Every day we need a means of transport to either go to work, run errands. E- scooters are on the rise and having one is convenient, especially if you live in an urban setting.
So, you have just bought your scooter and unfortunately, as you are about to be on the move it won’t start. Like any other motorized means of transport, several parts could be the problem such as batteries, tires, wheels, among others.
You may have to perform an array of tests to pinpoint why your scooter is not working.
So how do you troubleshoot an electric scooter?
1. My Electric Scooter Is Dead
This is a situation where your scooter is unable to start despite turning on the ignition.
Before panicking make sure that:
- Batteries are fully charged and do not try to test the scooter with the charger still plugged. Power may be disabled when charging as a safety feature also check the fuse it might be blown. Make sure it is still intact by removing and inspecting closely for burning or breakage, the motor cannot work with a defective fuse.
- The on and off switch might be defective so make sure it is on then remove the switch from the scooter and check for loose connections
- Bad controller. This is the brain of the scooter and controls all aspects of the power system. If it is frayed, then the scooter cannot move.
Also loose for any broken parts on your scooter and smell for anything burnt. This might make it easier to pinpoint the cause of the problem.
2. Scooter Cannot Move
The scooter switch is on, but your scooter is not moving, what to do:
Check Brake power interrupt switch
The switch could need to be adjusted or you could have your fingers on the brake lever hence activating the brake power switch. An easy way to test if the switch is the problem is to unplug it from the controller and then try to run the scooter.
The switch is the problem if the scooter will only run when the brake lever is disconnected.
Check Connections
Connections are vital for any motorized vehicle so check all connections by following the wires while checking for broken or burnt wires if any are present find replacement and your scooter will be great again.
Check the Controller
As the brain of the scooter, once broken then the scooter cannot function. The controller manages all internal functions.
Unfortunately testing the controller is complex so the best way to detect trouble is to test the rest of the components connected to the controller for functionality if so, the controller has a problem
Motor function
Checking motor functionality is done by making a direct connection to the battery. Get two insulated wires and cut them approximately 6-8 inches long. Raise the scooter and remove the battery.
Locate the wires from the motor and disconnect them from the controller. Attach the first jumper wire to the positive inside the wire clip from the motor and the same for the negative wire coming from the motor.
Take the red wire and make contact with the positive terminal of the battery and the same with the black wire on the negative terminal. If the motor starts and the rear wheel turns, then the motor is in good condition.
If the rear wheel does not turn the motor needs replacing.
3. Scooter Runs Erratically
You are busy riding your scooter and it jerks suddenly without your prompting, this is dangerous you need to figure out the issue immediately. Check for these issues;
Loose connections
The scooter that runs okay then stops might have a connection issue, a wire that shorts out and the best thing is to check for loose, broken or burnt wires.
Brake power interrupt switch
As indicated above there is a safety feature that activates when you rest your finger on the brake lever hence activating brake power or the switch could need to be adjusted.
First, try adjusting the brakes and if the scooter does not work then this is the problem.
Adjusting the power interrupt switch varies for various models. To loosen the brake tension, turn the brake adjuster towards the brake lever.
This will reduce tension on the safety switch.
If the adjustment does not work check the owner’s manual or contact the manufacturers for detailed instructions.
4. Power loss
A scooter without power cannot move, you are certain you charged the scooter, but it has lost power quickly.
To correct this, check a few things for functionality:
Check wheel bearings
Wheel bearings allow wheels to rotate freely on axles. To ensure the scooter is efficient it is important to check the bearings often for wear and tear. Sand or mud can easily shorten their lifespan therefore it is important to change these periodically for best performance.
Batteries might be failing
Check the case for damage, leakage, cracking or bulges.
Also, has it been a long time since you charged the batteries? Check for looseness on the connecting tabs of the battery and finally try changing the batteries for better performance.
Check tire pressure
Low tire pressure is a culprit for the loss of power it uses small tires, they tend to lose air pressure much more easily than a car or a motorcycle.
Tires might also have a flat. Which might be as a result of improper tire installation or tire pressure.
Make sure the tires are properly inflated and keep the tires as full as possible. In addition, make sure to fill the inner tube with air before installing it.
After all these tests, you should have a pretty good idea of what could be troubling your scooter and take measures to correct them.