FAQ + When to Call a Technician
FAQ + When To Call A Technician
This page answers the most common “what now?” questions after you’ve tried basic troubleshooting. It also shows you the red flags that mean it’s time to stop and get professional help.
Start with the step-by-step guides: Scooters • Power Chairs • Lift Chairs
When to call a technician
Call a tech if you have any of these
- Melted connector, burnt smell, smoke, or wiring that gets hot
- Repeated motor/brake faults that return immediately
- Chair/scooter stops abruptly and will not reset
- Lift chair grinding/clicking with no movement
- Anything that seems unsafe or unstable
Often DIY is still worth trying when...
- The unit is weak/slow/short range (usually batteries or connections)
- It powers on but won’t drive, with no heat damage (often freewheel/inhibit/centered controls)
- Codes only happen on hills/starts/bumps (often voltage sag)
- Lift chair works sometimes (often loose/pinched cable or failing handset)
Stop now (don’t troubleshoot further)
- Smoke, burning smell, or sparks
- Melted / blackened connectors or wiring insulation that looks bubbled
- Battery case swelling, leaking, or unusually hot batteries/charger
- Lift chair metal bent, broken linkage, or severe grinding noises
Before you call (5 minutes that saves money)
1) Write down basics
- Brand + model (from the tag)
- What happened first (timeline)
- Any codes (flash/beep count)
2) Do the “quick checks”
- Charger unplugged
- Freewheel in DRIVE (scooters/some chairs)
- Controls centered on power-up
- Speed setting up
3) Inspect for heat damage
- Battery terminals tight?
- Connectors discolored?
- Any burning smell?
What to tell the technician (copy/paste)
Symptom: ____ (ex: powers on but won’t drive / cuts out on hills / lift chair stuck reclined)
Codes: ____ (flash/beep count)
What I checked: charger unplugged, freewheel in DRIVE, power cycle w/ centered controls, speed up, terminals tight, connectors reseated
Battery test (if done): resting voltage ____ ; under load ____ (sag test)
FAQ
“It says motor/brake fault… does that mean the motor is bad?”
Not always. Many “motor/brake” codes are triggered by low voltage, a loose connector, or a brake plug that’s not fully seated. Start with battery health (sag test) and connector inspection.
Use: Load/Sag Test • Codes
“My scooter/power chair works indoors but fails on hills or outside.”
That’s classic voltage sag under load. Batteries can look fine at rest but collapse when you demand power. Terminals and connectors can also heat up and drop voltage.
Do: Load/Sag Test
“It won’t drive right after charging.”
Check that the charger is fully unplugged and the charge port isn’t damaged or stuck in an inhibit state. Some chairs/scooters won’t drive if the charge port switch is not releasing.
“My lift chair is stuck reclined—what’s the most common cause?”
A pinched cable under the chair frame or a failing hand control are the most common. Unplug the chair, inspect cable routing, and reseat plugs at the control box.
“Should I replace the controller/joystick first?”
Usually no. Controllers are expensive and often blamed incorrectly. Confirm: batteries pass sag test, terminals are tight, and connectors are clean/fully seated. Then use the specific code list for your controller/model.
See: Battery Testing • Codes
“Is it safe to keep trying it when it faults?”
If you suspect a short, high-current fault, or you see heat damage — no. Repeated attempts can destroy the controller and melt connectors. If it’s just weak/slow with no heat, do battery testing first.