Have you ever wondered why your mobility scooter’s battery drains so fast? There could be several reasons why this happens, but the first step to solving the problem is to identify the root cause of it draining so fast.
There are several factors that determine how fast your scooter’s battery drains depending on how often you ride it and your driving habits.
While most mobility scooters have a 12-volt lead-acid battery, some of them might have other types such as gel cell or sealed lead acid batteries that offer longer life and durability.
Check All Connections
When a mobility scooter drains fast, most often it is because of a faulty connection. The first thing to do when your mobility scooter’s battery won’t charge is to make sure that all connections are secure.
Check all connections with a voltmeter. If you don’t have one of these, ask someone at an auto parts store to check for you. If they cannot check for free, have them show you how and then make sure to double-check their work against a voltmeter yourself.
As long as everything is working properly, try charging again; if not, move on to other possible problems below.
Clean the connections
If your scooter has frequent problems with running time or power, start by cleaning all of its connections. Make sure you have a clean and firm connection between each component of your scooter.
This can often be accomplished by using sandpaper or other smoothing tools to remove rust and ensure that there is nothing preventing a good solid connection from happening.
If a problem persists, you may need to replace components, but at least give them a good cleaning first! A fresh coat of paint on corroded parts will also help increase efficiency.
Recondition your batteries
Many mobility scooter users don’t realize that batteries can be reconditioned. As a matter of fact, a good battery can last for five to seven years if it’s maintained properly. A bad battery will only last up to three years.
All you need is baking soda and water to recondition your battery. The baking soda should be mixed with a bit of distilled water and poured over every cell in your mobility scooter battery pack. You want to do this once a month until you notice an improvement in performance.
Check and clean your charger
A clogged charger can slow down your scooter’s battery and even keep it from taking a charge. The first step is to check and clean your charger.
Remove any dust or debris from around its prongs, then use an old toothbrush to scrub off any residue left behind by battery acid (usually white or yellow).
Then connect your charger to a working outlet and try to turn on your mobility scooter. If you still have no luck, try another outlet, as one of them may be faulty. But if your scooter turns on when connected to another outlet, then you’ve narrowed down the problem—it’s probably time for a new charger. If not…
Checking other fluids on mobility scooters.
If your mobility scooter is a few years old and getting a little worn out, it’s possible that parts of it are not as efficient as they once were. If you’re having to charge up your mobility scooter frequently or notice an overall reduction in performance, it may be time to replace some of these parts.
While replacement parts can be expensive, they often pay for themselves pretty quickly through savings on energy costs.
Many people find that it’s worth replacing batteries every couple of years even if they aren’t draining quickly because recharging often affects their lifespan more than actual use does.
Replace worn parts
If you have an older model mobility scooter that still has some life left in it, then you might be able to improve its battery life by replacing worn-out parts. An old scooter may have shocks that are filled with air and not oil, which can leak out over time and get into your battery.
This can short out your system and cause faster draining of energy. If you believe that a worn part is responsible for your battery draining fast, then it’s worth taking a few minutes to replace it!
Related: Mobility Scooter Battery Not Charging Fixed
Conclusion
The battery for your mobility scooter isn’t just a matter of convenience. If it drains faster than you need, you won’t be able to get where you want to go, which is why it is a good idea to learn how to fix the mobility scooter battery draining fast.
Luckily, there are several ways that can help improve your mobility scooter’s battery life and keep you mobile as long as possible. Because each component has its own unique purpose in overall performance, it is essential that they work properly with one another.
For example, water build-up in your batteries could make them less effective or even cause them to leak and burn out entirely. To prevent that from happening, check your batteries periodically and clean them with distilled water if needed.
