You probably know that some things can go wrong with a power wheelchair. You can get stuck in places or run into problems on the road. It’s important to realize these possible complications so that you can prepare for them when they arise.
You should always keep spare parts for your power wheelchair. Knowing how to replace broken parts yourself can end up saving you thousands of dollars. For instance, it’s not that difficult to change out a non-working joystick or battery.
Common Power Wheelchair Problems to Help With Troubleshooting
The most common problem is odd noises. However, it’s important to realize you might not actually have a problem at all. In other words, is the noise normal?
Power chairs are mechanical devices, and they make noises. But some sounds may indicate there’s something wrong with your chair.
The most common abnormal noise is loud clicking. This sound probably means there’s something stuck in the joystick or circuit board. It could be dust or debris that is preventing your chair from moving.
Most powerchair manufacturers require disassembling the joystick to clean out the inside components. This usually involves removing several screws and plastic pieces.
You may also notice what sounds like a fan blade touching something inside of your chair. This can indicate either a loose part or a motor with bad bearings. However, it is not always easy to locate the source of the noise. As such, it would help if you had a qualified technician take a look at it.
Some other common sounds may come from your wheelchair. For instance, you might hear clicks or beeping when accelerating or entering turns. These are normal operating noises.
The Troubleshooting Guide for Common Electric Wheelchair Problems
Ready to troubleshoot? Here’s a list of common powerchair malfunctions and what might be causing them:
Unresponsive Joystick
The joystick may become unresponsive for several different reasons. Take apart your joystick if it is dirty and clean it out with an air compressor. Make sure to use low PSI (between 30 – 50 psi) to avoid damaging it. You can also spray the outside with WD-40 to free up any dirt or debris that is keeping it from moving smoothly.
Batteries Not Charging
There may be an issue with the charger if your batteries are plugged in but not charging. This is especially common for chargers on power chairs which must plug into a wall. You can solve this issue by re-disconnecting the charger.
Out of Battery Power
First, make sure that the batteries are fully charged. If not, plug them in and wait for them to charge. Then, use your chair for a bit and see if the problems go away. You may need to replace the batteries soon if the issues persist.
Thermal cut-out may cause batteries to lose their charge. This is a feature that turns off the power if it becomes too hot. Allow the power chair to cool down before using it again, which will restore the battery charge.
Bad Circuit Board
Sometimes, power might be coming into your joystick, but nothing works. Here, the problem is most likely in your circuit board. Normally, a bad connection will prevent power from getting to the circuit board, which might or might not be easy to spot. As such, ensure there is no visible disconnection before calling an expert to rectify the problem.