Roomba Troubleshooting Guide

What to do when your Roomba Malfunctions?
Just like all appliances, Roombas are not invincible and time after time, your robot will face several malfunctions. Today, we are going to look at some of the major problems you will encounter and how to fix the problems.

But just before we dive deeper, you need to keep in mind that once you open your Roomba by yourself, the warranty becomes void. Second, while disassembling your Roomba may be very easy, assembling it is quite hard.

I say this because time and again, I come across frustrated homeowners who rant about how iRobot’s warranty policy is fake yet they are the ones who failed to comply with it.

Troubleshooting Guide: Charging & Battery Errors

One of the common problems Roomba owners face is with power. More often, you will find homeowners complaining about one thing or another about their Roomba’s charging system and battery. In this segment, we will look at some of the major problems and how to solve them.

For the record, there are 6 common errors that can be discerned by checking the number of blinks the robot shows or using the Smartphone App to diagnose the problem. So, without further ado, here are the common errors and fixes regarding charging and battery.

Charging Error 1 (Single Beep)

Even though it is categorized as an error, it isn’t actually caused by a malfunction but rather, the unavailability of the battery.

It occurs mostly to first time buyers who forget connecting the battery once they assemble the robot.

Charging Error 2

This error will manifest itself with two beeps and in most cases, it points to an overheating battery because of current above 1250 mA or a fake Roomba battery. Once you have confirmed this error code, unplug the robot from the mains and allow it to cool for like 3 hours or so. If you have just replaced the battery or you are not sure if it is authentic, you may need to check with iRobot if it is genuine. This error seems to be very common in the 500 series as well as the latermodels, especially if you swap the battery.

Charging Error 3

When you hear 3 beeps or you get a Charging Error 3 on your iRobot App, the most probable culprit is the failure of FET test. The first thing you should do when you encounter this error is to reset the unit and recharge it.

Charging Error 5

This is not really a charging error as it sounds but it is related to the power system. Normally, it affects first time buyers and is caused by a yellow strip that breaks the circuit. Once you find this error, reset the robot and it should solve the problem.

Charging Error 6

At times, the battery of your Roomba overheats to the point that it doesn’t charge anymore. It gives an error called ‘Error 6’ that means your battery is not charging because of overheating. In this case, just put it off and let it cool for around 3 hours preferably in a very cool environment. In most cases, the error will be solved for good but at times, it may persist and you’ll have to replace the battery.

Charging Error 7

This is not a very good sign and signals a defective battery that is not able to cool down properly. If you get this error several times, you might want to replace the defective battery.

Troubleshooting Guide: Operational Errors

Error 1

This error is very common with the older models and is signaled by a single beep. In the event you encounter this error, go to your Roomba and lift it up to see what’s the holdup. In many occasions, the error is caused when the robot is on an uneven surface or is standing on an obstacle. Another culprit could be obstacles that have jammed the wheels. Place it on a flat surface and see if it moves fine. In case it doesn’t, try to roll the wheels; they should move freely.

Error 2

If you have pets, especially long-haired species, this is a common error that is caused when the brushes are not able to turn. This error will always be raised by the sounding of two beeps and in select models, the sound ‘’Uh-Oh’’ will precede the beeps.

First, if it is a new unit, make sure the brushes or extractors were installed correctly. If all is okay, check if there is anything in the vacuum that could be causing the malfunction. If you have the 800 or 900 series, a simple fix will be cleaning the debris extractors thoroughly to remove the tangled hair. In the older models, open the unit and clean the entire brush cage and brushes as well before restarting it. Here is a video of how to solve Error 2.

Error 5

This error is quite similar to Error 1 only that in this case, it is one of the side wheels that is stuck for one reason or another. It is manifested by 5 beeps and as usual, the beeps may be preceded by the ‘Uh-Oh’ sound in select models. Lift it up after resetting and check the wheels for anything that may stop its movement.

Error 6

Personally, I consider this error an emergency as it involves the stairs. Once you get the error message, quickly find your Roomba because one of the reasons for the error is that it could be desperately stuck hanging on the stairs. The other reason could be the Roomba’s cliff sensors are dirty. If you find it somewhere safe with this error, please uses a cloth to clean the sensors and the problem will have been solved.

Error 7

This is another common malfunction that is concerned with the wheels not moving. While the other similar errors may be caused by obstacles, Error 7 is caused by tangling and debris that make the wheels immobile. At times, the front caster wheel is the problem because of dirt. Here’s a video of how to clean caster wheels.

If this doesn’t work, then the wheels may either be deformed or worn out so a replacement is needed.

Error 8

This is another error that requires you to be on red alert as the Roomba may be stuck somewhere. Here, it is most likely that the front wheel is unable to rotate for some reason or is jammed – at times, it may be both wheels stuck. Immediately you get this error, reset the Roomba and check it beneath to ascertain whether the wheels can roll freely. Also, make sure there’s nothing that can hinder the free movement of the wheels.

Error 9

This error got me quite confused at first as its cause is quite similar to Error 6 in that the sensors seem to malfunction. However, in this case, it is the bumpers that may have the problem. Make sure to clean them all round and ensure they are not compressed in. In the event it is dirty or compressed, press the bumper inside slowly and make sure you feel the reflex and also for any debris trapped to pop out.

Error 10

This is one problem that is common especially in the 900 series. I have never experienced it in my house so one of the culprits I suspected was the navigation system. It is only when I narrowed down my diagnosis that I discovered that it happens mostly in large rooms where the system doesn’t recognize any obstacles. A quick workaround is to use Virtual Walls to at least partition the floor.

Error 12

This is another error that can be quite confusing because its manifestation also points to a problem with sensors. Even though at times it may just be dirt on the bumpers or directly on the sensors, in worst case scenarios the sensors may be worn out. If you face this problem, first clean the bumper and sensors and even blow the entire unit. If the error persists, you might have to replace the sensors.

Error 14

This is a pretty new one and is common in the 900 series. This error is caused by the absence of the bin. If you encounter it to make sure the bin is present and correctly fixed.

Error 17

This is a very weird and also rare operational error that mostly points at light inadequacy or at times too many obstacles. In short, the Roomba can’t execute the cleaning procedure so you must first ensure there is adequate light and there is not too much clutter in the rooms. For some models, like 500, and select 700 series may also show this error when the floor area is too large with no obstacles in its view.