Where Can I Get My Electric Scooter Repaired?

Electronic devices of all types have one key benefit over their analogue counterparts: minimal or no moving parts in their internal workings. There are no cogs, chains, or springs in most electronic devices, making them significantly less prone to breaking down. The same logic applies to electric scooters. There are no ignition coils, crankshafts, gears, ratchets, or reservoirs commonly found in cars, or the gears, chains & cranks you’d find on bicycles. 

As a form of transport, the electric scooter is safe, reliable, and cost-effective. We even went as far as to compare the cost of owning an e-scooter to a car, and the numbers were heavily in favour of two wheels over four. 

However, at the end of the day, e-scooters are still made up of components with electrical wires. Eventually, something may wear out and if it does, you’ll have to repair your ride. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. There are plenty of options to fix your e-scooter or replace the parts that are broken.

But first, let’s find out some of the more common e-scooter troubles you may encounter along the way.

Types of Issues

There are several predicaments that you may experience riding your scooter. Some require an easy fix, while others can only be rectifiedif you make the trip to the repair shop. So, what do you need to look out for to identify the issues?

Tyres

One of the most common obstacles you may experience is a flat tyre, especially if it’s air-filled. Some e-scooter models are fitted with wheels designed to be self-healing, which means that punctures or holes are automatically sealed up. However, most models don’t come with that kind of technology.

For flats, if the puncture is small, you can patch it up using a tyre sealant like Armor-Dilloz (provided that the tyre is tubeless). But, if the puncture is too big for you to handle on your own, you will either need to buy a replacement tyre or go to your dealer. Fortunately, we have some spare tyres available on the website. And if you can’t find one compatible with your specific scooter model, you can contact our team for assistance. 

Another problem you may find with tyres is low air pressure. When that happens, the grip and manoeuvrability of the scooter will get affected as the contact patch expands. You’ll get more resistance while riding, which is a safety hazard since they’ll be more prone to punctures.

So, how do you fix your tyres? Well, if it’s only tyre pressure, all you need to do is pump some air into them and meet the brand-recommended PSI level. You can use something like the Apollo Auto Air Pump Tyre Inflator to help you when needed, but any tyre pump will do.

Brakes

The brakes of your electric scooter are some of the most important components you need to check regularly because a broken braking system is just an accident waiting to happen. It’s a safety risk to you and those around you while dashing through the city streets in your two-wheeler.

So, what do you need to look out for? There could be a few issues:

• Brake pad rubbing - this can actually be quite common on new scooters & with new brake pads. Simply put, either one or both of the pads are rubbing against the rotor of the brake. This can be identified by a scraping or rubbing noise coming from the wheel, or restricted movement when you try to spin the wheel off the ground. Left on its own, this problem will eventually go away as the pads wear down, but if you’re seeing a significant reduction in performance, you can generally adjust brakes easily with a screwdriver. 

• Air in the brake line (hydraulic brakes) - if you pull your brake and the lever offers no resistance, you probably have air in your brake line. To remove this air, you’ll need to ‘bleed’ your brakes. While you can do this at home, you need a special kit to do so, and when it comes to brakes, we suggest you get the experts to look at it. 

• Limited braking effectiveness (mechanical brakes) - this can happen if there is too much slack between the brake lever and the brake itself. Usually, you can adjust the length of the brake cable at the lever end and brake end to remove that slack. 

• Slow & Sluggish performance (electronic brake) - this is harder to identify as it’s generally not caused by a mechanical issue. If you’ve checked your scooter’s main brakes and are still seeing limited performance, there could be an issue with the electronic brake. That’s a tough fix to do at home, so best to take your ride in for a service. 

Motor / Drivetrain

The motor of your e-scooter is the most crucial component of your ride. Without it, your e-scooter is inoperable. First off, when you buy your electric scooter, make it a point to know where the motor is located, what type it is, and how it runs. You'll find it easier to assess impairments if you understand your ride better. For the most part, your electric motor will be located in one of the wheels. A disclaimer first, however. Playing around with your motor can cause more harm than good, and self-attempted repairs can void your warranty. 

The most common problem of a motor is overheating. Once it starts heating up and overloading, it will start taking the battery down with it. On top of that, as the temperature rises, other wires or components connected to it may also be at risk of burning.

As soon as you smell something burning, turn off your scooter as this indicates that your motor is heating up and wires are likely being scorched. However, allow it to cool down first before checking for signs of damage. 

After waiting, immediately go to a service centre for experts to examine the wires, electrical controller, and fuse to see the extent of the impact. You can also even ask them to check for battery damage as well.

