Electric scooters are powered by batteries that run the wheels for your ride. Sometimes they have problems within the electrical system that results in the scooter’s starting mechanism. Typically if you have minor problems like wiring problems and charging problems, you can easily fix them in your home. Apart from the minor problems, you can do some more repairs at home. This article will guide you through the common causes for your scooter’s starting problem in simple steps.
Tools for Repairing a Scooter that Doesn’t Start
For this DIY you’ll require some basic tools that can be found in the local hardware and electrical stores. Some of these can be found even in your garage.
1. Screwdriver Set
A screwdriver set has many variations of screwdriver tips that are intended for multiple usages. For this particular DIY, you’ll need more than one screwdriver. This is because each component of the scooter has a little different variation in screws. I would recommend a magnetic bit screwdriver set.
2. Multimeter
A multimeter is used for checking any anomalies in a circuit. As your e-scooter is battery powered, all of the connections and wirings make a whole circuit. It will also help determine the condition of your charger, motor, and battery.
3. Hex Wrench
Hex wrenches have six flat surfaces that fit into a hex wrench screw socket. In some scooter models, the throttle is attached with a hex screw. A 2 mm hex wrench would do in most cases.
4. Soldering Iron
Soldering irons are used for attaching wires and circuit components in your circuit board. The power button and some other portion of your circuit may require soldering for this repair project.
5. Wipe Clothing
Any piece of old clothing can be used for wiping the surfaces of your scooter. For this project, an old T-Shirt can be an easy option.
When Doesn’t Your Scooter Start?
Since your electric scooter runs on batteries it has many connections that are attached with your handlebar, battery, and motor. Any of the electrically connected parts can cause your problems in starting the motor. Below are the most common causes of your scooter’s starting problem.
- Charging Issues
- Power Button Problem
- Connection and Wiring Problem
- Throttle problem
- Fuse problem
- Battery issues
- Motor problem
Let’s dive into the problems.
Charging Issues
The most common reason that your scooter is having trouble with starting is that it is not getting proper charges and thus the battery is down. So, either there is something wrong with the battery or with the charger. In this section, we will focus on the charger issue. Let’s find out!
Charger Problem
You can figure out the problem quickly using a Multimeter. Normally, your charger should have an indicator light that changes color with charging. If the light is not properly indicating you should check it.
Step-1: Connect the Charger with a Power Source
The multimeter will check the voltage and electronic flow of your charger. So, make sure to connect the charger with your power socket properly.
Step-2: Set the Multimeter’s Knob to DC-200
The output voltage is converted into DC of your charger. Generally, a setting of DC-200 will do the job.
Step-3: Connect the Probes with Charger’s Connector Holes
It doesn’t matter which probe or test lead goes into which one. Just connect them properly and make sure that they are not connected to the earthing hole.
Step-4: Check the Multimeter’s Display for Reading
Ideally, the reading should be 24 or -24. But ranges may vary depending on charge flow and other reasons. You may get a reading of -30 or 30 too.
Step-5: Switch the Probes and Check the Reading again
Take the negative to the positive one and the positive to the negative one. See that the reading is the same or not. If you have different readings or no proper reading at all, probably this is the time to change your charger.
Power Button Issues
Most of the electric scooters have a power button to turn on the motor. Usually, the button is on the handlebar. Some of them have built-in indicator lights. If you have problems with the indicator light or clicks of your button you should probably check for problems. Usually, there could be three probable problems.
A. Dust and Moist Collections
Over time as your scooter faces all the dust and moisture from your road travels, sometimes they may get into the switch circuit and build up into the pressing area. However, this problem has a quick fix.
Step-1: Unscrew the Switch-Board Lid
Check what size of the screw is used for your switch lid. Take the proper screwdriver tip and unscrew slowly. Make sure to keep the screws securely in a place where you’ll find them easily and they will not move.
Step-2: Carefully Open Up the Switch Cover
Some models require little pressure to open up the lid. Even some other models may not have any screws at all. They will just require pressures from their sides to open up slowly.
Step-3: Check for Dust or Moisture
You can use your smartphone’s flashlight to check for dust build-ups. They should cover up the pressing area.
Step-4: Take a Piece of Clean Cloth
Any old piece of clothing will do the job. Old T-Shirts are an excellent option.
Step-5: Clean the Dirty Areas Carefully
Use your finger to clean the dirty areas. If they are not very visible then you might also use a small brush for better cleaning.
Step-6: Fit Everything Back as They Were Before
After cleaning the area carefully put the lid back on the place. Find the screws and fit them using fingers. Use the screwdrivers gently and slowly to align with the natural threading. Do not pressurize if the screw has finished the rotation.
