Neato Botvac Repair (Laser Turret)

Here's a short video on how to repair your Neato Botvac Laser Turret.
If you suffer from the behavior demonstrated in the beginning of the video, then it's probably the drive-belt to the turret that needs to be replaced.
You can support this nonsense at:
ko-fi.com/jwam...

[@Legocar-n1z]

I removed the slipping loose laser rubber belt and boiled it for 1 minute and afterwards cooled it for 1 minute in room temperature. This procedure shrunk the laser rubber belt so it now stopped slipping and my neato now works again. Thank you for your tutorial.

[@JWAM]

Excellent! Glad it worked out for you :)

[@willyvadim]

Wow! Tanks so much! Bought a drive belt on eBay and replaced it within 10 minutes. You saved me a lot of money, time and nerves.

[@JWAM]

Fantastic news! Enjoy your no-effort clean floors. :)

[@mattbuchner3149]

Thank you sir. I spent more time talking to Neato's support than fixing it myself after watching your video :D

[@JWAM]

Glad I could help! :D

[@hnie0607]

So great! Fixed my robot's slipping laser belt by swapping it with a rubber band! Screws are 12 T10 and 4 small phillips head.

[@JWAM]

Excellent! But that band will wear/dry out quickly. Order a replacement-belt meanwhile until the next change. :). Glad it helped you out!

[@pinballguru]

@@JWAM Do you have a link to order. I want a back up.

[@JWAM]

@@pinballguru No sorry, I do not. There was someone among the comments here who at least listed the correct dimensions

[@JWAM]

It should be this one: www.amazon.com/Neato-Botvac-Ring-Lidar-Model/dp/B088ZVY4QK/ref=pd_rhf_dp_s_pd_sbs_rvi_d_sccl_2_6/144-6276835-4053930?pd_rd_w=om2kE&content-id=amzn1.sym.a96b3406-9e51-4833-888e-fdd07f2de46f&pf_rd_p=a96b3406-9e51-4833-888e-fdd07f2de46f&pf_rd_r=XHMR03BMYZZE5557G3JY&pd_rd_wg=oSxj9&pd_rd_r=6912a10c-6462-4f30-bfca-93d9d2ea88db&pd_rd_i=B088ZVY4QK&psc=1#customerReviews Beware if you browse for others, as the dimensions for the newer machines seem to differ. If your pulley looks the same as mine in the video, then this is the one. If it's smaller / is of clear plastic, this one is probably not correct.

[@lukemckay3262]

Here in 2024 chasing error 3000 on a Vorwerk vr 200. Found out that vorwerk bought out neato… and bingo! Love the way you made a custom high rpm usage drive band. Your a savant my friend💯🏅

[@JWAM]

Glad you liked it :)

[@quincyhester2695]

I was expecting my rubber band to be broken as well but it turned out it was a big block of lint pressed up against the rubber band pulley component. Cleaning that solved the problem. Thank you for the video!

[@JWAM]

No problem! :) Glad you got it sorted :)

[@chrissanderson2034]

Thank you so much for posting this. A Godsend. We have managed to fix this issue following your really clear instructions.

[@JWAM]

So glad that I could be of help. :)

[@nga1066]

Many thanks for the video. It helped me to take my Botvac Connected apart. Turns out there was dust which was interfering with the lazer turret rotation so cleaned that and it's fine.

[@JWAM]

Glad I could help. :)

[@redtomato67]

I just fixed my Neato BotVac D5 Connected thanks to your tips ! that's great ! awesome. This is typical programmed obsolescence. The ring got loos exactly after 2 years of useage which is the end of warranty period...

[@JWAM]

Great to hear! I'm not conspiratorial enough to think that it's actively engineered to fail after the warranty period, but there certainly exist a few weak-spots fighting longevity. :)

[@abroadwin]

Thank you so much for this video! My vacuum is happily humming along and cleaning again thanks to your help.

[@JWAM]

Sweet! Glad I could be of help! :)

[@deborahkelly315]

Thanks so much!! It is running again. I did order a drive belt on Amazon and worked perfectly.

[@JWAM]

Perfect! :) Glad the video was helpful. Have a dust-free day, Deborah!

[@donnajachim3347]

What belt did you purchase

[@deborahkelly315]

@@donnajachim3347 Neato Botvac Robotic Vacuum Lidar... www.amazon.com/dp/B079J6F4LQ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[@dnassua80]

You are super! Thank you very much for this vid! In 5 Min and 10EUR of tx10 I repaired my D85! The laser tower was completly stucked! The o-ring was gone out of the guide locking the movement!(I suppose my son smashed the tour with same hammer-toys...) The o-ring was intact and in a good shape...so very Easy to repair! 😎

[@JWAM]

No problems, fellow Earthling! Helping out is how we've survived as species. :)

[@Corie-Amore]

It worked!!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! It wasn't even as much effort as you put in because I ordered the drive belt from Amazon for around $15 for 2 belts. You saved me a bundle... the worst part was finding a T10 star screwdriver that was long enough to reach the deep-set screw, but once I solved that problem it was a breeze.

