A good mobility scooter is fairly easy to maintain. It doesn’t have a complex network of wires and whirring gizmos like a car. But it can still cause you a lot of frustration if it develops a problem and you can’t figure out what’s causing it.
Most mobility scooter owners have had various issues at some point including lights not working, scooter not starting, frozen wheels, constant beeping sounds and so on. One of the most common and hard-to-solve problems is the scooter cutting out suddenly.
You are just moving along when without warning the motor cuts off and the mobility scooter comes to a standstill. For some users, it happens when they are going up or down a kerb. For others, it’s more likely to happen when going up an incline. For many others, it just happens regardless of where they are.
Your mobility scooter keeps cutting out?
Does your mobility scooter also keep cutting out? Here are 4 reasons why it could be acting up plus tips on what to do when driving a mobility scooter.
The Battery
A lot of times when the mobility scooter cuts off, the gauge on the battery drops to zero. This could mean one of two things: that the battery is actually depleted or that it still contains charge but there is an electrical problem somewhere causing the gauge to drop.
If you have a multimeter or voltmeter, you can directly check the battery for charge. If it shows that it’s actually empty, the battery is the problem. Another way to check that the battery is depleted is to try and start the scooter again. If it fails to start, the battery is most likely empty.
The most common reason for a fast-depleting battery is age. As batteries age, they store less charge and are less efficient. So not only do they lose their charge faster, they have little of it to begin with.
If it’s a new battery, it might be faulty. Contact the manufacturer for a replacement.
Solution: Buy a new battery or ask the manufacturer for a replacement.
But if you check the voltage and find that the battery still has charge despite the gauge showing empty, the problem is most likely a poor connection to the battery.
Solution: Check for any loose wire to the battery or dirty connectors. Refer to your manual for instructions on cleaning the connectors. If none of that solves the problem, ask a professional electrician to take a look.
Loose Connection
Sometimes the problem is just a loose connection somewhere that keeps cutting out the power.
One way to know it’s a loose connection is if the scooter cuts off when you hit a bump or go down a kerb. The impact disconnects the loose wire. Restarting the scooter might get it going again until you hit the next bump or kerb.
Solution: If you can, check for any loose wires connecting the motor or battery. Open up the battery and motor compartments and see if any of the wires feels loose or looks out of place. If you can’t find any, ask a technician to take a look.
Faulty Motor
The motor is one of the hardiest components of a mobility scooter. It’s difficult for it to fail but not impossible.
The most common reason for motor failure is moisture penetration. The motor housing will often be protected from moisture. But moisture can still find its way in if the motor is exposed to a lot of water or submerged in it.
Directing a hose towards the motor, leaving the scooter in the rain or driving in deep puddles can all cause the motor to fail which then cuts off power to the wheels.
You can tell it’s a motor failure when the battery gauge shows there is charge and you cannot find any lose connection.
Solution: Have a mechanic or technician remove the motor and wipe it dry. This will often resolve the problem.
Faulty Switch
Finally, check whether the problem is at the switch. A faulty switch can cause the scooter to either stop suddenly or fail to start. Sometimes it can even throw the scooter into reverse without you doing anything.
Solution: Go to a technician and have the switch looked at. It may have taken some moisture or someone may have lubricated it (never lubricate the switch). Cleaning it might solve the problem or you may need to buy a new switch.
I have a rascal 310 mobiltyvscooyter, although the battery is fully charged one moves of then suddenly it will slow and stop. Pull the handle in and away one goes for seconds then it does it again. What can it be.
Thanks for this blog, now I will make sure that there is no such problems in my mobility scooter.
Hi David it could be the motor brushes they are located on the motor and are blocks of carbon a couple of centimetres long ,they may be worn out They are cheap to buy and easy to change just a screwdriver is needed. It also maybe a faulty ignition switch
Sorry I cannot help further
I have a golden mobility chair when I push the button forward lights start traveling and yellow tool bar starts flashing so I can’t get the lights to stop traveling
Can u overcharge the battery?
