How to Troubleshoot an Electric Scooter That’s Not Running

Electric scooters for adults in Australia offer a practical and eco-friendly way to travel within cities. It is also affordable and low-maintenance, enabling anyone to buy personal transport without the hassle. However, as with any vehicle, e-scooters may incur repairs and damages, especially if riders don’t care for their units.

One issue that electric scooter owners may encounter is an electric scooter that’s not running. This issue rarely happens, but it is still possible. For first-time e-scooter owners, it is also good to know how to troubleshoot these kinds of problems before you buy an electric scooter online. If you encounter this problem, this electric scooter repair guide will help you fix this issue.

How to Troubleshoot an Electric Scooter That’s Not Running

Why is my electric scooter not working? Many factors can cause your e-scooter to stop running. Try the methods below to locate the problem and help fix the issue. 

However, make sure that your power switch is on before proceeding with the steps below. It is a simple step that many forget when they encounter this problem. Also, try to push the e-scooter first as you hop on the deck. Some e-scooter need a little push to kickstart the engine. Here is a quick guide on how to ride an electric scooter for first-time riders.

Try these simple fixes first to see if the e-scooter works. If not, proceed with the methods below.

Deep Charge a Stored Battery

Start by knowing the condition of the battery. Has the battery been sitting uncharged for less than six months? Was it fully charged before storing it? You still have a good chance of recharging your e-scooter if it was left uncharged for under six months. Otherwise, you can assume that the battery died.

If you can still recharge the battery, try deep charging it for around 8 hours or more, depending on the maximum charging hours for your e-scooter. After charging, check if the battery works. If it doesn’t, it is best to get a new battery from the same manufacturer and model. 

Meanwhile, the battery may not be a problem if it is charged regularly and is in good condition. Try the next few methods to help you determine the cause.

Inspect the E-scooter Wires and Components

Switch off your e-scooter and place it sideways or upside down. Then, remove the footplate on the deck or the panel underneath it to access the electrical components. When unscrewing the panel, make sure to keep all the screws and bolts and remember which pieces go. Take a photo of the panel before unscrewing as a guide.

Once you see the electricals, inspect the wires and components by sight, smell, and touch. Check if there are any loose, cut, or burnt wires and connectors. Make sure to wear gloves when touching the wires and components to avoid getting shocked or touching leaks or burnt parts.

If you smell burnt plastic, a component or wire is likely burnt. Locate that part and replace it immediately to prevent further damage to the speed controller and other electricals of the e-scooter. Bring the e-scooter to a professional to replace vital parts of the e-scooter and keep you and your e-scooter safe. 

Inspect and Test the Fuse Or Circuit Breaker

If you don’t see any visible damage to your e-scooter, try checking the fuse or circuit breaker. Inspect inside the fuse to see if anything burned. You may need to remove the fuse from the e-scooter for further inspection. If the e-scooter uses a circuit breaker, flip or push it to see if it resets. Circuit breakers usually reset mechanically, but if it is worn out, it will no longer work.

Use a multimeter to determine accurately if a fuse or circuit breaker works. Be careful when handling the components. If you are not sure how to remove the fuse, let a mechanic do it instead.

Test The Brake Lever Switch

If the electric scooter is still not running, test the brake lever switch. This e-scooter part informs the speed controller to stop the motor when braking. If the brake lever is faulty, it can prevent the motor from running. Most e-scooters use open brake switches, while some use closed brake switches.

If you have an open brake lever, remove the brake lever wire connector from the speed control. Then, test the e-scooter if it works. If it does, it means that the brake lever switch is defective. 

Meanwhile, if you have a closed brake lever, disconnect the wire connector from the controller and connect the two terminals where the brake switch was unplugged. Check if the e-scooter runs. If it runs, it means that the closed brake lever switch is defective.

Replace faulty brake lever switches immediately with the same lever designed for your e-scooter. Get the help of a mechanic if you are not sure how to change the brake lever switch. 

Check the Battery Port and Charger

The battery may not be charging well, so check if the battery port and charger works. Plug the charger to the port and into the wall and see if the indicator light on the battery illuminates. If the indicator lights up, it is a good sign that the battery port and charger are working. Otherwise, either the port or charger is damaged and needs to be repaired or replaced.

If your charger doesn’t have an indicator light or if you don’t know which part is defective, use a multimeter to check the voltage of the battery port and charger. Connect the multimeter to the port and check the voltage. It should have the same voltage as the battery. Be careful if the port has male terminals to avoid a short circuit.

If the port has no issues, use the multimeter to check the charger next. First, connect the multimeter to the battery and check if it is below a full charge. If it is, connect the battery to the wall. 

Then, connect the multimeter while it is charging and check if the voltage is increasing slowly. Set the multimeter to a DC voltage range to get an accurate reading. An increasing voltage means that the battery charger is functioning properly. Otherwise, if there is no increase in voltage, the charger is already faulty and needs to be replaced.

Test The Voltage Of The Battery Pack

Next, check the battery voltage using a multimeter. A functioning battery pack will read a higher voltage than its rated voltage level, even if the battery has been stored or discharged for a long time. However, a reading below the rated voltage level, even at full charge, indicates that the battery is defective or worn out. 

Replace the faulty battery immediately with the same specs and brand for your e-scooter. Buy the battery from the same manufacturer or retailer to ensure its authenticity.

Inspect the Speed Controller

An electric scooter that’s not running may also have a problem with the speed controller. Check for any burns with the wires and connectors on the controller. If there are no visible damages or burns on the controller and its wires, test each component connected to it. Then, use the process of elimination to know if the controller is defective. 

If all the components connected to the controller work but the e-scooter still doesn’t run, it means that the speed controller is faulty. This method is tedious but it is a certain way of determining whether the speed controller functions. Change defective speed controllers via service centres or local repair shops. Make sure to buy the same speed controller for your e-scooter as well.

Check the Motor

Inspect the condition of the motor by looking for any visible damages or burns to the motor and its wires. A burnt smell indicates that a part of the motor melted or burned. Locate the burnt part or area and remove it immediately as the burnt parts may affect the other electricals.

If the copper windings melt, it will result in a short circuit and cause the e-scooter to not run. The speed controller can also burn out due to the short circuit. Bring the e-scooter to a mechanic to replace the motor safely. 

Hopefully, this electric scooter repair guide helped you troubleshoot your electric scooter. Ultimately, get a mechanic to repair or replace defective parts in your e-scooter. It will ensure that your e-scooter is handled carefully. 

Learn more about common electric scooter issues to prepare yourself as an e-scooter owner.

For Mearth electric scooter repairs, request a repair via our website and wait for our team to reach out.