[@JWAM]

So glad I could be of help. :) Yes, the point for me was to fix it there on the spot because the floors started to get dusty, and ordering from abroad can take up to a couple of weeks for me. The intention was to show that a rather pricey so-called "advanced machine" can be fixed completely at home, even if it is claimed that it required "special parts". My makeshift belt lasted 3-4 months. Plenty of time to get some hands on real belts, if one doesn't want to make new ones. :)

[@Shawzborne]

Do you have an amazon link Corie? thanks

[@TheNizeazz]

hey, do you have an Amazon link for me. thx

[@mikebannon9312]

Wound up having to change the motor but this was a great video to get me there. Thanks

[@niklaswall8763]

Thank you so much for this! Support was like "did you clean it?". Was prepared to let it go when I found your video. Niklas

[@JWAM]

Glad I could help! :). It sure is a shame that companies behind their own products care less about your troubles than random people online. :S

[@danw901]

Thanks for the video. It was helpful as a first step. I still had the error 3000 and laser turret did not spin on similar model Neato D5. Bought a motor for $15. It was a bit fiddly to change out the motor however worked a treat with Neato working again. For others, just make sure the wheel can spin on the motor, you may need to have it slightly up. Thanks!

[@JWAM]

Glad you got it working. I had also an occasion where I had to replace the motor. Broke the wheel in the process and had to print a new one. :). I have switched away from Neato since, but at least I did what I could to extend the life of it before I did so.

[@quickhatch8160]

I've also had this problem, but it turns out that my neato had its laser spinner stuck. I put a q-tip into the housing and spun it a couple times, pushing the while laser mechanism around, and it was fixed 🙂 Just putting it out there if you need it

[@caitlin8693]

thank you so much! This did it.

[@quickhatch8160]

@@caitlin8693 no problem. Glad it helped 😃

[@meshworx]

Wow great - that really helped to solve the problem and very nice and detailed instruction. Thanks for sharing!

[@JWAM]

Excellent! Glad I could be of help. :)

[@ngruber]

before doing all this be sure to try rotating the laser thing ten times to left then ten times to right. fixed the problem for me.

[@talm2891]

Thanks! Just fixed my D3, thanks to your video. Looks like the belt just jumped the groove, wonder if it's too loose.

[@JWAM]

Sweet! Glad I could be of help. Yes, my spontaneous thought is that it couldn't possibly jump off unless it was too loose (or some strange debris flicking it off. In any case, you now know how to replace it anyway. :)

[@lillyloulou9694]

Thank you very much 🌹💖🌹 I bought only replacement rubber band. I need only to push a bit but is working! Few years ago for the same problem Neato service charge me £350.

[@JWAM]

It's a shame that some random person online can give you better service (for free) than the actual company. :( But that's the world for you.

[@bruzote]

"Self-amalgamating or vulcanizing tape"? This is a new concept for me and could be helpful with other appliancrs or devices. My Neato is,not broken, I just watched out of curiosity. Now I have discovered another area to explore in the world of DIY projects. :-D

[@JWAM]

Yes, it's pretty cool stuff. I made new tyres to slot-cars with it. Printed out custom hubs and put that stuff over them, and then used the power of the slot-car to "burn" the rear-wheels over sandpaper as a makeshift tyre-lathe. :).

[@anthonyg8435]

I replaced the o ring, motor is good and lidar spins but continues to stop and start. Neato states that it is LDS-miss- packets. Also the ribbon is in good shape. This has me stumped any ideas??

[@joedirttae9152]

My Neato D80 been doing that for a while, thanks! Time for a new belt.

[@JWAM]

Good luck! :)

[@DJHEADPHONENINJA]

Thanks, you just saved me from buying a brand new unit!

[@call0ne]

Thanks so much for sharing. Got same problem and I was really disappointed about moving my botvac to trash. That worked for me! I owe you a beer!

[@JWAM]

Just let me know when you are in Sweden. :) Yes, squeeze a bit more from that thing before throwing it away!

[@pauloaogalde]

Thank you very much. I have the same problem with a Vorwerk VR200 that is a Neato inside. I tried to repair it just cleaning it inside. Now I will try again based in your video.

[@JWAM]

I hope it will be of help. And as already suggested in the comments, a replacement-belt can easily be found online. :)

[@NeonVisual]

I've got virtually no suction in mine. Recently replaced the brush motor as that had failed, plus the usual annual replacement of the battery. I'm spending more than if I had just bought one second hand.

