Discovery does not Beep Upon start, not running right either

hewnowjerry · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

1. Discovery Model
2. 2 years of usage
3. Replaced battery
4. Software upgrade once 18 months ago
5. The system doesn't work on CLEAN, only MAX, and does not Beep
6. Watching it run, nothing is collected, so it seems brushes aren't spinning

Suggestions?
Fixable? If I buy new one, can I use the new battery I recently purchased?

Thanks in advance.

RoombaHolic · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 97 Location: Mountain Center, CA

hewnowjerry wrote:
Suggestions?
Fixable? If I buy new one, can I use the new battery I recently purchased?
Since it's no longer under warranty it's time to run the built in diagnostics, tear the unit apart, (Especially the gear box.), clean and lube everything, and then see how it works. (If you tear it down you should also go ahead and clean and re-lube the wheel gears.) If it runs okay after all of this, I'd also suggest doing the gear bearing modification , but would wait till until you're sure the unit works before going to the extra trouble and expense!

As for the battery, it will work in any 4xxx model Roomba but will NOT work in the newer 5xx models.

Gravity · Joined: 01 Mar 2008 Posts: 133 Location: Sandusky, OH

Take off the dustbin, start it running and look down inside it and see if the brushes are spinning.. just to be sure. Let's remove assumptions first.

Is it not running on clean/spot, or are the buttons just not responding? A lot of times the contacts inside the buttons become dirty or misaligned and won't respond to a push. Have you tried sending regular spot and clean signals to the bot with a remote?

hewnowjerry · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

Gravity wrote: Take off the dustbin, start it running and look down inside it and see if the brushes are spinning.. just to be sure. Let's remove assumptions first.

Is it not running on clean/spot, or are the buttons just not responding? A lot of times the contacts inside the buttons become dirty or misaligned and won't respond to a push. Have you tried sending regular spot and clean signals to the bot with a remote?

Thanks Gravity. I tried your advice first.
Remote works, so Clean function is good. Must be contacts.

However, brush not spinning. Could it be the brush connectors are worn, and the actual motor is turning?

Also, still no music from the roomba. no beeps..

Thanks in advance

wsngmartin · Posted: June 14, 2008, 2:59 pm Post subject:

HNJ
Sounds like there might be several things wrong w/ your roomba.
You might consider sending it to Chris at Roomba Exchange, unless you are very confident and/or knowledgeable with this.
Go to the teardown instructions at RE's website to get an eyeful of what is involved. There are many things that can cause the brushes to not spin, from a PCB problem right down to the sockets the brushes fit into, with brush motor and gears in between.
Yes, if you get another 4xxx series you can use your new battery with it

hewnowjerry · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

wsngmartin wrote: HNJ
Sounds like there might be several things wrong w/ your roomba.
You might consider sending it to Chris at Roomba Exchange, unless you are very confident and/or knowledgeable with this.
Go to the teardown instructions at RE's website to get an eyeful of what is involved. There are many things that can cause the brushes to not spin, from a PCB problem right down to the sockets the brushes fit into, with brush motor and gears in between.
Yes, if you get another 4xxx series you can use your new battery with it

Would diagnosing and fixing the brush issue address the 'beeping'? Or is that another issue? Or is the beeping not critical to the operation?

Thanks

Gordon · Posted: June 14, 2008, 4:49 pm Post subject:

hewnowjerry wrote: ...Would diagnosing and fixing the brush issue address the 'beeping'? No, but the access you need to remove and replace the speaker is available while re-working a brush-drive problem. Quote: ... Or is the beeping not critical to the operation?... Roomba's sounds are not essential to cleaning, but when trouble is experienced during a mission, hearing Roomba's trouble report(s) can be informative.

Beeping while running self-tests is replicated in visiblelight, via dirt-detect flashes, so you can get along w/o sounds in that mode.

If you get around to cleaning and sealing your user-interface switches, the guidance found in this thread, should help you get the job done.

hewnowjerry · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

I have been able to run it with the remote, clean and max.

The brushes do not turn.

At first inspection, the black plastic chamber that houses the large black bruch has some 'spun out' clear plastic where the brush connects.

The small rubber brush looks as if the connectors are worn.

So a couple of next steps. Please confirm.

I can replace:
Black large brush.
Thin rubber brush.

What about the black housing with the plastic worn? Am I at the point where the cost benefit is not worth it?

Still no sounds, but the previous posts had suggested to take it all apart to see if the speaker might be shot or contacts are affected.

Thanks in advance.

Also,where to buy replacement items?

vic7767 · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 3287 Location: Louisiana

You can go here and find out about how to disassemble your robot and also purchase the parts you need:

www.RoombaExchange.com