As a parent, one always makes an effort to do what is best for their kids. Whether it is relevant to their health, education, or any other aspect regarding their overall growth, parents want what’s best. It can be a task, especially for first-time parents, to figure out what’s the best environment in which the child can thrive.
There is a lot of help for parents out there, and planning a course of action is usually figuring out what’s best for a particular child. But, a brilliant way to bring the kid out of his or her shell is to expose them to new experiences regularly. One of the best ways to motivate your child to explore the outside is, getting them a kids motorized car.
Kids are curious by nature, and they love it when they get to explore their environment in a way adults can do. A motorized vehicle is a fun way to achieve that.
Generally speaking, these cars are for kids between the ages of three to seven years. These have rechargeable batteries where a battery usage can last up to 60 to 120 minutes. These cars are a safe and fun option for your kids since the speed is limited as compared to other car toys for older kids. These usually come with an instruction manual, but are quite easy to put together.
However, like any other toy, these cars are also prone to having issues now and then. Your kid is out there riding, and all of a sudden, the car might stop working. While it may be difficult at first to diagnose what went wrong, it is not impossible. By learning a little about the inner workings of these vehicles, you can fix the fault on your own.
Various issues with your kid’s motorized car can arise in these particular places.
- Battery, or Battery charger.
- On/off switch, forward/reverse switch, or fast/slow switch.
- Wires from the battery to controller, or controller to the motor, the circuit board.
Diagnosing the issue
Repairing a damaged car can cost a lot. It is much better to equip yourself with all the required information and tools and to handle the problems yourself.
At first, you are going to need to remove the seat of the car. You can find the circuit board and the battery connections under there. To diagnose the issue, you are going to need a voltmeter, which is going to help you locate the faulty region in the car. Try purchasing one which is a little less expensive. It will work just as well.
Checking the Battery or Battery charger
When you turn on the car, if there are lights, but it will not run when you press the pedal, then you should check the battery or the battery charger.
Put the battery charger on charging for at least four hours, and then check the volts at the charger connector. If the reading is more than 12 volts, the charger is in the right condition. If it is not so, you may have to change the charger. Find the best chargers for kid’s electric cars.
After ensuring the charger is working fine, you can proceed to the charger socket point. First, insert the charger into the socket. Remove the wires that run on the battery, and check volts on battery wires. If the reading is again more than 12, the wires are working fine. Otherwise, replace the socket.
If there is no issue in the socket, then you should check the battery. If the voltage is anywhere between 5 to 7 volts, that means it is working fine. If it is less than that, replace the battery with another one having the same specs. Then reconnect the wires (red wire on the positive end, and black wire on the negative).
Check the fuse
If there are no lights at all at the startup, check the fuse in your car. If you find it defective, replace it with a new one.
Check the motor
Remove the motor from its place, and check if it is working or not. You can do this by connecting it to a battery using two wires on both ends. You can use a battery of the same car if you want to. Connect these wires to the wires of the motor. If the motor is not working, you should replace the motor.
Check the switches
If the battery and circuit boards are functioning well, you probably have issues in the switches of the car. Start by taking a piece of the wire. Now, touch both ends of the wire with the on/off switch points. If the car light is working, then the fault is in the on/off switch.
There is a switch on the pedal as well, which can be faulty at times. Check under the car, and you’ll find two wires. You need to check the current in these wires. If they are in a working condition, changing the pedal switch is the right course of action.
Check in the same for the forward/reverse switch, and in case of any fault, change the switch.
Final thoughts and tips
Kids enjoy toys like these, and these are a great source of fun. However, a bit of caution goes a long way in ensuring your child’s safety. Parents should read important safety information from the owner’s manual. Things like leaving the battery to charge overnight can be dangerous, and you should avoid doing so.
Most owners avoid this warning from the owner’s manual and do not realize that this can drastically affect battery life.
Alternatively, you can always choose a float charger to charge your battery. This way, the charging will automatically stop when it reaches 100%.
If your charger gets warm during the use, or the battery makes noises during charging, such as gurgling, or sizzling, you should not worry. It is normal and does not mean that it is your battery, or charger, causing the issues in your car.
These cars need proper care and maintenance, and negligence on your part can result in issues with the performance. Recharging the battery every day after use is a way you can keep it ever ready for your kids. Also, rather than leaving the car outside, keep it in proper storage space, like your garage.
Handling your kid’s motorized car with care is the perfect way to avoid dealing with any of the issues mentioned above.
Hey! This is Sachin. I love creating helpful content for everyone out there. On this website, my aim is to post articles that can help people buy perfect ride ons for their kids.