[@JWAM]

May be it's time to upgrade at last.. ? :)

[@JohnGriffith]

This fixed mine too - i think there was some grit in the drive motor and when i cleaned the drive belt with alcohol it ground the grit out and ran freely. Sorted. Cost me £5 for a TX screwdriver instead of the £75 (for transport and diagnosis only) at werepair.

[@JWAM]

Excellent! :)

[@mattbretz9376]

Thank you! I took our D3 apart last night and was able to get it running again!

[@JWAM]

Excellent! Glad I could be of help. :)

[@adamharlan3606]

Thanks for the video! My "belt" was fine but the motor for the belt was stuck. It didn't spin freely at first. I turned it a little hard then it would spin freely. Problem solved!

[@JWAM]

Perfect! Yes, the code indicates that the turrent doesn't spin properly. Doesn't matter if the belt is broken or otherwise stuck. :) Happy not-vacuuming-manually!

[@magnusvesterlund3294]

Same for me, sorry for med reading this after some problem solving

[@ganasherxxx8521]

Hi I followed your video instructions and replaced the o ring with a rubber band the turret and drive wheel seemed to be working well but when I reassembled the unit the same problem remains, what do you suggest I do next

[@ruby22shoes]

same here! any progress???

[@gerritviljoen8507]

Use a Q-tip, spin turret around a few times and stick into two holes to clean. Done! No need to disassemble, unless belt is indeed broken. Takes about 20sec.

[@cf9539]

Straight Forward Video....now the sidebrush needs a fix

[@keyboarderror1]

I've been having this problem with my D5. Sometimes it would work, sometimes not. Then it finally quit and stayed broken. Your video showed me how to get to it apart (Thank You) but in my case the ribbon cable I assume is for Lidar data has a burned edge leading up to the turret. One of the fine wires had way too much current. There could be additional damage to other circuits. So, FYI there can be other problems that may not be so easily fixed.

[@JWAM]

Thanks for the info! Can't recall the ribbon cable. Are you sure it doesn't carry power to the motor as well? If it does, it could still be that it was due to the motor getting stuck. If not, then maybe it has to do with the power to the laser. Anything else would suggest a major short somewhere.

[@keyboarderror1]

@@JWAMI'm pretty certain it's to do with data. it's a long ribbon cable with zif sockets like for a camera. It's not a good candidate for power there's many other larger molex type connections that are actually labelled such as motor, it's not. I have photos. It's a work in progress, I haven't taken it up with Neato as yet. But which direction did the short come from? Probably the turret as it's the close device. But did it damage the mainboard? Neato only says it has a problem in the app. I'm wondering if there anything to be learned from the micro USB connection. But it doesn't look good.

[@JWAM]

@@keyboarderror1 That sure does not sound good. :S

[@tekektron3575]

So far so good with this vacuum. kzbin.infoUgkx8ISPQRRAfpAaX4msGjyodObTBnlj4T5g I was a little concerned to find it seems to be all plastic, but the reviews were good, so I'm hoping for the best. Very easy to assemble Recommened, and only attachments I've used so far work well, and are easy to use. Doing a good job on the new carpet in my bedrooms and stairs. Works well on the hardwood on my main floor too. Reasonable weight and cord length. I already knew from an earlier review that it wouldn't fit under furniture, but I can use my Eufy for that, so no problem - the high traffic areas that need a stronger suction was really what I bought this for. If it continues as it's started, it will be a good buy and well worth the money. I have had two Shark Rocket stick vacs in the past that are super easy to use, but the motors just don't last well, even with scrupulous cleaning of the filters. I'm hoping for better with this Bissell.

[@TheTruth4313]

Thank you so much for this video. Got my D80 back up and running again.

[@JWAM]

Glad to hear that! :)

[@corinnaf.5135]

Vielen Dank für das hilfreiche Video. Bei meinem Neato ist das LDS nach einem Treppensturz komplett abgefallen und auch der Antriebsriemen lag auf den Stufen. Dank dem Video konnte ich den Roboter zusammenbauen, jetzt dreht er wieder fröhlich seine Runden.

[@PAPAJOU]

Hi ! thx for the video. My botvac D85 has the exact same issue, i changed the belt : no change, i changed the little engine that make the belt spin : no change. Any idea ?

[@JWAM]

If you hold a paper Infront of the turret, can you detect the laser both shine and spin before the fault occurs?

[@PAPAJOU]

@@JWAM i just tried, i dont see any red dot/light on the paper

[@JWAM]

@@PAPAJOU My guess say it's the power supply to the LiDar or or the whole LiDar that is broken in that case. :/

[@PAPAJOU]

@@JWAM hmmm, seems Bad 😅. Im gonna search online how to replace the lidar

[@JWAM]

​@@PAPAJOUThe bad news is that the LiDar is about the most expensive thing on the whole product. If you know someone who is a bit electronics-savvy, maybe they can find the fault. It may be a smaller thing.

