Roomba 960 Docking Fix

Teardown and repair of a bad docking sensor on a Roomba 960 that can't find the base station.

[@efscar]

Sensor got completely torn off by being jammed under the sofa. Thanks for the video! I bought the part on Amazon and will try to install it today. I subscribed!!! Thanks again!

[@anthonyb4548]

Best video for this issue on KZbin! Same red wire was broken when I disassembled, so I bought a new sensor on Amazon and now it works like new. Thank you!!!!

[@jcfaur77]

I just got a used 860 on FB marketplace for $100. Said it was working "great"! I knew this thing couldn't bee so stupid as to not be able to properly dock itself. Opened it up and all wires were still intact, however the red wire was nicked a bit. Spliced it back together and put everything back together. Pressed the "dock" button, and for the first time it found the docking station from halfway across the room. Thank you for this video.

[@jerrymartin79]

Another roomba saved! Thank you so much for posting your experience and the tear down steps. My two year old 960 started having this issue and turns out same red wire broken in same place. Seems to be a high impact area from the bumper. What a shame. But what a fix. Happily auto-docking again. Cannot thank you enough!!!!!

[@briansowers1993]

Thank you mark. You nailed it. Saved me 132.99 to send to room a for repair. You the man

[@rajeevg2423]

Thanks a lot Mark, you helped me revive my precious roomba. The red wire ripped after 5 years of usage on my 980- support was useless. One think i messed up while putting it back was placing the sensor in opposite direction - roomba started going bananas - realized my mistake and put it back in the right position

[@paulawillette5104]

Thank you so much! I only needed to take off the faceplate. My toddler a few months back pushed it down the steps and cracked the faceplate. Yesterday he decided to dump his juice on top, where the crack is/camera/sensor so I needed clean it. Following your directions I also noticed my black wire is broken. Hubby will have to fix that for me. And yet to try to see if it still works... Either way, your video was straight to the point, helpful and explained very well. Thanks again!

[@tobiwilliams5204]

Thank you for this video. This exact thing occurred with my 980 model. I called irobot to try and get a part which they could not provide. But we were able to fix our wire . DIY.

[@melissagideon8038]

Thank you so much! I have to watch for my roomba to try and dock then help it out. It’s been that way for six months, now it works great! Stupid red wire.

[@jamesantonio5152]

Yep! Turns out my 880 developed the same issue. Thank you so much! I was able to splice the wires back together for what I'm guessing is a temporary fix! Thanks again!

[@lynnzamora4367]

Thanks for the video! I took it apart, soldered red wire, put it back together and I have 2 screws leftover.

[@josephbecker4403]

Thanks for this. My wires weren't cut but the connection came loose. Took it apart and saw it immediately. Plugged it in again and now it works. You saved me a bunch of money :)

[@jkue1105]

Thank You!! Broken wire was the exact problem.

[@e10kpro]

I’m glad I saw this video. Exactly the same thing happened to mine. The red wire was broken. I’m glad I saw this before ordering a replacement or paying iRobot $110 for a repair. This seems like a design defect. I ordered everything I need to repair this (a couple of tools, some extra wire, and heat shrink) for less than the cost of the repair. Simple soldering job should fix it.

[@MiMi-ri5bv]

Thanks same here, red wire broken. Thank you for saving my roomba!

[@twhill100]

Many thanks for your advice, Mark. I was able to locate and repair the exact same problem on my Roomba 980. Much appreciated.

[@dallas69]

Thanks just pop off the top cover with a butter knife. Error 15 did could not find a bad solder joint or burned circuit. R&R mother board and was up and running in less than a hour. Super video Thx

[@raymond202]

Thanks Mark, I was thinking to disassemble my Roomba 980 which has doing issue since December, then I saw your video, wondering if mine has the same issue, when I took it apart it turns out the same problem, the red wire even the same spot which is close to the sensor, fixed it by the same way, I think the issue should be considered as a manufacturing defect from the product.

[@rpringle16]

Thank you Mark! I fixed the exact same problem on my 960, red wire was cut.

[@jpcia260]

Damn..... followed this , same cut wire,, fixed thanks!

[@agentmuldermd]

Wow. Same issue here. I was carrying the vacuum cleaner and it slipped out of my hands as I was putting it on the ground and it hit the floor front bumper down (

[@willclark8725]

Thanks for posting the video. I have a 960 and had the exact same problem.

[@Nexven]

I'm surprised you don't have heat splices or solder splices, super useful for everything else you might need too.

[@mikebellman]

Nice video. Thank you for the tips.

[@marcoscortez8405]

Thank you great video I had the same problem no any more!!!!!!!

[@saverioc6415]

Thank you so much!!!

[@Enforcement88]

My 960 was doing the same thing, took the front bumper off and the black wire was broken. Must be a common defect. When I contacted IRobot customer service they told me the roomba would need to be replaced. Im sure they are aware of this issue.

[@mRtUnBabY]

Thanks and Recommended for all

[@RoboVacParty]

I have docking/charging problem with my 620, but the wire is not broken. At now the only method to chaaerge is using cable and side body socket.

[@Alexvezina1]

Thanks dude nice Video

[@rogerargueta4013]

Same problem black wire here on my 980

[@kennethtimenes8694]

Thanks i had the same problem. and on min it was tha black cabel that vas broken

[@pahlawanangin8896]

i faced issue roomba wont charge using dicking station after error overcharging..how to solve it?

[@lakem0nst3r58]

Good job

[@DerDermin8tor]

totally wrong- it was the white cable on mine...thanks for putting the error to the beginning.

[@hamiltongazim7094]

hello friend, I am looking for information I have not found anywhere, I intend to do a donwgrade, using roomba 980 I will install motherboard 960 but I have not found the place that the power goes can tell which side is or which plug please do not want burn the plate

[@mr_fatron]

Sorry, but I don't know the answer to your question.

[@xPaulRulesTheWorldx]

Any clue what this part is called? Mine is doing the same thing but all of the wires seem to be attached and look fine.

[@xPaulRulesTheWorldx]

Okay, after finding the patent information for my roomba (960) it looks like iRobot calls it the "The virtual wall sensing assembly 52VWS includes detectors that are operative to detect a force field and a collimated beam emitted by a stand-alone emitter (the virtual wall unit-not illustrated) and transmit respective signals to the control module " You can find them on eBay under: "iRobot Roomba XXX series Bumper IR dock/virtual wall sensor" . I just ordered one. Looks like it also matters which one you get. the 600-700 series have the wires on the sensor angled the other way around and I don't think it would fit into the 900 series. I hope this helps someone else out!

[@mr_fatron]

I think it is just called the front bumper IR sensor.

[@locomoco4me]

Had the exact same problem in my 980. This is obviously a product defect.

[@modracecar8]

Easy fix just solder the red wire back.

[@vanphuongdao8433]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeo

[@blkshk1]

Please talk louder.

[@raulsanchez616]

I had the very same issue and was thinking it was something more severe but turns out it was just a broken black wire... seems @irobot makes some savings on cheap wiring