Troubleshooting Your Scooter

Having trouble with your scooter or powerchair? We have provided this list of basic troubleshooting tips that will help you get up and running with most types of scooters, powerchairs, and other electric personal transport vehicles.

If you have a troubleshooting question that is not already answered here, please email us at [email protected] or call us toll-free at 1-888-441-7575.

The scooter will not run.

There are several reasons why a scooter may fail to operate - but the first thing to check is the battery. Check and make sure that the scooter's charging unit is connected to the scooter, then plug the charger cord into a standard outlet. Continue charging the battery until the meter reads full.

The scooter is fully charged but will not run.

There are several reasons why a scooter may fail to operate even when the battery is fully charged:

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 that the manual freewheeling switch (or lever) is in the OFF position. This switch (or lever) is present so that you can disengage the motor and braking systems if you ever need to push the scooter manually.

Power-save mode has activated

Remove the key from the scooter and wait for at least 30 seconds, then place the key back into the scooter. The power-save feature prevents the battery from being discharged while the scooter is not moving and while the key is in the vehicle. The activation time for this feature will differ based on your scooter type but generally ranges anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes.

Circuit breaker needs to be reset

Push the main circuit breaker button to reset the motor. On some scooters, this is labeled the RESET button.

If you have a collapsible scooter, you can also check for these potential problems:

The batteries are not seated/connected properly

Ensure that both batteries are seated correctly in the scooter base. For clip-type batteries, ensure that both clips are connected fully to their respective battery terminals.

Front-to-Rear Harness is not connected

Ensure that the harness that connects the rear of the scooter is connected properly to the front section of the vehicle. This harness can become dislodged during normal use if you have not connected it properly during re-assembly.

The battery meter dips very low when I press the throttle.

The battery meter dips very low when I press the throttle. The scooter batteries might have a very low charge. You should charge your batteries fully before continuing to operate the scooter. You can operate the vehicle on a low charge, but it’s not a good idea because the scooter might stop running with little or no warning.

If you’ve been using your current battery for a long time, there’s a chance they could be nearing the end of their effective use and it would be a good idea to have them load tested for strength. You can do this by contacting the service center of the company where you purchased the scooter.

The scooter hesitates or runs slowly even when I press the throttle fully.

There are a few reasons why this might be happening:

Low battery charge

The scooter batteries may have a very low charge. You should charge your batteries fully before continuing to operate the scooter.

Operating on an upward slope

Hesitation may occur if you are operating the scooter on an inclined surface. Most scooters will run fine on a slight upward slope, but at a slower speed (or not at all if the slope is too great).

Scooter is at maximum capacity

If the scooter is carrying a rider that close to its maximum capacity, the vehicle may run slightly slower than normal (or not at all on an upward surface).

My circuit breaker repeatedly trips.

This generally indicates a problem with your scooter batteries. You may need to charge them more frequently if they are getting older or have been in use for a long time. If this is the case, it would be a good idea to have them load tested for strength. You can do this by contacting the service center of the company where you purchased the scooter.

Who do I call if none of these tips work?

Scootaround can be reached seven days a week at 1-888-441-7575. Outside of regular business hours, our technical staff is always on call for emergencies.