[@juanrmartinez4400]

Hi there, thx for posting your video. It pointed me in the right direction. But i was dissapointed at first when i saw that the rubber band on the laser turret was in good condition. But then i found a broken rubber band on the sidebrush motor, and the opposite side of the motor has a sensor that sees if rotor is rotating. So my guess is that if side brush or laser turret dont turn it will have the same behavior.

[@JWAM]

I don't think that is the case, unfortunately. The sidebrush can be out of commission without any problems (except that it doesn't clean along walls properly). Make sure that the turret is spinning when you start the robot. If it isn't, it is probably the motor that needs replacing.

[@juanrmartinez4400]

@@JWAM You where so right, just changed the rubber band and still same behavior. I see now that Lidar turret is not spinning, but cant find anything visibly wrong.

[@JWAM]

@@juanrmartinez4400 yep.. It's most likely the motor. They are cheap so it doesn't hurt to try switch it out

[@juanrmartinez4400]

@@JWAM I'll try it. THX :)

[@karenbenz9340]

This is a brilliant fix! I had high hopes for my neato but, unfortunately, trying this, a cotton bud around the top and a good clean didn’t do anything. I still have the same problem! 😟

[@JWAM]

That's a shame. :( Obviously, the fix presented in this video is for when the belt is either broken or slips. If the turret rotates (and the laser shines), then the sensor is probably dirty. If the belt is intact but the motor doesn't spin, but starts spinning after a little bush, the motor [or its brush] is bad. If the motor doesn't spin at all, or that the laser doesn't shine.. it would suggest a bigger issue...

[@karenbenz9340]

Thankyou, that is very helpful. I think I must have a bigger issue like needing a new lidar motor. Your video has definitely helped me isolate the problem.

[@JWAM]

I'm glad I was able to shed some light onto your issue, at least. Best of luck!

[@christinefedruk5161]

Thank you sir! This was so very helpful.

[@JWAM]

Glad I could help :)

[@TheWoodWorkingPilot]

I had same symptoms with my D7 but the problem was much worse - the electric motor that spins the laser died. I ended up replacing it with a motor that I’ve salvaged from either an old CD-ROM drive or an old hard drive. It happen to be the same motor...

[@shaylamourja]

How did you figure this out?

[@DJHEADPHONENINJA]

Just adding on some info here, the rubber O-ring for the turret is 85x2mm, and side brush is 25x2mm.

[@JWAM]

Good info for anyone who needs to order! :)

[@James-the-red-tender-engine]

How does your channel not have at least 1K subscribers?

[@JWAM]

You tell me. I lost interest when KZbin stopped giving out revenue to sub 1000-channels (paid astoundingly well), because they were considered "spam" by them. I removed most of my videos because of that as a "protest" and stopped creating new ones. :) The number of subscriptions hover magically just below 1000, too... Plenty of "makers" were annoyed when strange things started happening. All this did was that "laid back" channels changed in behaviour and started having to actually create "click-baity" titles and thumbnails (exactly what I was indirectly blamed for by having a few subs). Pretty amusing in a way. :)

[@James-the-red-tender-engine]

@@JWAM I have a few yt accounts and will sub to ur channel with them

[@Thomas-addictE2]

​im also another one of them@@JWAM

[@GoogleTranslateVoiceAI]

​@@JWAMyay u know have 1000 subs

[@JWAM]

@@James-the-red-tender-engine this feels like cheating, though

[@S3OOODI3]

Mine doesn’t update maps. Any thoughts? It’s an older model. Botvac Connected

[@JWAM]

"Botvac Connected" sounds like a more modern machine than the one in this video, though.. :) I have never had a Neato with such features, so I can't help you there - sorry.

[@nandotemplo]

Hello everyone! I'm having the same problem, but the rubber band isn't slipping. It just isn't turning at all. That's probably the motor, right? It if is, I don''t know where to buy one...

[@JWAM]

Yes, most likely the motor. In Aliexpress, try the search term "Neato lidar motor with cable" and see if you get a hit that matches yours

[@fredrikrutgersson]

I have same problem. I have error code 3000. Where can I by parts in Sweden for this?

[@JWAM]

I bought my stuff from Amazon or AliExpress, unfortunately. :/

[@filipelipinha1122]

i try this but i as another problem, turret needs to be pushed by hand to start spins, any idea to fix this ?

I think it means that one of the brushes on the motor that drives the turret is bad. I.e. you need a new motor. OR, that the voltage to the motor is too low.

[@gregorbeer580]

Thank you so much!! This vid saved me around 100 $ 👍

[@kopper248]

Try this if the drive-belt wast the problem for you: I cleaned the inside from cat hair (might have been stuck in the motors or something) and removed the battery for about an hour to fully reset the software

[@karrde666666]

on mine i put a new battery in and it doesnt turn on unless its docked. do you think its probably the mobo?

