that was the size I needed and since it was Sunday the dealership wasn't open. I had a spare battery for my truck that is older, but has always seemed to work fine. This battery was close enough in size (590 CCA), so I managed to fit it in the mower. The mower fired right up with this battery in. I went about my lawn work and just as I was finishing up mowing my neighbor waved me over. I shut off the mower thinking everything would be fine. After talking to him, I went to start the mower, but got nothing, not even clicking. I used my truck to jump it, finished my mowing and put it in the garage. Before I go dropping over $100 at the dealership for a battery, is there something else wrong? Was this battery already going bad and using it in the mower finished it off? The battery is still reading 12.4 volts, so I'm not sure what to think. Unless anyone has another idea of something causing a problem I guess I will try a new battery. Thanks!

 

[flyerdan]

It sounds like the starter solenoid. Often the contacts erode and won't make the circuit when engaging the bendix but will bench test off the engine just fine.
Other things to check is for corrosion / bad contact on the battery cable at the starter and also the ground cable at the frame attach point.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Hey, I jumped it with my truck and it started right up. I guess the battery went bad. The battery is only a year old, so hopefully there is some warranty. I appreciate the help!

Most lawnmower batteries have 30 days to 6 months for high dollar ones. Never seen one with over 6 month warranty. Perhaps if you have an Optima battery, it may have a 1 year warranty. About the most you are going to get out of any lawnmower battery is 2 seasons. I just had to replace the one on my Ferris mower after 2 seasons.
Anytime an engine wont turn over, check the battery first by cleaning the terminals, then put it on charge with a regular battery charger, not a battery minder. If the charger doesn't charge it up, it is likely dead but, Before doing anything else put some jumper cable on from a working battery and try it. Most starting problems have something to do with the battery, ie, bad battery, dirty terminals, bad battery cables or corroded ground wire where it attached to the frame. Occasionally you may find that one of the battery cable might be eaten up from the inside from corrosion that is not evident from the outside. I had that happen once. If you exhaust all the items mentioned, then try hooking your jumper cable directly to the starter solenoid to make sure you have no bad cable connections.

 

[Kish318420]

Get out the meter(s), the old analog VOM or digital DVOM, check the charging circuit for the proper voltages (check stator voltage which is AC, the the rectifier/regulator which is DC output. It should be 12.8 to 14.3 volts DC). Check your wiring, corrosion, loose, broken insulation due to heat, age or both (shorts)