Power Wheels Pedals may start malfunctioning, and the problem doesn’t need to be with the pedal itself; it can be a problem with the battery, motor, controller, wires, or connectors.
The reason can be dirt, rust, incompatible speed modifications, or a broken pedal.
You can repair the Power Wheels pedal easily at home, but for that first, you have to find the fault. You can perform step-by-step troubleshooting to find the fault and repair it.
First, do a physical examination, then use a volt multimeter to check all the parts connected to the Power Wheels pedal. Find the fault and start repairing it.
Table of Contents
Finding the Problems
Finding the problem with the Power Wheels pedal is a step-by-step process. First is the physical examination, then you will require a volt multimeter to check all the parts related to the Power Wheels pedal. Start repairing the fault if you find one at any step.
- First of all, check the foot pedal if it is broken; you may need to take it out to check if it is broken under the pedal. A flathead screwdriver can help to take the pedal out. Also, check the switch socket to which the pedal is connected. Don’t fix the pedal back. You may need to check the power in the pedal.
- Check all the wires coming to the pedal if you find any cut, burned, or loose wire. It is also necessary to check the wires by the volt multimeter.
- Check all the connectors in the pedal system. You may find a broken connector or a rusted one.
- After the physical examination, the next step is to check the battery; first, fully charge the battery, then use the volt multimeter to check if the voltage is standard.
- If the battery has no problem, use the volt multimeter to check the power in the pedal. Turn on the main switch, connect the volt multimeter to the pedal switch socket wires, and check for the power.
- If the switch socket wiring is working fine, check the motor; for that, you have to disconnect the motor from the battery, connect it to a compatible charger, and check if it turns on. If the motor is working, the problem is probably in the wires or connectors. You can also check the motor by directly connecting it to the battery.
- If all the parts above are working fine in the last step, check the control board by volt multimeter.
- It is necessary to check for unnecessary heat coming from the power wheels, sometimes overheating may burn something in the power wheels, and the pedal will not work.
How to Make the Power Wheels Pedal Work Again
To make the Power Wheels pedal work again, you have to repair or replace the particular part where the problem lies. Follow the steps described above to find the exact problem with the pedal.
Here is the solution to each problem related to the Power Wheels pedal.
How to Replace a Broken Pedal?
If the Power Wheels pedal is broken, you need to replace it. Replacing the Power Wheels Pedal is an easy task and can be done by the parents at home. Order the pedal from Amazon; make sure it is the same as your model. Here is the step-by-step process.
- You will require one flathead screwdriver and one Philips screwdriver, and the only part you need is the new Power Wheels pedal.
- First of all, locate the battery; if it is under the seat, unscrew the seat to open it, or if the battery is under the hood, you can open the hood.
- Disconnect the battery and controller, both of them have connectors. You have to pull out the connectors.
- You have to pry up the old foot pedal, use a flat head screwdriver to do that. It needs to be done gently, so you do not break the other parts of Power Wheels.
- After removing the foot pedal, disconnect it from the switch socket. Just pull out the socket from the pedal.
- Put the new Power Wheels pedal in place and see if it can fit perfectly. Take it out.
- Connect the new pedal to the pedal switch socket. Mostly the pedal switch socket is pulled in and out from the pedal. Make sure the new pedal is connected to the socket perfectly.
- At this stage, you can reconnect the battery and controller for a while to test the pedal. If it works fine again, disconnect the battery and controller for safety.
- Now insert the new Power Wheels pedal into the place and ensure the switch socket goes straight to the place.
- You can insert the pedal into place by tilting it a little, and you may have to use the flathead screwdriver to push the Power Wheels pedal into place. Mostly the Power Wheels pedal is held in place by a clip in the pedal housing.
Reconnect the battery and controller. Fix the seat with screws or close the hood. Your kid can enjoy the Power Wheels now.
How to Solve the Battery Problem?
The Power Wheels pedal will malfunction if the battery is weak or dead. If a fully charged battery does not show a voltage slightly higher than the assigned voltage, that means the battery is weak or dead. You have to replace the battery to make the pedal work.
The battery starts dying with time; make sure you do not overcharge the battery to save its life. Order a replacement battery; replacing the battery (link) is the easiest task in the power wheels you can do at home.
Replacement batteries in the Power Wheels are expensive. There are alternatives (link to Power Wheels battery alternatives) like home appliances, car, and bike batteries you can use in the power wheels and make the Power Wheels pedal work. Most of these batteries are sealed lead-acid batteries.