That's odd. Do you have the old battery left? Does it / did it behave the same?

[@karrde666666]

@ yep, both have no effect, just solid red light if it's docked. Which I guess has to be a connection to the mobo or the mobo itself is burnt

[@JWAM]

@@karrde666666 Ah OK, I thought you meant that it "worked" when docked.I have moved away from Neato since, so I don't have any advice from the top of my head. It doesn't have to mean that something is awfully "fried" either. If it refuses to start at all, but shows an error / charging (red?), I would check / measure the incoming voltage levels and check for fuses and such. At least the older models had some weird "on/off"-switch somewhere around the dustbin (I think) check that too.. : )

[@kevincorpetti1379]

Do you have a video of how fast the turret is supposed to spin? Mine seems to spin fine and the belt feels good, but still get 3000 code error. I suspect maybe it could be spinning slower than needed, but not sure.

Unfortunately, I don't. If you don't feel any slip nor any extra resistance at any point around the turn, and it starts spinning by its own (usually electric motors need a little push if a brush has become bad), I doubt that the motor is the problem. Are you able to detect the laser? If yes, Q-tip the both "eyes" if you haven't done so already.

[@kevincorpetti1379]

@ Thanks for replying! How do I check to detect the laser? Is it through a PC and usb cable? I have heard about it but not tried it yet. I tested the motor on its own, and it has plenty of torque. Doesn't appears to be weak, and like you said, starts by itself every time, so brushes are likely good.

[@patriciadruszcz5209]

So great ! It works again. Thanks a lot !

[@JWAM]

Glad I could help! :)

[@jupiterica]

Hi, I followed the procedure, but still having the same issue. When I open the compartment, the laser was turning smoothly both directions with my finger turning the small round part next to it. So it could be something else causing this issue I'm not sure. Do you have any other suggestions??? Neato support just gave me the cleaning tips as the troubleshooting steps and they do nothing.

[@JWAM]

That's a shame. Does the turret spin when started? Is the laser shining?

[@jupiterica]

@@JWAM Do you run it with the compartment still open?? If it's closed and screwed, how can I check them?

[@JWAM]

@@jupiterica If you run it open, I think you need to fake that the compartment is closed. Otherwise a piece of paper or (carefully) with a mirror without pointing the laser into your eyes

[@COREMEMORYUNLOCKED]

so anyone know if you can buy the little wheel only? mine broke (the wheel that drives the rubberband)

[@JWAM]

It's an under-5 minute job for someone with a 3d-printer to CAD one for you. :)

[@jahislove]

great , thank you for your video , the laser motor was stuck . 2 turn by hand unstuck it :)

[@JWAM]

Sweet! Glad you got it sorted! :)

Kiva että videoita tulee taas. 😊

[@JWAM]

Saa nähdä missä tahdissa niitä tulee. :)

[@carlneb8619]

I had the same thing happen to my Neato the other day, but the laser turret was able to spin. Customer service took it in for repair.

[@JWAM]

I hope you tried cleaning the sensor with a q-tip too before sending it away? :) Otherwise the belt could still be slipping (and not rotating fast enough), or the laser is simply dead, perhaps. Please let us know when you get the verdict! :)

[@maokapow248]

My neato wants me to turn the switch to "on" , but its already there. Any fix for this?

[@JWAM]

Yes, it has happened to me too. You need to replace the battery

[@maokapow248]

@@JWAM thanks alot!

[@JWAM]

@@maokapow248 Glad I could help!

[@May-km8wm]

Thanks for the post. More important with Neto vacuums rip. 😔. I found a hair band with the right tension. Boiling is a great idea!! Bought a spare on eBay for when hair band gives out. Heh, heh, hair band. 🤘 Twisted Sister 😝🤘

[@JWAM]

[I Wanna] Rock on! Glad it helped you :)

[@JWAM]

It's a laser (and not IR), so holding a piece of darker paper on the both and make sure the room isn't very bright, it should definitely be visible

[@cristiansil_cor1020]

Hola, pasa lo mismo con mi aspiradora. Hice lo que explicas en el video, ya le cambié la liga y sigue sin funcionar. ¿Algo que me recomiendes?

[@JWAM]

¿Está girando la torreta? El motor podría haberse quemado si la torreta se atascó en algún momento

[@cristiansil_cor1020]

@@JWAM No, ya no gira la torreta... Y hay alguna manera de suplir el motor?

[@JWAM]

@@cristiansil_cor1020 puede intentar sacar la pequeña jaula redonda sobre la torreta para poder darle un pequeño empujón con el dedo cuando el robot comience a ver si el motor comienza a girar. Si es así, el motor recibe energía pero está gastado, y podría intentar reemplazar solo el motor (deberían costar menos de $ 10). Pero si no gira en absoluto incluso con ayuda, puede desconectar el motor y probar una fuente de energía externa para verificar si es el motor o la energía el problema.

