Error 3
Gardena Drive Motor Failure or Drive Circuit Fault

Display shows “Error 3 – No drive” and the mower does not move even though the blades may spin.

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Defective left or right wheel drive motor, Damaged drive gear or wheel hub on Gardena drive unit, Loose or broken drive motor cable, Fault in main control board drive output

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Press STOP, switch the mower OFF, remove the key (if equipped), and disconnect the charging station power before working underneath the mower.

  • Check for obstructions: Lift the mower and inspect both rear drive wheels. Remove any stones, branches, or packed grass blocking wheel rotation.
  • Spin wheels by hand: Each drive wheel should rotate with some resistance but without grinding or locking. A seized wheel may indicate a failed bearing or gear in the drive unit.
  • Inspect wheel hubs: Verify that the wheels are firmly attached to the drive shafts and that the plastic drive teeth are not stripped.
  • Check drive motor cables: Open the mower housing according to the Gardena service instructions. Inspect the connectors from the main PCB to each drive motor for corrosion, loose pins, or damaged insulation.
  • Test motors individually: If you have a low-voltage DC supply and experience, briefly power each motor off the mower to confirm it runs smoothly. Replace any motor that does not spin or makes loud grinding noises.
  • Reassemble and test: Reconnect all cables, close the housing, place the mower on the charging station, and start a test run.

If both motors test good but Error 3 persists, the main control board drive stage is likely defective and should be replaced by a qualified technician.

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Repair Difficulty

Hard 4/5

Required Part

Gardena Drive Motor Assembly
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