Fix Stopped Motor on LitterMaid 3rd Edition Litter Box

If the LitterMaid motor has power, but stopped moving no matter what you do, it might be the internal ribbon cable that got disconnected. Here's how I fixed it.

[@karmaamanson6583]

You would think with how expensive these are they would be made better. Thank you for this.

[@KingJames1981]

I just spent 2 hours figuring this out. That cable ribbon actually disconnects from both sides. I high recommend you carefully pull it off both ends after retracting the tiny retaining clips. Clean it off with rubbing alcohol, including where it plugs into and if you have co2, blast them. Then instead of putting it back in the same way, swap it around so that they ends are going in the opposing inputs if that makes sense. It's an old IT trick I picked up when cable stop working the way they used to. Just reversve them and it usually makes a good connection. These crappy ribbons will wear out with regular use, that's something made sure of. Planned Obsolesence is real. Good Luck as this company went out of business and they no longer sell this item.

[@rachelnichols0179]

We bought 2 on March 15th 2020. Our cats love them. Both are not working. Thank you sooo much for this video on how to fix the litter maid. This is awesome 👏

[@bigcat2520]

Same problem! Thanks for the video. About to try fixing it.

[@user-rj1pl7hn5k]

My flat cable developed a kink/short near the connector. Replaced the cable with one from ebay matching this description: FFC / FPC Flat Flexible Ribbon Cable 1.0 Pitch 4 Pin 300mm for a few $. Skinny cable but if you align the connectors parallel with travel, it works well and I got 4 cables so I have spares.

[@MSchwartzNWV]

Appreciate your video. Mine died 4 days before 1-year. These things are designed to fail and Littermaid isn't interested in honoring their warranty. My ribbon cable has a break in it so no easy fix for me. I will not be buying anything Littermaid or any Spectrum Brands subsidiary in the future. Going to attempt to scrape the insulation off the ribbon cable and solder directly with some jumper wire.

[@kimberleynixon6981]

This totally worked. Thank you so much

[@kristinaclark7612]

Thank you! Been trying to work on ours as well hopefully this will help

[@asimbilloo9746]

This is great! I don’t see a disconnect in my ribbon so I just adjusted it and motor started up but once I re assembled it went back to not workin and green light blinking

[@amystickney8680]

Mine just broke ordered a new one but I am definitely going to try this fix. I have 4 cats so having three boxes would be great

[@selenahutchinson4319]

Thank you for this! I’ve had mine for 2 weeks and it already stopped working. Disappointing. I followed your instructions and took it apart. Apparent ally now there’s a tape piece holding the ribbon but mine got bent. I was able to bend it back straight and now it works. Yay

[@robm672]

You should have called the mfg they would have sent you a new one at no charge.. I have gotten several that were under 1 year old.. The warrantee is 1 year..

[@aliciagamez5291]

I can't figure out how to take the rake off. I tried pressing down on the two buttons on top as the instructions say, but the only thing I achieved was getting the rake to swivel around the motor and lock in a perpendicular position. I can't figure out how to take it off. The manual in picture Q indicates that the whole motor apparatus lifts out for cleaning. Is that accurate?

[@subdude1979]

I had this exact problem with my litter maid. Also managed to get it working again by securing the ribbon cable that connects to the motor. Common problem with this product?

[@RomanA1087]

On one of my boxes the ribbon cable shorted out. The ribbon had a burn mark on it

[@faridamohamed7627]

Hi Can you help plz ? What is the motor spec? RPM? 12V? Coz i think my motor broke down

[@mgelliott86]

it's a shame they cant just make a better product so we dont need to look up how to fix it

[@meganjones5102]

Hey there, I'm not sure if you can help or not. I got my littermaid 3rd edition, its been working perfectly. However it recently stopped working. It will power onto the clean cycle, but that's it. If I switch it to the on side, it doesn't turn on.

[@simeonowens489]

Same problem here

[@catherineostrom7575]

Did you find a solution? Took mine apart. Don't see any cable ribbon problem. Now the clean function only moves an inch or two and the green light flashes. No response on the "on" side at all. It's been iffy for a long while. Got so I wouldn't turn off to clean as it wouldn't go back on. I took apart since it started intermittent power and would just keep raking each time it got power again. I would like to know if you ever solved your no power problem.

[@__dot___3039]

Hey! I’m hoping you can help!I got my litter box Saturday and I realized today that the rake has not moved AT ALL! I don’t know what’s wrong.

[@jayjanetbeller]

Turn the power off and on. If the rake moves, then it might be the motion sensor. If it doesn't move, it's power to the motor. Since it's brand new, I would call customer service for a replacement. The video instructions should work to restore power to the motor

[@audreyduguay1968]

Can you come and fix the litter maid litter box for me cause I can't do it

[@yahwehtheonetruegod1238]

Do you have any suggestions for purchasing a replacement rake? Despite it being removable LitterMaid DOESN'T sell a replacement.

[@jayjanetbeller]

Maybe look on ebay for a broken litter box - sometimes people sell broken items for parts

[@yahwehtheonetruegod1238]

@@jayjanetbeller Thanks

[@WALENKRAN]

Question, some time now, how much of a problem putting in a stronger motor? My cat holds the cleaning arm just for fun sometimes and likes to jam it for fun..little bastard lol let me know what you think..👍

[@sylviayoungman6925]

Hello. This is my 3rd LitterMaid. Just opened the box, plugged it in, and the red light continously blinks. No movement at all. Litter is below the max level. I wonder if the rake is in right. Your thoughts are most welcome.

[@jayjanetbeller]

Straight out of the box and all tape/packing materials removed? I would contact LitterMaid and have them send a replacement

[@yevgensemenenko3051]

Ribbon cable issue. One of ribbon cable side was heavy used and sometimes lost connection. Disconnected cable and changed sides. Now it’s working well, but who knows for how long.