[@googpix540]

Good idea I would also suggest buying audio tape deck replacement belts or cd carousel replacement belts or DVD carousel replacement belts from eBay.

[@JWAM]

Sure but if one is to buy something, one might as well order the actual replacement belt. :). The reason I did what I did was that I simply wanted to fix it there and then to have it working and clean the rooms, rather than search/order/wait a few weeks - and also to be inspirational, as in "you don't need to pay/wait for weeks to get things repaired - just fix it with what you've got". :)

[@Cee_Kaye]

I faced the same problem, but replacing the belt drive didn't solve that issue. I got the impression that the firmware sucks: it seems to be that the data storage management doesn't work properly and is not capable to cleanup old data. The only way to make my Neato work as designed is a system reset.

[@ZowieFawn]

Thanks. Because I knew what the problem was, I just hit the top and it started right up.

[@azadazadi5895]

Hello sir, In D series Battery. black wire negative and red wire positive. What about two yellow wires. And where in the battery is connected ?

[@JWAM]

I think the yellow one is for a thermistor in the battery to keep track of the battery's temperature (while charging?).

[@dmitriykhalilov5220]

great job

[@t77777770]

Very good video, unfortunately on the D7 model the screws you have to remove are the t size 10 with the locking pin in the middle. I happen to have some from fixit but the two at the front are so deep that I could not get them. The adaptor for extending the t 10's I have was also to thick to fit into the holes. Great video I am sure it would fix it if they only had not changed the screw types.

[@ruby22shoes]

Followed your instructions but ordered the replacement belt for $7 on Amazon. It didn't fix the problem. Any ideas?

[@JWAM]

Did you you check whether or not the belt was slipping? It could also be (for example) that the casing above the turret grinds against it not allowing it to spin freely. Carefully look at the turret (it has lasers, do NOT stare at them when you start it to see if it spins). If it does spin and laser seems to shine, clean the "eyes" with a q-tip.

[@ruby22shoes]

@@JWAM thank you for replying!:) yes laser spins fine and have used q tip to clean ...at least i think i have. Not sure what eyes are. BTW, my vacuum acts exactly like this 1 at beginning of video. If i bump/touch the front bumper, it does move as if hitting furniture if that means anything.

[@JWAM]

@@ruby22shoes Which exact model do you have / what is the error code? The "eyes" are the two holes on the turret. One is the laser and the other one is the receiving sensor. If you can't see the laser shine (by holding a piece of paper close to it to avoid staring at it yourself) when the robot moves, then there is a bigger problem with the laser.

[@ruby22shoes]

@@JWAM Thank you again for your help :) The model is Botvac D series. I have a note in the manual that I had previously noted Model D85. There is no error code. I did figure out what you meant by the eyes. I held a piece of paper around half of the laser are and there was no light that shone on the paper. I think that is what you meant to do. The "turret" is however spinning. Has my robot gone blind? what would cause that? If so, is it better to just buy a new device? If so, what do you recommend? thanks so much!!!

[@JWAM]

@@ruby22shoes If you can't see the laser, then it's presumably dead, and I think they are a significant part of the total price of those things. . We recently replaced ours with "Roborock S6 MaxV" and we are *very* happy with it. It draws a map of all your rooms and you can schedule cleaning per room if you wish. It detects obstacles and takes a photo of them, so you can see the things it triggers on as problems. You can draw rectangles in the map to actively make it avoid certain parts (like a problematic carpet or low pet-bowls that it may not see otherwise and push around). Also it's connected to Google Home, so you can tell it to start & stop cleaning with "okay google, start/stop vacuuming"

[@carmencarroquinosalto5193]

Un vídeo muy claro y en muy buen inglés. La música de Hitchcock es fantástica para este caso. Si consigo arreglalo gracias al vídeo te estaré muy agradecida pues el servicio técnico en España está a 1000 kms de mi casa.

[@JWAM]

¡Gracias por las amables palabras! Yo no vivo en una zona tan rural, pero creé el cinturón yo mismo solo porque no quería esperar a que llegara el pedido. ¡Buena suerte!

[@jbargar425]

Very clear and helpful instructions, but unfortunately did not resolve my issue. I opened it up and everything was working fine, spinning freely...

[@JWAM]

That's a shame. You have cleaned the lenses with a q-tip or such?

[@jbargar425]

@@JWAM I did. Further research, it looks like I need to replace the LIDAR motor?

[@jbargar425]

@@JWAM Just kidding - I confirmed the laser is freely rotating when powered on so it is not the LIDAR motor. Any other ideas?

[@JWAM]

@@jbargar425 can you see the laser (by holding your hand, not eyes, close to it when it starts)?

