How to Fix A Hoverboard: DIY Hoverboard Repair & Maintenance Tips

You love your hoverboard and take it everywhere you go. But lately, you’ve noticed it’s not performing the way it used to. The most common problem people run into is balancing issues. If you’re having trouble with your board balancing, whether it’s just one side or both sides, we’ve included some great tips and tricks that will have your board working like new in no time.

Most hoverboards are fairly easy to work on, although more basic models will be the easiest to troubleshoot. Learning how to repair and maintain your board is essential, in order to get the most out of your board and ensure it lasts for several years to come.

Here, we’ll go over some of the basic issues you’re likely to run into at some point, how you can fix your board’s issues and what you can do to keep your board running in top form. By repairing it, your board will work like a new one. Let’s go!

What is a Hoverboard Reset and How Can it Help?

There’s a lot of talk online about the hoverboard reset. The issue with resetting a hoverboard is that it tends to only work if the gyroscopes need to be calibrated. The simplest way to determine if they need to be calibrated is to switch the board on, place your foot on the pad and twist and turn the board forward, then backward. If the hoverboard doesn’t balance or catch at all, then there’s something more serious going on and a recalibration won’t solve it.

When a reset won’t work to fix what’s ailing your board, there are some other things you can try that can easily fix your board’s balancing issues.

Hoverboard Diagnostics

First off, when trying to determine what’s going on with your board, look for the following:

  • Loose wires
  • Flashing red lights
  • Do the board’s headlights stay on?
  • Is Bluetooth working?
  • When pressing the foot pads do they make any sound?

Next, you’ll want to switch on your board and look for any blinking red lights. If you find a blinking red light, make sure you count how many times it blinks. Then, check the user’s manual to look up the error code based on the number of flashes.

Circuit Malfunctioning and Balance Sensors: It’s All About Balance

If your board won’t balance, but there is no flashing red lights when you switch on the board, the next step is to check for the following symptoms:

If all of the board’s red lights remain on, including the LED lights located on the wheel wells and the headlights, then you’ll need to replace the board’s gyroscopes. Most manufacturers have designed to board’s lights to remain on as an indicator that the gyroscopes have gone bad.

You can purchase new gyroscopes straight from the manufacturer, or from online stores that deal in electric scooter parts.

To learn more about scooters and how they work, click here to visit our buyer’s guide.

Keep in mind, some hoverboards are easier to work on than others. Models such as the SWAGTRON T1 Electric Self-Balancing Scooter, is simple to maintain and repair and it comes with a great warranty.

If you see that the red light turns on twice then it indicates internal circuit damage. This is a complex issue. A big problem is that circuit damage will cause sensor imbalance.

Solution

  • I suggest you purchase a new kit with the correct circuit and install it.
  • If you want to fix you must be an expert in it.
  • Watch youtube videos when you are going to fix it.
  • If not properly trained or not researched properly then do not modify it otherwise you will cause serious damage.

Lights Remain On

If the red lights remain on just on one side and not all of the lights stay on, then this can indicate that only one of the gyroscopes needs to be replaced.

What the Red Light Indicates

As you are riding happily there is the possibility that red light starts blinking in the middle of your hoverboard or on activation and you get worried. Sometimes it just blinks to indicate a low battery which is not a big issue. But it may blink more than once or with a beep. Let me tell you the meaning of red-light blinking.

In one-word red light, bling indicates ‘fault’ in the hoverboard. Just keep a look at how many times the red light blinks. Different counts of blinking indicate different faults in the hoverboard.

If it blinks first turn off the hoverboard for 10 seconds and then again switch on it. If a flash of red light again appears note it now. As a danger sign it will indicate faults that might lead to the following problems:

  1. Bad connections
  2. Malfunctioning of circuits
  3. Wheel motors issues
  4. Change in battery
  5. Bad gyroscope that needs to be replaced

Below given faults are indicated by the blinking of red light.

Faults indicated by Blinking of red light

  1. Motherboard issues
  2. Circuit malfunctioning and balance share
  3. Wheel motors
  4. Faulty battery
  5. Replacing gyroscopes

Light may come when you test the hoverboard but if it turns black then it is already OK.

No Lights

If there are no lights on, then try pressing your foot on each of the foot pads. Do you hear a sound when doing so? If your answer is yes, then the gyroscopes are still good. This will indicate that the issues you’re having with your board aren’t related to the gyroscopes and may be due to a bad motherboard.

