Roomba 530 won't move forward

[olerog]

After just over a year of operating flawlessly my Roomba 530 stopped moving forward. I've cleaned the plastic cover over the cliff sensors, blown compressed air inside all openings, both wheels are moving (it rotates both ways and moves backwards), the front bumper moves freely when pushed and does not seem stuck, and there are no error beeps or messages. Posted a clip online of how it looks here (COMMENT ON VIDEO: The sound is awful - it sounds like the Roomba is destroying itself, but that's the camera. The sound "in real life" is the way it has always been).:
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIqhMbjFt0U[/video]

Any suggestions for what might be wrong and how I can fix it? I purchased it in the US but live in Europe so neither irobot in the US or their European collaborators want to help me...

Ole

[vic7767]

Your Roomba appears to be suffering from a bumper sensor reporting a collision to the MCU. Your Roomba should be complaining after a few seconds and give a 9 beep error. Don't know why that isn't happening.

The are some documented failures of the IR diodes within the bumper sensors. If under warranty contact iRobot CS for support. If not, you might consider replacing either the diodes or the complete sensor. You can obtain the latter here: www.ProTechRobotics.com

[RoombaRules]

There are a few things that could be wrong. The cliff sensors could be dirty, there might be a lot of debris caught in the wheels, etc. Most of the things that could be going wrong have to do with dirt. I would suggest a very thorough cleaning of the robot and then try it again. Remember to do a battery reset as well, that occasionaly helps (probably won't here, but it can't hurt).

[Gordon]

...After just over a year of operating flawlessly my Roomba 530 stopped moving forward. I've cleaned the plastic, blown compressed air inside all openings, ...Any suggestions for what might be wrong and how I can fix it? I purchased it in the US but live in Europe so neither irobot in the US or their European collaborators want to help me... Ole

I faked a double-bump-switch fault in my 535 by looping a small rubber-band around the top-optic, then around the lifting handle and back around the top-optic. The taught band pulled the bumper back, thus simulating always activated bump condition. I then attempted a cleaning mission. NOT! Roomba behaved exactly like seen in your video, but I allowed the 535 to run long enough (more time that your video lasted) for it to satisfy itself that it was not going anywhere, so it eventually quit, sounded the Uh-Oh followed by nine beeps.

You are not letting the machine reach its own error conclusion. Using compressed air at the top assembly level is not going to fix it. To get further insight on what may be done to fix the problem read posts in this thread:
http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewto ... =1&t=11551

[olerog]

WOW!

Thanks for great input and links - now that I know what to look for and how to open it properly I finally feel that I both have reason to and the knowledge to open it, even though I'm not that into electronics

Thanks

Will post results in a few days when I've had a chance to take a look into this

Ole

[olerog]

IT'S WORKING! YES!

Thanks to everyone who helped -both here and in the forum posts linked to in the replies. Ordered the sensor replacement set from pro tech robotics, which took some time (since I'm in Norway) and arrived as I was leaving for holiday. But today I sat down, and as a "regular consumer" with no insight in electronics, even the simple operations I performed after detailed step-by-step photos you guys helped me find, were enough to give me a sense of satisfaction and a feeling that the Roomba is "mine" in a more total sense than before.

[Gordon]

IT'S WORKING! YES! ...

Thanks for the positive feedback, olerog! It is always nice to hear about a succesful repair.

For the most part you can thank vic7767 for doing pathfinder work down into those 5XX bump-sense modules.

---Gordon

[chrissou]

Hi, i've the same problem on my roomba 530.
I upload a video to show you : http://m.youtube.com/index?client=mv-go ... PEmRAlkaxw
I try to clean all of the sensors, i try compressed air but it doesn't work :/
What othet test can i do ? Problem with wall sensor ? IRled problem?
Thanks a lot

[vic7767]

Go to the "READ FIRST" Sticky and download the service manual for the 500 series Roomba. Learn how to place the robot into the factory test mode. Perform the manual advance mode to help you find the complaining sensor.

[chrissou]

Hi vic thanks for your reply,
I put my roomba into factory test mode and it result There is a problem with right Bumper detector.
When i go to test phase 1, spot and dock are not illuminated. I press left bumper and spot illuminate green when i release left bumper spot is black (normal condition)
When i pressed right bumper dock illuminate in Green but when i release the bumper dock stay green....
Do you think it s a bumper problem or motherboard??
Thanks a lot

[vic7767]

chrissou, it would appear your Roomba is suffering the 9 beep bumper sensor error. That particular problem is well documented in this forum. The culprit is a poorly manufactured IR Emitter in the bumper sensor itself and not the motherboard (PCA).

[chrissou]

chrissou, it would appear your Roomba is suffering the 9 beep bumper sensor error. That particular problem is well documented in this forum. The culprit is a poorly manufactured IR Emitter in the bumper sensor itself and not the motherboard (PCA).

Hi vic thanks for your response i didn't understand very well english ... Can you confirm me that it s a detecor problem ? If i bought a sensor bumper kit it's good ?
Thanks a lot

[vic7767]

Yes, you have a bumper sensor failure.

[chrissou]

Thanks a lot vic i Will Buy another one

[chrissou]

I check with my iPhone the ir Led and i didn't see light on right detector!
Have you got the reference of IRLed ? The kit is 50$ it's expensive for just an irled...

[vic7767]

I ordered from two sources. Digi-key (QEE113-ND) LED IR Emitting 940 NM Sidelooker, and
Mouser Electronics, Inc (QSE113E3RO) .25mA, 5V Fairchild PhotodetectorTransistor. I always replace both the Emitter and Detector on both bumper sensor assemblies.

[chrissou]

I ordered from two sources. Digi-key (QEE113-ND) LED IR Emitting 940 NM Sidelooker, and
Mouser Electronics, Inc (QSE113E3RO) .25mA, 5V Fairchild PhotodetectorTransistor. I always replace both the Emitter and Detector on both bumper sensor assemblies.

Great!!!!! Thanks you very very much vic

[Janka]

160-1063-ND EMITTER IR 940NM CLEAR SIDE LOOK from Digi-Key worked for me. It is a little bit bigger but shipping is little bit cheaper than from Mouser.

[tvjensen]

Hi My robot do the same

what sensor kit replacement shall i buy at http://www.protechrobotics.com/products.php?cat=42&pg=2?
Irobot 560

TVjensen

[vic7767]

what sensor kit replacement shall i buy

See if this URL will help you understand what you need:
http://www.vic7767.com/run-around-roomb ... -of-death/