Malfunctioning Roomba: bumper mechanism failure

[themaris0009]

Tap the bumper 10-20 times to dislodge any debris under the bumper

[mechmove]

Been using Roomba for a few years, had this same problem. At some point, cleaning with compressed air and slapping the bumper will not work. I actually took my Roomba completely apart this afternoon and did a "deep cleaning" with compressed air. This is the only thing that works now. Too bad it takes so long, but this is what it comes down to. The next Roomba model should have an quick "dissassemble" feature to faciliate easy cleaning, I cannot be the only one to have experienced this problem!

[78ibanez]

Wheel sensors need to be cleaned

[imayneer]

The issue is, you need to replace the IR LED at the front. If you were in the UK I could make it much durable for you. When I modified any Roomba, it sure to last longER.

[DarkMew1337]

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOOL

[imayneer]

A Roomba cost about $399 (Made in China). Roomba cost $699 (Made in USA) LOL

[maleman876]

i have this same model, with this same problem. i went into the diagnostic mode to see what the sensor was doing, and sure enough it was sticking. blew the whole unit out with an air compressor and it seems to be fine now.

[TrainTrackTrav]

I'm sorry, I can't help cracking up at 0:28. It's how it just keeps hitting the wall. LOL. Again, sorry.

[thehumanracesux]

@TrainTrackTrav it is funny be glad it didn't suck the wall paint off

[Whack78]

Clean the cliff sensors, they're on the bottom of the bumper. If they get too dirty, it think's it's about to drive down stairs, and backs up.

[SorryAlrTaken]

Please read the video info up right (click "more info") - written when I posted the movie! Case was closed back then, almost 2 years ago.

And - FYI - it's not the cliff sensors, it's the bumper sensor mechanism which gets stuck somewhere and when it gets triggered for the first time by hitting the wall, it does not release and keeps sending the signal that there is a hindrance in front. That's why it backs up continuously.

[aquaanimus]

lmao! it tried to climb the wall!

[bestamerica]

roomba is a MADE IN CHINA

[SorryAlrTaken]

And? That's how the system works - increase profit (short term): reduce production cost. Want to change the system? Good luck with bitching about "MADE IN CHINA".

[bestamerica]

better for let america make it..

no need it china

[SorryAlrTaken]

Very true to keep bread on the table in America - but if it's better, why is it not happening - and, what would be required to change it? Apparently the folks deciding about it don't think it's "better in your sense" or it would be happening - right? There would be much more to say about this, just not the right place here and all knowledge is available to make this a better place. What's happening right now is not a "glitch" as many may believe, it's system immanent and will come again stronger

[angryfaygo]

We make things in china because it's 10x cheaper. That's why it's not happening. It's not that we don't have the technology or the intelligence or anything, it's because we don't work for 10 cents an hour.

[SorryAlrTaken]

Ah - another "We" crowd person... don't have an individuality - eh? Sure won't include "me" in your "We"...

[Halomodder7]

Does it blend chocolate shakes? cause damn thats loud

[xXKentoXx]

i dont think roombas were made for rough carpets

[SorryAlrTaken]

You are entitled to think what you want - I use this model of Roomba for 3 1/2 years to clean only the carpet surface on this clip.

The failure here is totally unrelated to floor surface - it's either a contamination issue or something mechanical got stuck. More likely the later since "slapping" fixed it.

[xXKentoXx]

wow slapping fixes everything! not just for tv

[myoung222]

bitches too!

[GavinRoskamp]

lol my tv works when u slap it :D It's like from the 90s, its a little 15 inch crt one of the first color ones and the picture goes away a lot. To get it back? SLAP IT! Full color comes back and everything. One thing though, it apparently wanted to go widescreen after a while lol. Hey, it works for me :D

[dmanschaumbizzie]

oooh poor roomba, its scared :*(

[RainbowKrystal]

look like invisble wall. be careful it lot of a money! if you get it fixed, good luck!

[jwboll]

the main drive wheels motion sensors are plugged with dirt.

same thing happened to mine. I had to operate on my roomba after about 8 months of constant use. It's a pain in the ass to take it apart, but blowing compressed air into the inside of the drive wheels help, for a while, but it needs to be stripped down and really cleaned.

[SorryAlrTaken]

No - not the drive wheel motion sensors. The wheel motion sensors cause the "ring dance" symptom where the wheel rotation is not sensed on one wheel and is beeing turned more than it should. Here it's the stuck bumper mechanism where it thinks it hit a wall and backs up continuously.

[xXxmidgexXx]

Waht happend at the end where the red light went on then it died.

[SorryAlrTaken]

It went into "error mode" and stopped.

[fullerjames12901]

it said "UH OH"

[dmanschaumbizzie]

naw it said "MY BAD"

[dethmaul]

lmao, Roomba says Kill me! Kill me now!

[SorryAlrTaken]

Sorry for the late reply - I think one can replace the rubber rings on a wheel - there was a comment on the Roomba FAQ at one point, if the rubber gets worn off, one could get a replacement kit for free from them. Probably no longer happening....

[babyboy2000]

i think this roomba detected too much dirt and got his system fcked up. xD

[SorryAlrTaken]

Not really too much - it's always blown out by pressed air after it got the "ring dance" where one wheel moving sensor is blocked by dirt. As I written in the video comment, it was the bumber mechanism beeing stuck.

[jpos832]

LOL!! the last beeps cracked me up..

[Lorric101]

Now you can ask the 'excited user' if his Roomba is still functioning. Over a year has passed.

[SorryAlrTaken]

I did - no response

[Lorric101]

Did you send him a direct E-Mail? He hasn't logged in in a month, and he hasn't responded to anyone on his video.

[rokyrock]

I have the same problem with my Roomba SE. Anyone now how to repair it? I imagine there should de some sort of reset combining different buttons.

[SorryAlrTaken]

If you expand the video comment, it tells you what fixed it. It's a dirt clogging issue somehow.

[rokyrock]

Thanx!!

[boomguy12345]

to reset hold dock and the clean button together for like ten seconds.... on the 500 series

[SorryAlrTaken]

No - that was fixed by slapping it and getting the bumper mechanism unblocked. A mechanical/dirt issue, as mentioned in the expanded "About this Video" text.