[@jbargar425]

@@JWAM Yes I can.

[@utralph]

Do you happen to remember the radius or circumference measurement?

[@JWAM]

Hi, unfortunately not. However I do have some other info. The fix lasted 3 months. Then the belt broke, BUT i suspect that it was due to the belt getting stuck in the "channel" (small plastic wall almost all the way around the turret), which in order may ha burnt out one of the phases of the motor. So I took some pliers and cut off all of the walls, also surrounding the drive wheel (motor). This way I could make a much sturdier (thicker) belt that won't flex as much. Do it before you burn up your motor (if that was the cause...). :)

[@leeparcell6233]

Is your home made belt on the D3 still working? And where might a place be to buy replacement belts factory belts

[@JWAM]

Hi, it lasted about 4months. We have switched to another robot since. I do prefer the neato, but my wife does not. Look at the comments here, people have suggested where to find belts, as they merely used this video for the repair info.

[@leeparcell6233]

@@JWAM well I tried the home made belt not working for me. Mine is a neato wifi connected d3 pro. I can't make it small enough or smooth enough. Going to have to look at an old ring or rubber bands at the hardware store.

[@JWAM]

@@leeparcell6233 It was a bit finicky to get it just right. :) I made it merely because I didn't want to wait / it's wonderful. If that is not a priority, I'd suggest ordering: www.ebay.com/itm/Four-Replacement-LIDAR-O-Ring-for-Neato-BotVac-80-D80-D3-etc-Vacuum-Series/172977322367?_trkparms=aid%3D1110001%26algo%3DSPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20191002094254%26meid%3Dc64c62744aba42f4ba81c148844d9929%26pid%3D100892%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D113694878880%26itm%3D172977322367%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2332490&_trksid=p2332490.c100892.m5207

[@leeparcell6233]

@@JWAM thank you I ordered them, got them in 2 days and it's up and running again.

[@JWAM]

@@leeparcell6233 Excellent news! :)

[@videos8601]

Thank you

[@jrgadson7432]

Did you use an Allen wrench to remove the screws?

[@JWAM]

Hi! No, they are Torx-screws. T-10 in this case.

[@jrgadson7432]

Thank you

[@jrgadson7432]

No luck for me. I replaced the belt but still have the same issue

[@JWAM]

@@jrgadson7432 Remove the top shield for the turret to make sure it isn't in the way. If that doesn't work either, try give the turret a little push. If it works, then the motor is burnt (costs less than $10, I think).

[@jrgadson7432]

I replaced the motor. I’m still having the same issue.

[@phuongvo3051]

Yes ,,,,exactly what happened to my Neato

[@thobiasgustafsson1346]

Hello! I had the same problem, but it´s not the drive-belt for me. And the motor is spinning. What can it be then?

[@JWAM]

Are you sure it's not slipping at all? (It should spin fast). Or that it isn't stuck when the cover is on?

[@thobiasgustafsson1346]

@@JWAM Im pretty sure its not slipping. And it pretty fast. I tryed drive the laser motor with a battery. and it was spinning without slipping :/

[@JWAM]

@@thobiasgustafsson1346 Still a bit unclear, have you verified that it spins freely when fully assembled? Have you tried using a q-tip to clean the laser and sensor (both eyes)?

[@KAI2887]

Thanks a lot for the video!!!. Had that same issue.

[@JWAM]

No problemo. :)

[@nancyholmes1140]

Mine keeps telling me to open dirt bin and turn switch to “on”. I do then it always tells me it’s not charged even though it’s been charging day in day out. Do you have any suggestions?

[@JWAM]

Hi! Yes, the battery needs to be replaced. I tjink I've had to do it twice.

[@monicagraglia2350]

Hi, is the 3000 error of not recognizing the room? Thanks

[@JWAM]

Hi! You could say that, yes. It suggest that there is a generic problem with the turret, most likely that it doesn't spin as it should. When the robot is not running, you can use something thin, like a popsicle-stick or q-tip and try pushing the turret around in both directions. There shouldn't be any resistance. Put it back down and try again. If it still does the same thing, you can check if it's the issue described in this video by carefully (USE CAUTION, it is a laser!) Laying down and looking at the turret when the robot starts up, and see if it spins or not (but don't stare at the holes).

