Two Roomba 535 Questions

shendley · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Posts: 61

A couple of things are going on with my Roomba:

1) The top to the virtual wall sensor came off and has gone missing. Is this something that can impair the operation of the unit? The reason I ask is that I was told by IRobot Customer Support today that they now require you to ship your robot back to them before they will ship a new one to you. And I really didn't want to be without Roomba for 7 - 10 business days. You really get used to the little guy keeping things clean!

2) Twice now (yesterday and today) Roomba has worked a room until his battery gave out. Yesterday it was the second room in a lighthouse mediated run away from the charger. Neither room is very large and in the past he's done both rooms and stopped with battery time to spare. This morning he worked a larger room where the charger is until his battery gave out without returning to the charger. Is this a sign of a problem that could get worse? And, if so, is it a battery problem or a problem with Roomba itself that would be fixed with an exchange? Or is there an easy fix short of exchange?

Thanks for your help!

fancyfreewv · Posted: June 6, 2008, 10:09 am Post subject:

It sounds to me as if you are talking about the "turret" on top of the Roomba not the VW "turret"??

This piece aims the beam in the correct direction so yes it can affect things. I think your #1 issue is affecting your #2 issue here.

Try putting a piece of black electrical tape on the top of it cut to size. Maybe two thicknesses.

Also since this usually happens when the top is barely able to get under some counter or furniture, I would look carefully under anything that Roomba cleans under for the missing piece which could then be glued back on.

That is unless you have dogs like me that would immediately take the piece out the dog door to play with it. :lol:

shendley · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Posts: 61

Thanks for the reply. I was wondering if the two might be related. And there are a few things that Roomba barely clears and has gotten stuck on in the past. I'll have a look there and see if I can't find it. If not, I'll give the electrical tape a try.