B. Loosened Switch Connection
Sometimes due to harsh road trips, the shaking of your scooter may cause a loose connection to your power button. If this happens you can use a Soldering Iron to attach the connections back. First, follow the first five steps for cleaning your switch. Then follow the below steps.
Step-1: Examine the Loosened Portion
Use your phone’s flashlight to find out which portion is loosened and disconnected. See if you can fit it back or not.
Step-2: Heat up the Soldering Iron
Connect your Soldering Iron with a power socket and wait for it to build up heat.
Step-3: Hold the Switch End with the Board’s Connection Properly
You can use tweezers if you cannot hold the connection properly with your fingers. Hold them onto the correct position so that you can use the Soldering Iron without burning your fingers or damaging other areas.
Step-4: Use the Soldering Iron’s Tip to Melt the Silver Portion
Carefully put some pressure on the lead portion and melt it. When it’s soft connect it with the switch’s end properly.
Step-5: Let them Cool Down
After the connection is made, put away the Soldering Iron. Hold onto the switch until it’s hard and cold.
After this fit everything back to their correct positions. Check if your button is working or not.
C. Damaged Switch
Sometimes the switch can be damaged for numerous reasons. You can easily check that with your Multimeter. First, open up the lid of your switchboard and clean it as mentioned before.
Step-1: Set the Multimeter’s Dial to Continuity Test Symbol
The symbol should resemble something like a sideway wifi symbol. Turn the dial and set it properly.
Step-2: Turn on the Power Button
The continuity test will work when your switch is on and the circuit is full. If your switch is not damaged it should show continuity reading on the Multimeter.
Step-3: Place the Test Leads to the Opposite Ends of Your Switch
Take the test probes of your Multimeter and place them where your switch is connected with the circuit board. It doesn’t matter which color goes into which connection. Normally, the opposites are a switch’s two main connections. You should have more than two connection metals in your switch. But that’s alright, you can check each opposite connection with your Multimeter.
Step-4: Check the Reading
If your switch is fine then the Multimeter will beep. If not, then it will not beep. In the case of a damaged switch, you will need to replace the switch. Look onto your servicing stores for a new switch for your specific scooter. Follow the next steps to replace the damaged one.
Step-5: Use the Soldering Iron to Detach the Switch’s Connection
Heat up your Soldering Iron. Place the tip of your Soldering Iron and put a little pressure to melt the lead. Use a tweezer or something with a thin flat tip to make the switch up. Use the same method for each connection.
Step-6: Place the New Switch’s Connectors in the Proper Place as Before
Notice how your previous switch had its all connection components placed on the board. Place them accordingly.
Step-7: Solder Them back
Use the Soldering Iron to melt the lead and connect them accordingly. Check if the switch is properly working or not. If everything is fine, put everything back.
Connection & Wiring Issues
Sometimes your scooter’s wiring gets loose connections in the wires and sometimes even some of the wires get broken. You can easily check them using the Multimeter’s ‘Continuity Test’. Let us dive into the process.
A. Power Button To Deck
This section has long wiring that is connected with the power button and the circuit inside your scooter’s deck. Sometimes it gets leakage and disconnects from the power source, resulting in a failure in starting. This issue can be easily checked and repaired.
Step-1: Unscrew the Deck
Examine the rubber portion of your scooter and find out the screw heads and sockets. Choose the proper screwdriver tip for the job. Use little pressure to unscrew the lid.
Step-2: Unplug the Handlebar’s Connection
The power button and the throttle is connected with a clip into the deck with the circuit. The clips can be easily pressed with fingers and be detached.
Step-3: Turn On the Power Button
Turn on the power button to check the continuity test.
Step-4: Set the Multimeter to Continuity Test Mode
Turn the dial and set the Multimeter’s knob to Continuity Test Mode.
Step-5: Place the Probes
Take the test leads of your Multimeter and place them carefully into the metal portions of the clip. Place the two leads in the opposite connections.
Step-6: Check Reading
Carefully notice the beeping when you have touched the probes with metal portions. If there’s a problem in the wires there will be no beeping.
Step-7: Connect the New Wire
Buy new wire for your scooter’s model. Carefully remove the old one’s connection by detaching the clips. Fit the new one using the clip.
B. Inside the Deck
Inside the deck, you have your batteries, motor connections, fuse, and other necessary parts. Normally this portion does not get damaged since they are not exposed. However, you can check the problems quickly with your Multimeter.
Step-1: Set the Multimeter to Continuity Test Mode
Just as before this testing will also use the Continuity Test Mode.
