Power Wheelchair Won't Move? 6 Things to Check Before You Call for Repair

Few things are more stressful than a power wheelchair that suddenly won't go. The good news is that many "broken" chairs aren't broken at all. A lever was bumped, the charger is still plugged in, or the chair just needs a restart.

Before you call for a repair, work through these six checks. Keep your owner's manual handy, because every model is a little different.

Safety first: If you're out in the community, get to a safe spot before you troubleshoot. If you're stuck somewhere unsafe and can't get help, call 911.

1. Check the freewheel levers

Most power chairs have one or two freewheel levers near the drive wheels. They let a caregiver push the chair by hand when the power is off. If a lever was bumped into freewheel, the motors won't drive the wheels, even though the chair turns on.

Turn the chair off, then make sure every freewheel lever is all the way in the drive position. Some controllers show a fault code when a lever isn't engaged.

Important: In freewheel mode, the brakes are off. Pride Mobility's manuals warn never to put a chair in freewheel on a slope, because it can roll on its own. Only use freewheel on a level surface, with a caregiver pushing, never while someone is sitting in the chair without help.

2. Unplug the charger

Many power chairs are designed not to drive while the charger is connected. It's a safety feature. If the charger cord is still plugged into the chair, even with the wall end unplugged, the chair may refuse to move.

Unplug the charger from the chair, then turn it off and on again.

3. Turn it off, wait and turn it back on

A chair that's been sitting idle may go into a sleep or power-saving mode. Turn it off, wait a few seconds and turn it back on.

When you power up, keep your hand off the joystick. Many controllers won't drive if the joystick is pushed while the chair is starting up. Make sure a blanket, bag or sleeve isn't resting on it.

Some controllers also have a lock feature that stops the chair from driving. If yours seems locked, your owner's manual explains how to unlock it for your model.

While the chair is off, take a quick look around the wheels for straps, cords or clothing caught in them.

4. Check the battery charge and connections

Look at the battery gauge. If it's low, charge the chair fully before trying again. A full charge usually takes several hours, so plan for overnight.

If the battery gauge doesn't go up after charging, check the charger cords. Many chargers have a power block (the charger box) with two cords: one that plugs into the wall and one that plugs into the chair. Make sure the cord is pushed all the way into the power block and that both ends are firmly connected. A loose cord at the power block is an easy one to miss, and the chair won't charge even though everything looks plugged in.

If you can reach the battery connections without tools, make sure plugs are pushed in firmly and the battery is seated correctly. Don't open, repair or modify the batteries themselves. If the batteries won't hold a charge, that's a job for your equipment provider.

5. Read the flashing lights

If the lights on your joystick are flashing in a pattern, the chair is telling you what's wrong. Count the flashes, then look up the code in your owner's manual.

For example, on some Pride Jazzy controllers, one flash means the batteries need charging or there's a bad battery connection, and nine flashes point to a brake or freewheel problem. Codes are different from brand to brand, so always check the manual for your model.

Write the code down. If you end up calling for help, it saves time.

6. Reset the circuit breaker

Many power chairs have a main circuit breaker that trips to protect the motors and electronics when they're under heavy strain, such as climbing a steep ramp or carrying a heavy load. When it trips, the chair goes dead.

Check your manual for where the reset button is. Pride's manuals say to let the chair rest for about a minute, then push in the reset button and turn the chair back on.

If the breaker keeps tripping, stop and call your provider. That's a sign something else is wrong.

When to stop and call for repair

Call your equipment provider if:

• The chair still won't move after these checks

• The same fault code keeps coming back

• The circuit breaker keeps tripping

• The batteries won't hold a charge

• The chair got wet and is acting up

• You hear grinding, see damaged wiring or notice anything that looks unsafe

Don't keep restarting the chair over and over, and don't try to repair the electronics or motors yourself. That can make things worse.

When you call, have this ready: your chair's make and model, the serial number, any fault code, and what happened right before it stopped.

Need a repair? Call us.

Moving Forward DME services the power wheelchairs we provide, with multiple RESNA-certified Assistive Technology Professionals (ATPs) on our team. If your chair won't move and these checks didn't fix it, we're here to help.

Call 877-240-0777 or email orders@movingforwardhealth.com.

Wondering how your Medicare plan handles wheelchair repairs? Read Use a Wheelchair? 4 Things to Check Before Medicare Open Enrollment Ends.

This article is general information. Always follow the owner's manual for your specific chair.