The other alternative is the battery drill conversion (link), in which you can use small lithium-ion batteries from power tools in the power wheels. Ensure the replacement battery is the same voltage as before; a higher voltage battery will increase the speed but affect the motor.
You can use any process to replace the battery to make the Power Wheels pedal work.
How to Solve the Motor Problem?
Motors are connected to the power wheels pedal; the motor will turn on if you press the pedal. You can check the motor by connecting it directly to the battery or charger; if it does not turn on, it will not work with the Power Wheels pedal.
The Power Wheels pedal can not run the dead motor. Incompatible speed modification is the common reason for motor dying. Repairing a motor may be difficult and needs an expert to do that.
It is better to buy a new motor, and you can replace the motor (link) at home by following some simple steps.
How to Solve the Control Board Issues?
The Control board is box-shaped, also called the brain box of the power wheels. The power wheels pedal is first connected to the control board then to the motor. When you press the pedal, the control board decides the power flow to the motor.
The Control Board contains a circuit board that controls power flow in the power wheels. If the control board is burned or not working, the Power Wheels pedal will malfunction. The power surge can harm the control board.
You can order a new control board for your model and replace it at home.
- First of all, disconnect the battery.
- Locate the control board under the hood or the seat based on your model.
- Remove the mounting screws of the control board.
- Disconnect the wire connectors and take the control board out of the Power Wheels. Some connectors have tabs, and you need to pinch them to release them. Remember where each connector goes.
- Make sure the socket in both the old and new control boards are the same. Connect the wire connectors to the new control board
- Mount back the screws to fix the new control board in the power wheels.
- Connect the battery and test the pedal if it is working; close the hood or seat.
If you know electronics, you can repair the old control board or remove the control board and directly connect the Power Wheels pedal, motor, and battery, but this is a temporary solution.
How to Solve Wiring and Connector Issues?
Power Wheels pedals are connected to the motor, battery and control board through wires and connectors. If any wire or connector is damaged or dead, the pedal will malfunction.
You will need wire strippers, crimpers, soldering iron and heat shrink tubing to repair a faulty wire. If a wire is loose, you can tighten them, and if a wire has been cut, you can strip the two ends and make a new connection.
Make sure to cover it with the heat shrink tubing for safety. Check if the pedal works after wire repairing.
If the wire is dead or expired, then it needs to be replaced. Identify both ends of the wire and cut it out, strip the two ends of the new wire, make a temporary connection, and test the Power Wheels pedal; if it is working, remove the battery first, then solder the connections and put the battery back.
The Power Wheels pedal is connected to a switch socket, in which the wires are connected through connectors. The rusty connector can be cleaned and installed again, but the damaged one needs to be replaced because it can also cause a short circuit.
Connectors are connected to the ends of wires. You can cut the wire, strip it and put the new connector in. Replacing the switch socket connectors should make the Power Wheels pedal work.
If it does not work, you can check the other connectors installed in the Power Wheels pedal system.
Cost of Power Wheels Pedal Repair
Power Wheels pedals are not expensive; you can buy one for $7-$15. The replacement can be done at home by the parents, which also saves money. If the problem is not the foot pedal, it may cost more.
The controller in the Power Wheels can cost $25-$50, sometimes even higher. The motor costs $15-$20. The battery is relatively expensive and can cost up to $70. A new connector is under $10. You can replace the wires with the old ones. Otherwise, the wires do not cost much.
The electronic speed controller is a modification that can save the motor, controller, and wires for a long time, and the ESC can cost up to $50.
Risk Factors for Power Wheels Pedal Failing
- The most common problem is dirt and water. Rust in the metal parts of power wheels will be the cause of malfunctioning the pedal.
- The speed modification is also a risk factor, and it needs to be done based on compatibility. For example, if you want to modify the speed of 12V power wheels, you can install a 24V battery, 24V motor, and controller compatible with it.
- Overcharging is bad for the battery, and eventually, it will affect the motor and controller. If you want to prevent it, charge the battery with the required time; otherwise, you can use a smart charger.
- Overweight kids in the power wheels can break the pedal in the power wheels, or power wheels may not have enough power to run on overweight.
Conclusion
It is a common problem in the Power wheels if the pedal is not working, and the problem doesn’t need to be related to the pedal. Sometimes the problem can be with the battery, motor, controller, wires, or connectors.
First of all, you should do a physical examination to check the damages to the pedal, wires, or connectors. If there is no problem, you can use a volt multimeter to check all the electric things connected to the pedal of Power wheels, including the motor, battery, controller, and wires.
A Power Wheels pedal can be easily replaced at home if broken. You may also need to replace the battery, motor, or controller if it is not possible to repair it.