[@KingJames1981]

I did the same, but it only lasted another 2 weeks. They don't make anything to last anymore.

[@shaneford2730]

I cant seem to totally remove the side of the box..any suggestions? All the screws are out but it's not coming apart on the switch end...brute force?

[@shaneford2730]

All I need to do is rethread that ribbon and it back into place but I cant get that side off.

[@LazrArt]

At minute 2:30 of the video it shows how the back section with the power switch slides into the side panel and connects with 2 screws. Also, at minute 5:30 it clarifies the 2 screws that secure the back panel versus the 4 screws that hold the side panel

[@timkopiczko6839]

On mine the ribbon cable cracked a bit about an inch from the motor connection. How do I get another one. Was just going to solder wires on the connections. This was hard to diagnose because when you straightened the wire to test it would make contact again. It only fails when fully bent at the top of the box.

[@vicwithdadrip2900]

I have the same problem my ribbon is broke I need to find replacement parts

[@DS-nl2do]

Now have the same issue. Did you end up finding a replacement cable?

[@veronicafont5309]

Buenas tardes porque cuando conecto el cargador solo dice mantenimiento en rojo?

[@regeneadams6190]

Just go ours 9 months ago approx. No power at all any ideas?

[@LazrArt]

If no lights going on and you've tried a different outlet, might be the power supply

[@robm672]

Just replaced the ribbon cable on the one just under 1 year old, you should mention to get the outer cover off you need to slide the side cover down while on it's side to get to the last 2 screws on the inside. Then the cover will come off. I just so happened to have parts from an older cat pan so I had the ribbon cable. The one that came out was damaged and have looked but cannot find it.. I do have another old litter maid that I will take apart and see if I can fix. But back to the new one I also tried to replace the motor with an older good motor but there must be some internal differences as it would rake then go into clean mode by itself.. If the motor is bad on the older one I have this new motor.. If anyone has any clue where to by that ribbon cable please post. It is a 4 pin 11mm x 298.45mm or 7/16 x 11 3/4**************************************************************************************************************UPDATE ON LITTERMAID, Motor would go forward and back only about an inch took motor assembly apart found motor went bad smokes. Now looking for a replacement motor for 3rd generation box and will use this as a back up in addition to the new box littermaid sent me.. I have the 980 back in line.. I am going to see if the motor in the 980 is the same as I have a spare one of them..

[@TheAngelsKill]

Hey Rob, do you remember where you picked up the ribbon? I am checking amazon and it seems they dont have the right one. I am not very good with electronics so I am unsure lol. Care to point me in the right direction? Would appreciate it. Thanks!

[@robm672]

I had another litter pan that the motor died so I used that..@@TheAngelsKill

[@majiesi1]

If the ribbon is absolutely fine and the rake remains stuck at the end what else could I try

[@LazrArt]

You can watch the following video about misaligned rake (sorry about the low volume): kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqTYh4uqqbqne6M

[@Greytro]

How do you disconnect the ribbon?

[@KingJames1981]

Very carefully. Just use a tooth pick or a paperclip to pull the black retaining clips out/back.

[@TheEzmaralda]

Is there a reset button? where is it?

[@lunaoverwatch]

My littermaid cleaning cycle will not stop. Any suggestions?

[@jayjanetbeller]

There's a plastic bar about 1/8 inch behind the motor assembly, running parallel to the motor. Make sure that you can push it in and it pops back out - that's what stops the motor (new 3G model only)

[@vicwithdadrip2900]

My inner ribbon is broke how can I get parts to replace it so I don't have to throw out the entire litter box?

[@LazrArt]

If not under warranty (1 year LitterMaid replaces it), the only way I can think of is to look in eBay for someone selling a broken one for parts - still no guarantee

[@feliperecabarren1130]

Hi! Work with nature miracle multi cat ? Is the same box greetings!

[@LazrArt]

Yes, LitterMaid created models for Nature's Miracle

[@SecretZoolevel]

Mine has a red light not sure what's going on, clean moves on doesnt even light up

[@jayjanetbeller]

Not sure what you mean by "clean moves on doesnt even light up"

[@SecretZoolevel]

@@jayjanetbeller button has a Clean off and On switch, the clean runs but actual on just doesn't do anything

[@angiedredge2365]

@@SecretZoolevel did you ever get this figured out? I have the same problem right now

[@ProfChaos1985]

I hope this will fix mine

[@dyldog8837]

I'm going to explain with mine and hopefully someone can tell me if this helped them fix theirs with mine the green light works blinking and still but the rake will not push forward when I have it attached to the litter box bottom piece even if I push it but what's weird is if I detach the top and push the rake it will go up and down with no problems is there an alternate solution? Someone please let me know this is very annoying

[@LazrArt]

If the rake moves, then it's not the cable described in this video. The only thing I can think of that might cause the rake to get stuck when the top and bottom are connected, is if the rake is way out of alignment. The gears on the sides of the rake need to be on the same "tooth" of the track that it runs along. You can watch the following video (sorry about the low volume): kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqTYh4uqqbqne6M

[@spatiality]

I need to see how the Rake is taken off

[@tmzeena4497]

mine is stuck in position of emptying shit in tray. how I fix it?

[@jayjanetbeller]

If turning power off and on doesn't work, then it might be the issue described in the video - when the rake went to the furthest position, it disconnected the ribbon cable

[@Yukimint51]

Theses things need to be recalled because I’ve been working on mine for two hours and can’t get it now I’m checking the ribbon wish me luck

[@Echristoffe]

Hello, unfortunately for us the ribbon cable is dead … I think the design is bad … For everyone you can hot glue the cable if you don’t want it to disconnect at all. Or use a throng tape and tape it to the connector …