My Golden Phoenix Sport stopped when I hit small curb last wk but I fixed that. The other night , I was picking something up went to put in reverse and it wouldnt go. Looked at the power , control area nothing was on no lights. It will show it has power and full charge by the charger itself. Pls help me figure out why it won’t work. Traci Rogers
My scooter meter reads full but battery light flashes and can’t move scooter any advice pleasr
Have you got a break lever on the back if so turn scooter off lift break up as high as it will go then push I right down as far as it will go. I had this happen last week and being a new user I asked and if you go over a stone it can knock the brake off, and the green light flashes hope this helps
I’ve got a shoprider mobility scooter that keeps on cutting out battery I fully charged an it just cuts out
My Shop Rider scooter has a problem with the electronic brake. It appears to work when the scooter stops on the flat level surface but when on inclines and stopping, it does NOT stop. When crossing roads via ramps, it will not stop on the incline of the ramp while I waits for a signal to cross. it constantly creeps forward and I have to put my feet down to stop it moving. Can you tell me what the problem may be? I’ve had it seen to once before and it only worked for a short while and started to again.
I have a shop rider mobility scooter and sometimes it fails to start, it usually takes a couple of minutes switching off and on to eventually get it started. Any advice would be helpful.
Hi my scooter will go a little bit then beep beep and stops could it be a switch ,and another is my wheel it sounds like a bearing is loose ,what should I do.
The scooter shows fully charged but doesnt move. The indicator light blinks 7 times?
In the case I just saw, the lady went over a bump and the lever below the chair that engages the mother to the wheels popped out. This lever is usually used to disengage the wheels when you push the cart. Strange.
Hi mine does that too , waiting for engineers to come as was stuck in middle of busy road
My scooter is stuck in the on position but will not move ; is there a way to restart it w/o the key or bypass the ignition?
So your advice is, ‘ask a technician’.
Can I buy a new reset button as mine has broken off inside the battery case and the scooter won’t go
Definitely motor brushes..I have the same problems with many scooters that I refurbish..hope this helps.
I was just given a brand new scooter called a pride travel pro. I went to the store and had a large back pack on the back of the seat but the scooter kept cutting off Everytime we went on a curb which is wheel chair accessible here in NYC NY it was terrible until my big brother told me lets take the back pack off (it was full of grocery items) and ill wear it on my back . well we did and we had no more problems the rest of our fun trip. So I think heavy things that weigh on the motor also cause shutting off.
Having same problems first batteries losing charge less and less distance fine going out but getting back cutting now after new batteries and charger won’t work sent back put old ones back in even worse than be for had to push back and if just had major knee surgery, arthritis in both knees it must be batteries and electrical problem for both sets of batteries not to charge even with both charges it could be a bad new set have to wait and see if the same happens with second set I
Hi, I have a quingo scooter and when i first go out its fully charged and id fine, then all of a sudden it loses power and crawls along,anyone got any ideas what it could be please?
hello Debora my quingo air 2 has same problem did you sort yours out if yes please email me with the cure thanks. pfoborny@gmail.com
Hi
I have a shoprider mobility scooter it’s had new batteries from July and the brake has been replaced October all this year
But it still keeps stopping on short runs the lights show full when starting then quickly to out till one light is left flashing
That is when I have to push it home which is getting more often
Any ideas please
I have a rascal mobility scooter it works for a few feet and then cuts out my lights still work so batteries must be ok the little green power button keeps flashing help I am 61 money is scarce
I have a rascal mobility scooter it works for a few feet and then cuts out my lights still work so batteries must be ok the little green power button keeps flashing help I am 61 money is scarce
Hi my mum has a shoprider pihsiang for some reason it has been jumping when start to move forward then when she stops then try’s to start of again it jus won’t go it jus beeps every time she pulls the leaver so then she has to turn it off at the key and turn back on before it go’s again and then it jumps forward before taking off
Could this be to do with the brushes in the motor ?
As battery is fine please if u could help me many thanks
HELP!! I have a Pride Go-Go Sport with 18ah batteries. I have changed the batteries three times hoping that each time it was a better upgrade, Duracell and MK. Even with new freshly charged batteries they lose a light or two on the battery guage going up even a gentile incline but it recovers back to full on level ground. The batteries don’t last very long. There is no fail safe ‘beep’ when the charger is plugged in and turned on. I have tried several chargers and charging directly to the battery pack. I brought it to a scooter store and they did load and amp test everything was fine.
