Roomba 500 Series Stops Running

[shendley]

My oldest Roomba (500 Series) - must be a bit over 3 years old now, I'm thinking - is starting to stop pretty frequently during runs for no apparent reason. Sometimes, I'll press the button to start it up again and it does without a problem. At other times it tells me to check Roomba's left wheel. I've checked it a few times and found no problem. Other times I just press the button again and it goes . . . for a few minutes until it stops again. Is this little robot on its last legs? Or is this a known problem that I might be able to address?

Thanks (in advance) for your help with this!

[Xamindar]

Sounds like you have two problems. First, a malfunctioning left wheel. Does the roomba ever spin in circles on that wheel? Second, with roomba just stopping with no error or sound. Take out the battery and make sure it has good contact with the battery contacts. Bend them back up a little bit so they have more tension against the battery contacts.

[iMayne]

One issue to me. You may need to replace that left wheel.

[shendley]

I haven't noticed it spinning in circles on the left wheel, but I don't think I've ever actually been watching it when it stopped. I'll keep my eye open for that . . . and give you battery fix a try as well.

Sounds like you have two problems. First, a malfunctioning left wheel. Does the roomba ever spin in circles on that wheel? Second, with roomba just stopping with no error or sound. Take out the battery and make sure it has good contact with the battery contacts. Bend them back up a little bit so they have more tension against the battery contacts.

[vic7767]

There is a micro-switch installed inside each drive wheel housing. Its function is to shut down the Roomba if the Roomba is picked up. You may have an issue with the drop-sensor (micro-switch) loose, defective, or missing.

[shendley]

I pulled up the battery contacts today to make sure there was good contact there and I took each wheel off and sprayed it throroughly with compressed air to clean it. After doing that, it did an entire run today problem free. If the problem was with the drop sensor, could it have disabled because of too much dust?

[roboroomba]

to much dirt in the switch may have cause your problem, post back on if it does it again

[charleslew]

my Roomba 500 stops every 3 minutes or so. I have to restart it. I just bought a new battery 2 months ago and it is fully charged. Everything else runs as it should except that I have to shut and restart it. Wheels seem OK.

[vic7767]

Place your Roomba into the Built in Test mode and test all your robots sensors to check for issues.