[@thawatchaiinswon3553]

So this is the fix if your Neato backs away from the base, all the brushes work, but it doesnt move anymore.... of course its a good idea when the Neato is opened, replace the laser rubber pulley band and clean the dust with a can of air.... So if you notice, on the laser motor (that rotates the laser turret), the plastic pulley gear center loosens from the motor spindle....the motor spindle will spin, but the pulley gear just doesnt have enough friction to pull the band and rotate the laser at 100%....the motor spindle spins, but the plastic gear doesnt spin all the way, its kind of like putting a pencil in sewer manhole and spinning the pencil, the sides if the pencil do not touch the sides of the manhole....thats the only way i can describe while typing. The laser turret spins (making a false appearance that everything is working) but only at 40%. so superglue that plastic pulley gear to the motor spindle, make sure the distance away from the motor is precise so the rubber band is level with the other gears, let it dry, put a new band on it (highly recommend OEM or similar, not a office rubber band or elastic..amazon has them cheap). your neato will now work and the laser turret will spin at 100% and the neato will now move.

[@stefi300972]

i replace motor and the belt, still i get error 3000 or please clear my path

[@JWAM]

Did you check whether or not the laser is shining / spinning? Cleaned the "eyes" with a q-tip?

[@CreeBreej]

Mine has never made that little tune when i start it off. Until now i didn't even know it did such a thing.

[@timmywashere1164]

You gotta have the sounds. They're awesome. IIRC it's under something like "robot sounds" or "robot alerts" under preferences.

[@shaylamourja]

Hi! Replaced the belt and it is still doing this. Should I do the motor next?

[@JWAM]

Give it a little spin and see if that does it. If yes, then (atleast) one of the brushes are probably worn out on the motor

[@juju67620]

Bonjour , désolé je n'écris pas bien en anglais. Merci de votre vidéo et votre aide je m'en vais de ce pas regarder si j'ai également un problème à la courroie . Merci d'avance , je vous tient au courant si cela m'a aider :)

[@JWAM]

Salut! Merci d'avoir regardé. J'espère que cela résoudra également votre problème! :)

[@PapaOki]

I should have found the video 1 year ago. Neato had exchanged the Botvac 3 times within the 2 year guarantee. The fourth time I had to dispose of the vacuum cleaner. Too bad. Also see my video. I have had a Cecotec Conga 4090 for a year now, and it works without any problems.

[@JWAM]

I apologize that my channel isn't big enough to be recommended quickly enough. :)

[@PapaOki]

@@JWAM I know this :) thanks anyway for your video.

[@jenseriksson9179]

Thanx! Worked för me!

[@JWAM]

Kul att höra! :)

[@janetboyd926]

Thank you so much!

[@JWAM]

Glad I could help. :)

[@jessicalangsdon5700]

Hi, thanks for the video. I replaced the belt and the motor, was working great. However, now after 5-20 minutes of running I receive the error "I need to shut down now". What do you think may be the issue?

[@JWAM]

That sounds like a newer Neato than what I've had. Was it fully charged after you made the replacement, or has it been decharging while you've waited for parts / fixed it?

[@atanaskacheschmedzhieva9202]

is this error 3000 ?

[@JWAM]

If I recall correctly, yes it was. But as far as I know, the error-codes vary slightly depending on the specific model.

[@Lazywatchsmith]

Wuhuu! You are back!

[@JWAM]

We'll see how often new videos will appear though. :) Thanks for watching!

[@wyvern4588]

Interesting using vulcanizing tape, but you could always try to match a new O-ring up at an auto parts store or even a hydraulic repair shop. Nitrile would be best.

[@JWAM]

An o-ring would absolutely work just fine. The point here was to be able to fix your expensive product in yourself in your underpants with no intention of leaving your home. Ordering a new belt from Amazon / driving off to stores to find a o-ring is about the same hassle when I just want to fix something *right now*. :)

[@wyvern4588]

@@JWAM Ah yes, but you have to factor in, most people don't know what side of the screwdriver to hold, let alone make a jig to make a belt. :P But still It's cool you can literally fix it with tape.

[@JWAM]

@@wyvern4588 What other people can or cannot do is beyond my control. :) But if you look at the comments, it's evident that there's a lot of people that might have difficulties knowing which side of the screwdriver to hold that got the courage to try, and ordered the belt instead. I have another "repair video" on cheap NES-control. Solution? Scotch tape. :)

[@andrewgist3521]

Your a genius! Thank you!

[@JWAM]

Glad my tinkering was of help to you. :)

[@GospelOfTimothy]

You should have fixed the belt on the side brush while you're at it. That wasn't turning either.

[@light3267]

Dirt under the laser turret was the cause, cleaned it and its working again

[@rafaelzakinov6415]

Thank you very much, I just fixed my Neato conected

[@JWAM]

Excellent! Glad I could be of help. :)

[@jorgenobre5167]

Excelent

[@JohnDrach]

belts are $4 on Ebay

[@JWAM]

I know, but the intention for opening the thing was to fix it, not to wait for belts arriving.

[@nicholasjosten556]

Do you have a link for the replacement belt?

[@visa79]

Thx!

[@JWAM]

np!

[@greglilly3866]

Thanks for this Love your daughter askig if can fly. 🥰😍

[@JWAM]

Glad I could help :)