Hello David
I have exactly the problem as you described, ive had two sets of batteries, the first set after six months of purchasing a new machine the same model as yours, then the machine started stopping after six months use but the repairer is adamant their is nothing wrong with the batteries, i then bought another set of batteries that ran perfect for three weeks and now they are doing the same. It’s got to the point that I’m frightened to use the machine in case I get stuck out. If you or anybody knows what the problem is please let me know before I throw this one year old machine on the tip
I have a Shop rider scooter but now even on full charge it just won’t go. It won’t go forward or backwards. What could the problem be. I’m sick with worry as I don’t have any money to buy another one, please help
We have purchased a Salsa Jay Comfort wheelchair, new battery fitted recently the chair would suddenly stop, control unit dead,
after waiting a while start up procedure followed and the vehicle would operate correctly before stopping again., any idea of the Problem?
I have microlight 4 battery fully charged but won’t drive ,did this once before but righted itself now done it again so far not righted itself.
got a drive st1 4 mph mobility scooter moves about 6 inch then stops switch it off and back on again does the same ting , light flashes 5 times any clues
Hi, having a few issues with scooter cutting out! Checked the motor bushes and they have worn about 3mm from the 16mm new, would these be okay still or require replacing ?
Regards
i have a solax 4 wheel fold up bike can you tell me if they have a cut out switch
Hi I have a pride mobility scooter go go traveller sport. like many others my scooter just stops powers off for no reason at all. The batteries are fully charged and it happens after a i have done roughly a mile. the batteries got replaced at 6 months for doing the same thing and now this set which is seven months old is doing the same thing. The batteries have been tested at the shop and they reckon everything is fine. Anybody got any ideas before iI dump this thing down the tip.
Can someone help me here,I have a pride apex epic,I used it last Thursday ,fine,went to go out Friday,completely dead,I’m thinking batteries,they are four yrs old, don’t want to buy batteries and it’s something else,as the batteries are large 12 volt 55 amp,will cost at least 350 quid,the charger lights are flashing,so it makes sense thinking batteries
Am un strider, mobility scooter, i-am schimbat bateriile, a mers bine o vreme, nu mult, apoi a început să meargă întrerup. I-am curățat și cărbunii, i-am uns roțile, deci,nu știu ce să îi mai fac.
Mulțumesc mult
I have a maximus scooter and i wanna know what to do when im riding in my scooter and it shorts out and constantly stops what do i do i need some hands on assistant!
I have a maximus scooter and i wanna know what to do when im riding in my scooter and it shorts out and constantly stops what do i do i need some hands on assistant!
Scraping sound whenride it checked all wheels nothing jammed in or near them. Sounds a bit like bikes used too when you fixed a bit of card to hit spokes when you rode it as a kid but can see nothing.
I have invacare aviva rx20 it’s nearly new 4mths old it was fine till Tuesday 8/62021 I was crossing the road I hit a bump on the road chair completely cut out I had to restart it I had trouble getting it home also the battery charge dropped into the amber whats the problem
i have a Rascal Veo x has new battery, ,used only in my garden worked hard, goes ok
for some time then stops red light comes on and it seems as the brake has come on, if i press key into switch, goes back to normal, any ideas please
I have a celebrity shoprider scooter ,I charge the battery fully ,but when I put the key in ignition the light comes on then as soon as I take my hand away it dies . I can steer it with my hand on the key and it will be fine ,but obviously this is dangerous. What could be the problem please .
have foreress 1700 gut new batteries march /22 had a episode where it stalled 10 times took to repair shop nothing now sept 25 the tiller or computer was warm and after being out for about 1 hour it stalled 5 times in 5 blocks and the light turned off by it self was not a warm day 15 celcius
I have a Pride gogo travel es scooter2015, that I use when going to amusement parks, recently noticed when I going over the train tracks, the scooter suddenly cuts off, at slow speeds, had to turn off the scooter and restart the scooter to make it go again,