What’s more, other complications can arise that can stop you from riding your scooter. The problem might be a malfunctioning power transition system, loose connectors, or an improperly installed chain/belt.

Motor-related issues are not usually easily fixed and it depends on how much was damaged. Plus, it might also be a tad expensive to get replacements or do a full repair. Don’t worry though - if it didn’t harm a lot of connected components, you may not have to say bye to your scooter.

Battery 

You can’t really go anywhere when the battery is dead. Surprisingly, dying battery packs are common for e-scooters and not a big cause for alarm. Many factors come into play as to why it frequently happens, such as improper charging, factory defect, and battery age. Even exceedingly colder temperatures can have a big impact, so be wary of where you store your ride.

Nevertheless, it’s important to note that they all have their own life spans, especially if they're consistently used to their limits. On that note, we strongly suggest you avoid depleting a battery 100%, and put your scooter back on charge while you have about 15-20% left. 

The first solution is to try and see if you can still charge it, and if you can, plug it in for a little longer than usual. But honestly, that’s just a short-term fix that would still render your battery useless in the long run. If you are trying to revive a battery you suspect is dead, avoid leaving your scooter unattended while on charge. 

It would be wise to bring your e-scooter to the repair shop so a professional mechanic can figure out the best course of action, which is most likely to replace the battery pack. Plus, having one in mint condition will save you the hassles and headaches as your two-wheeler continues to have sufficient power.

Controller

The controller gets your scooter moving and lets you manage your speed, but it can be prone to failing as a result of being pushed too hard, or coming into contact with water. You’ll be able to identify this if your scooter won’t move, wheels feel stiff, or if you get very shaky acceleration. 

Once a controller is burned out, there is no option but to replace it, so we suggest always riding within the scooter’s abilities, not exceeding weight limits, and keeping away from water. 

Water Damage

Unfortunately, water damage is a free-for-all of symptoms that can be totally different from one scooter to the next. It can be as simple as a flickering light to something more serious as the motor cutting out mid-ride. 

Similar to controllers, once electronics are damaged due to water ingress, there’s no option but to replace those electrical components. Prevention is better than cure, so if you do find your ride gets wet, wipe it down with a dry towel as soon as possible, leave it off charge, and let it dry out for a few hours. 

Who Fixes Electric Scooters?

When you encounter one of the aforementioned problems, rather than reaching for the tools, it's best to ask yourself who can fix your ride. While some only require a quick fix like increasing tyre pressure, other issues need to be examined by professionals.

Not only that, some situations result in components needing to be completely replaced. Depending on the extent of the damage, the process of fixing your e-scooter may take a while, especially if some parts need to be changed. 

You can contact your local mechanic, retailer, or even the scooter’s manufacturer. Let the people with the know-how deal with the mechanical troubles. Otherwise, you just might add to the damage if you attempt to deal with it yourself.

Here at Electric Kicks, you’ll get access to top-notch assistance as we work together with world-renowned brands to keep a consistent supply of spare parts coming to Australia.. One of the most useful services you can acquire as our customer is the opportunity to talk to scooter experts.

If you’re in a pickle with your electric scooter or any of the products you bought from us, you can immediately contact us about your concerns. We can discuss the possible solutions so that you won’t have to say goodbye to your ride.

Warranty and Service Centre

One particular topic we’d like to mention is the warranty of the product. At Electric Kicks, we offer a 1-year warranty on all our products. 

When your e-scooter needs fixing, having a valid warranty helps a lot. You can request a repair with us, and we’ll talk you through what needs to be done. Some spare parts are already in stock while others will need to be ordered directly from the brand. 

If the damage is covered under our warranty rules, you can bring your e-scooter to our headquarters in Melbourne. But, if you live in another city, you don’t have to panic because Electric Kicks can still take care of it. We have service centres in different parts of Australia to make it easier for you to bring in your scooter and have it repaired.

We know how much of a headache it can be to have a broken ride, so we’ve tried to make the process uncomplicated for you. Plus, with our repair centres all around the country, our services are just within your reach. With Electric Kicks, we won’t leave you hanging after your purchase.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a commuter, joyrider, or thrill-seeker, having a broken electric scooter is annoying, especially when it happens when you least expect it. Luckily, if it’s not your first rodeo, you can diagnose the issues and even fix some of them yourself with just a few accessories or tools. 

But, what if the damage is huge? Well, that’s why local repair shops and technicians are at your behest. And if you contact your dealership, you can make use of your warranty.

Nevertheless, it’s best to regularly check your e-scooter and its components to ensure everything is in tip-top shape. Taking care of your ride just might keep those headache-inducing issues at bay.