Motherboard Issues

You are riding, and you see that in the middle of the hoverboard red light blinks. When it blinks just for on time, it means that wires get loosen inside the hoverboard. Loose wires may lead to unbalancing if of motor wires or motherboard wires. LED wires and Bluetooth wires are not linked to the cause of any issue.

Typically, problems with the motherboard are caused by circuit errors. Often, the motherboard will need to be totally replaced. Considering there are so many hoverboard manufacturers these days, matching the parts can be very difficult.

You’ll need to ensure the new motherboard you buy is the same make and model, and year. It should also have the correct wiring, clips, and voltage. If you purchase a hoverboard repair kit from your manufacturer, it should come with everything you need to fix this issue.

Solution

  • Simply find a plane surface area.
  • Unscrew all screws that may be 15-20.
  • This will separate the main body of the hoverboard.
  • Then with calmness just reconnect all the wires so they get tight.

If it does not work, then you must buy a new motherhood.

Cons

Matching motherhood of the same model is difficult to buy as many types are present.

No Sound

When you pressed the foot pads, if you didn’t hear a sound, you may need to have the gyroscopes replaced, or it can be an even bigger problem. Rarely, you’ll run into problems with the rubber tips that are found in the sensors located under the gyroscope.

 

Other Issues

If you know how to ride a hoverboard, then you should notice even the slightest change in your board’s performance. As we mentioned, balancing issues are the most common, and there can be several reasons why your board is struggling with balance issues.

If you’ve followed the steps we’ve discussed, then there are a few other things you can try.

Loose Wires

Loose wires can cause balancing issues as well. Wires that can cause this issue include the motherboard wires, gyroscope wires, and motor wires. Other wires such as the LED light wire or the Bluetooth wire won’t cause any issues with performance.

Bluetooth Woes

When your Bluetooth suddenly stops working this can be a major indicator that your motherboard needs to be replaced. You’ll know for sure if you switch the board on and can no longer hear noise from the Bluetooth module. If you’ve suddenly lost Bluetooth capability, then you’ll need to fork over some extra cash to have the motherboard swapped out.

How to fix a hoverboard usually involves simple solutions that you can do yourself, without having to deal with the high cost of parts and repairs. If your board has a great warranty, that’s even better. Make sure you go through our list of troubleshooting advice before you decide to take your board in for repairs. These tips will help you narrow down your board’s issues, so you can easily estimate how much repairs will cost, or you can even do the repairs on your own.

Wheel Motors

Blinking of red light 4 times is an indication of a fault in the wheel other than the battery side. If blinks 5 times, then suggest that there is an issue in the wheel on the battery side. It might occur because of pin deviation or damage to the motherboard.

Solution:

  • just go to the buyer and have a new kit
  • Replace the older damaged motor and attach a new one to it
  • Purchase from a manufacturer having the same size and place it.

Faulty Battery

The red light is blinking. Keep an eye and count how many times it blinks. If blinks 6 times, then it shows battery damage on the hoverboard. This might happen if a low voltage battery is used or there is an issue with the battery circuit board.

Solution

The best solution is to buy a new battery. Samsung battery cells are of high voltage and are best for hoverboards. Black batteries made up of Samsung battery cells are also highly recommended in this regard.

Precaution: Battery must be of the same model or use UL2271 battery

Sometimes green light blinks that indicates a low battery state. It is Ok. Just recharge it. Battery time maybe 2-3 hours.

Gyroscopes Replacement

Now count the blinking times. If it blinks 7 times it indicates a fault in gyroscopes. This may be happened because of faulty interface alignments, poor interface, or an unstable socket that is not plugged properly and fully. It’s a bit tricky to fix it.

Solution

  • Here the first and best recommendation is to buy a new gyroscope and change the faulty one.
  • Precaution: This is a tricky act as the gyroscope took must be of the same motherboard and voltage.
  • If doubt, buy a full circuit board replacement kit and place it.

Conclusion

Here in the above discussion, I have tried to help you by giving a solution of six main problems that you can use to repair or fix your hoverboard by yourself.  One thing you must be kept in mind that your hoverboard must be of a good warranty. So, it will have a long life with little maintenance.

Just ensure one thing that you have thoroughly gone with the above-mentioned solutions of hoverboard problems. Just follow the above instructions before calling anyone to repair your hoverboard. I am sure these tips will save your cost for repair. Try it!

 

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