Bionx troubleshooting help

[lectureral]

Per my thread yesterday I got a new Mantra istep with a Bionx system fitted. It worked fine yesterday. Last night I charged it up and did a couple of things on the console (set the time etc). This morning when I ride it the console starts up fine but the displayed speed stays at zero and there is no assistance. I have checked the obvious connectors (2 at the panel and 2 at the rear wheel) but they seem fine. Anyone an idea as to what the problem might be?

 

[Nick]

There are a few things you could check. Firstly, I would re-set everything that has been changed, making and testing each change separately rather than doing them all together - hopefuly you made some notes. There is a chance that you may have set something wrong, perhaps setting the level of assistance to 0 for example. Keep careful notes so that you can always return settings to what they were before.

3772 runs a diagnostic mode as shown at Endless-sphere.com • View topic - BionX 250PL Battery Issues

5000 does a full reset after which you will have to change wheel size, etc.

Hopefully something there helps, but let us know how you get on.

Good luck
Nick

 

[lectureral]

"hopefuly you made some notes" - not so much Nick! There was a certain amount of stabbing at buttons somewhat randomly at the beginning. What seems odd is that the speedo does not register at all. Fairly relaxed because we were not planning on using it in earnest until the weather warms up and if I can't figure it out I will take it back to the dealer next weekend.

 

[Nick]

Yeah, I didn't keep track of what I was doing the first time either

It's not something I've experienced but hopefully it's easily fixed - let us know how it turns out.

 

[eddieo]

surely as you just bought the thing a quick call to the dealer may help?

 

[lectureral]

Yeah, Eddieo - if I can't figure it out I'll take it back - it's only a 5 mins ride away (with or without power)

 

[banbury frank]

Hi I am sure the dealer will be very helpful Ask if the do a quick reference guide to get you going

what you have bought is the most sophisticated kit made you can use it as a exercise machine and a have a workout like being in a gym

Frank

 

[Blew it]

Back again then Bob, or should I call you 'SIR' ?

 

[flecc]

Back again then Bob, or should I call you 'SIR' ?

That's what I suspected too, leopards don't change their spots.
.

 

[lectureral]

I found the following on a blog - has anyone else had this experience with the Bionx system?

Interesting and thank you all for posting this. I have had a similar experience viz my bionX kit NiMH did not activate the motor at all when the battery was cold: there was no regeneration or assistance actuation, and no speed readings, although the controller read about 90% batt charge and all other controller functions appeared normal (no speed/distance readings either though). The diff from above postings is that my motor showed no activation at all i.e. there was no on-off intermittency. Charging at room temp for 30 mins solved this (presumably ambient temp plus heating cells via charging warmed the batt), but I have to say the battery was not particularly cold (i.e. not "frozen" when this happened - I would guess around 2-5degreesC. I wonder what the freezing temp of the NiMH cells is anyway. Subsequently during the immediate ride after this charging the batt charge level indicator on the controller vanished for about 10mins for some reason, and then reappeared. Strange, inconvenient, but not critical.

The symptoms match mine exactly and my bike has been sitting outside in subzero weather - it is now in the warm and I will try it in an hour or so. A bit of a pain, though, if it has a problem with cold weather.

 

[overlander]

I can only speak from my experience, i used my Bionx system in the recent -7 to -15 cold spell we had. The bike ran perfectly with no issues, used to get home and put the battery on charge and never gave the cold a thought.

 

[lectureral]

Thanks overlander - but, bizarrely, 30 mins after I brought it in from the cold (and topped up the battery) the speedo started reading and assistance came back. All now normal. Any thoughts from those with a better knowledge of the system than me? Could there be a low temp cut-off? I find it hard to believe that it was low voltage - the battery was fully charged and the temp is just about 0C now although it is probably getting down to -5C in the night.

 

[flecc]

I'm fairly sure it couldn't be a low temperature cutout, possibly just some odd glitch in a new systems which will clear with use and not trouble you again.

After all, BionX is Canadian, and many owners post about their use there in near Arctic conditions.
.

 

[lectureral]

Thanks Flecc - hope so.

 

[lectureral]

Well, this problem has continued - our garage is at a fairly constant 5C and at that temperature the bike does not work - no speedo reading and no assistance (I'm guessing the former could cause the latter). The wife took it back to the dealer today - trouble is if it is kept at room temperature for 20 mins the problem goes away, so he may think there's nothing wrong by the time he comes to look at it. I will let the forum know if he comes up with a diagnosis.

My thoughts are oil too viscous or metal shrinking in the lower temps. Any idea how the speedo reading is generated?

 

[lectureral]

The dealer LBS seems to have now resolved this problem by replacing "le petit ordinateur" - the controller. Must have been a temperature-sensitive electronic fault. Very odd.