Troubleshooting your scooter.
Having trouble with your scooter or powerchair? Work through these basic tips — they cover most scooters, powerchairs and other electric personal transport vehicles.
Question not answered here? Email info@handicaptravelersdr.com or call us — we'll help immediately.
The scooter will not run
There are several reasons a scooter may fail to operate — but the first thing to check is the battery. Make sure the scooter's charging unit is connected to the scooter, then plug the charger into a standard outlet. Continue charging until the meter reads full.
The scooter is fully charged but will not run
If the battery is fully charged and the scooter still won't move, work through these checks in order:
The key is not in the scooter
Insert the scooter key into the keyhole and turn it to the ON position.
The key is not inserted correctly
Insert the scooter key all the way into the keyhole and turn it to the ON position.
Manual free-wheeling switch or lever
Ensure the manual free-wheeling switch (or lever) is in the OFF (drive) position. This lever is used to disengage the motor and brakes when you need to push the scooter manually.
Power-save mode has activated
Remove the key and wait at least 30 seconds, then insert the key back into the scooter. Power-save prevents the battery from being discharged when the scooter isn't moving; activation time varies but is usually 3–5 minutes.
Circuit breaker needs to be reset
Press the main circuit breaker button (labeled RESET on some scooters) to reset the motor.
Collapsible scooter — extra checks
If you have a collapsible scooter, also look for these potential problems:
The batteries are not seated or connected properly
Make sure both batteries are seated correctly in the base. For clip-type batteries, both clips must connect fully to their battery terminals.
Front-to-rear harness is not connected
Ensure the harness connecting the rear of the scooter to the front section is fully connected. It can become dislodged during normal use if it wasn't fully seated during reassembly.
Battery meter dips very low when I press the throttle
The batteries may have a very low charge — charge them fully before continuing. Operating on a low charge is possible but not recommended: the scooter may stop with little or no warning. If your batteries are older, they might be nearing end of life and should be load-tested.
The scooter hesitates or runs slowly even at full throttle
A few reasons this can happen:
Low battery charge
Charge the batteries fully before continuing to operate the scooter.
Operating on an upward slope
Hesitation is common on inclines. Most scooters run fine on a slight upward slope but at a slower speed — or not at all if the slope is too steep.
Scooter is at maximum capacity
If the rider is close to the scooter's maximum weight capacity, the vehicle may run slightly slower — or not at all on an upward surface.
My circuit breaker repeatedly trips
Likely a battery issue
Repeated breaker trips generally indicate a scooter-battery problem. You may need to charge more frequently if the batteries are older; a load test at a service center will confirm whether they still hold charge.