Step-2: Place the Probes to both Ends of the Same Wire of Your Battery
Detach the battery using the clips. Look for the metal portions. Touch your Multimeter’s test leads to the two ends of the same wire of your battery.
Step-3: Check Readings
If the wire is fine you should notice a beep in your Multimeter.
Step-4: Repeat the Process for the Other Wires
Check all the other wires that are connected among motor, battery, and handlebars. Check for any anomaly.
Step-5: Change the Cables
Take out the old wires and use the clips to replace them with the new ones.
Battery Issues
Usually, electric scooters run on more than one battery cells that are connected in a series circuit system. Typically they add up to 24 volts. But you can easily check that by reading the given description on your battery’s printed portion. If you have more than one cell, just add up the number. We can check the battery problems using a Multimeter.
Step-1: Disconnect the Battery Connections
Open up the deck lid. See the battery’s connection with the motor and other parts. Press the clips and disconnect.
Step-2: Set the Multimeter to DC-200
Since your battery has 24 volts, dial the knob of Multimeter to DC-200.
Step-3: Connect the Probes
Connect the red probe with the red one in your battery and the black probe with the black or blue of your battery. Place the probe tip properly on the metal portion of your battery’s connector.
Step-4: Check Readings
If your battery is fine then the display of your Multimeter should show a figure around 24. It can be a little more than 24. But if it’s under 24 or 23 then your battery has damage and needs replacements.
Step-5: Unscrew the Battery
If your battery is secured with screws, unscrew them using the proper screwdriver from your kit. If your battery is placed into its casing, then just find out the removal section and use your fingernail or minus screwdriver tip to remove them.
Step-6: Fit the New One and Connect the Wires
Screw your new battery in position or fit them in the casing, depending on your scooter’s model. Connect the wire clippings properly.
Throttle Problem
If your scooter has throttle and the throttle is not working after you turn on the power, then probably you need to change your throttle. But before changing the throttle check the other parts properly for other problems. Buy a new throttle for your specific model to replace it.
Step-1: Unscrew the Throttle
Many of the throttles are attached with a hex screw. Some of them may have normal screws. Pick up the right tool for your specific scooter. Mostly a 2 mm hex wrench works for the job. Put some pressure to unscrew the attachment. Carefully take the parts apart.
Step-2: Open the Deck Cover
Use screwdrivers and other necessary tools to open the deck cover of your scooter.
Step-3: Disconnect the Throttle Wire Using Its Clip
The throttle’s connection has a clip, so simply use it to disconnect the throttle’s connection. Take the throttle’s wires out of the deck.
Step-5: Fit the New Throttle
Simply put back the new throttle in the place of the old one. Carefully put the deck’s portion where the whole or ridge is situated. Connect the wires using their clips.
Fuse Issues
Electric scooters use fuses to secure the electrical flow. Sometimes when there are problems with the charging or electricity flow, the fuses get damaged and prevent battery or motor damages. Typically, there are two fuses connected with your battery. You can easily change them at home.
Step-1: Open Up the Deck
Use screwdrivers and other necessary tools to open the deck cover of your scooter.
Step-2: Check the Battery Connection’s Fuse Area
The fusing area is covered with a plastic covering that can be opened with your fingers. Closely check the opening area and use fingers (or fingernails if necessary) to open them up.
Step-3: Use Your Smartphone’s Flashlight to Examine the Fuse
Take out the fuse from its casing and check them using your phone’s flashlight. You’ll see burns when they are damaged.
Step-4: Replace the Fuse
Some of the electric scooters come with an extra fuse with them. You can just easily replace them. In other scooters, you need to buy fuse from service shops. Simply put the new one back into the case and use some pressure if necessary to secure it.
Motor Issues
If your indicator light shows on and you do not have issues with your battery, throttle, or chargers, your motor probably has some issues. The motor is not a part that can be dealt with a DIY repair project. If you can identify the problem then consult your service provider for assistance.
Cautions
Although your electric scooter does not have so many parts, still there are a few things you should remember while diagnosing problems or repairing.
- Use proper settings for your Multimeter. Wrong settings will result in the misreading of your electric parts.
- While replacing the Fuse, do not put pressure on the glass portion.
- If your scooter has a liquid acid battery then treat them carefully. Sometimes damaged batteries leak acids that might burn your skin
- While dealing with circuits carefully avoid short-circuits.
Conclusion
Whether you are a pro rider or just a noob, regular maintenance of your ride will provide qualities to your riding experience. So, invest some of your precious time to maintain your ride on a regular basis. A simple ritual can be done by doing regular check-ups before riding and cleaning after riding. Have a happy ride!