Shark robot vacuum models are a famous brand in the vacuum cleaning world. Its durable, efficient, and relatively economical making it the go-to robot vacuum for many customers. Well, who doesn’t like a hand in the tedious cleaning task? Shark robot vacuums help keep our homes clean with automated schedules.
However, as with many electronic devices, shark vacuum robots are bound to run into functional or physical problems, including; loss of suction power, charging issues, abnormal movement, network connection issues, etc.
Therefore, having the troubleshooting steps at hand when called into action extends the productivity of your robot vacuum. If we all ditched our devices when faced with the slightest problem, we would need several storage units.
In this guide post, I have curated a shark robot vacuum troubleshooting guide for common shark robot issues to help you quickly fix your device. Without further ado, let’s dive into it.
Shark Robot Vacuum Troubleshooting
Shark Vacuum troubleshooting skills come in handy when fixing your robot vacuum. Sometimes, your robot isn’t charging, won’t connect to your network, keeps occasionally stopping, has different error messages, etc. You can fix some issues without needing technical support with the proper knowledge.
In this guide, we’ll focus on the following issues;
- Shark vacuum robot not charging
- Network connection issues
- Abnormal movement behavior
- The shark robot keeps stopping
- Shark vacuum battery issues
- Different error messages and solutions
- Robot vacuum not collecting debris
Clean Your Robot Vacuum
When solving a shark robot vacuum problem, first give your device a thorough cleaning, wiping off dust and debris from the robot parts and sensors.
Cleaning your robot vacuum helps keep it running longer and can help you avoid many common robot vacuum issues. When dirt and dust accumulate on your robot’s parts, it can easily malfunction. Again, the robot vacuum strains to clean and consumes more power to run.
When dirty and gunk accumulate on charging contacts, it prevents electrical conduct, and Robot won’t charge.
Cleaning your contact points ensures good electricity flow. Use a soft dry cloth to clean your robot vacuum. Tend the top, underside, brushes, filter, and sensors. Dust, dirt, and debris accumulate on these parts, causing your robot vacuum to malfunction. Failing to clean some debris or sensors can easily have your robot vacuum stuck on an error for days.
It’s a good practice to clean the contacts regularly as the robot vacuum operates on dirt, dust, and debris.
If the problem persists, reset the shark vacuum robot to its default configurations.
Shark Vacuum Robot Not Charging
So many people in different online forums complain about their shark robot vacuums not charging. If you experience it, be sure it isn’t an isolated case, many have been through it and weathered the storm.
These are some most typical causes of charging problems to your shark vacuum;
- Dirty contact points – Dust and dirt accumulation on the dock and robot contacts can cause sensitivity to drop. Therefore, power can’t flow to charge your robot vacuum. Ensure you clean your robot and the charger frequently. Use a soft cloth to wipe off the dust and dirt on the plates.
- Dead charging base or battery – If either battery or charger runs faulty, your robot won’t charge. The rechargeable batteries eventually lapse their lifespan and have to be replaced. Before sending your vacuum to the dock, ensure that it receives power and that the indicator light is on.
- Faulty power outlet – Your robot isn’t charging simply because the power outlet has tripped. Try a different outlet or test the outlet with a different device to see if it works. Ensure the outlet is working and the charger is plugged correctly before trying other troubleshooting methods.
- Outdated Firmware or software bugs – Outdated system software may cause the robot vacuum charging issues. This and other software bugs can prevent your robot vacuum from charging. Therefore, ensuring that your robot vacuum runs on the latest software is essential.
- Faulty Motherboard or Fuse – Power surges can quickly fry your vacuum robot’s motherboard or a component like a fuse. This is a more technical issue that needs some handy expertise to replace the faulty part. You can also visit a service center to get your motherboard or fuse fixed.
Network Connection Issues
Before attempting the troubleshooting tips below, ensure that your phone is connected to your Wi-Fi network and that you disable any Virtual Private Network (VPN). The VPN masks your phone’s connection and may cause connection issues with other devices.
These are some reasons that could be causing your robot vacuum to fail to connect to your network;
- Ensure that your Robovac is Wi-Fi compatible – The robot vacuum should have a network card in its circuitry. Check the box to ensure that your model is Wi-Fi-capable.
- Use the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi frequency band – Shark vacuum robots and most smart home devices only connect to the 2.4 GHz network band. If your router broadcast 2.4 and 5 GHz, consider turning the 5 GHz frequency band off when connecting your smart devices.
- Ensure that your router has access to the internet – Is your router receiving internet from your ISP? Try serving the internet through your phone to confirm. If all is well, proceed and connect your shark robot vacuum to Wi-Fi.
- Overcrowded Wi-Fi Network and network range – If your robot vacuum disconnects from the Wi-Fi on different parts of your house. This could be because you have connected several devices to your home network lowering the bandwidth. Also, it could be that your WIFI doesn’t cover the whole house, and the device finds itself out of the Wi-Fi range. Use a Wi-Fi extender or centrally place your router to cover your home evenly.
If your set-up passes the above checklist, perform a power cycle on your devices (router, phone, and robot vacuum) and try reconnecting it to your network. To perform a restart, unplug the appliance from the power outlet, wait for about 20 – 30 seconds, and reconnect the device to power.
Try reconnecting your shark vacuum robot to the Wi-Fi network after the restart. Here is a complete guide on how to connect your shark robot vacuum to Wi-Fi.
Abnormal Movement Behavior or The Shark Vacuum Robot Keeps Stopping
Your shark robot keeps stopping and beeping because it’s either stuck on an object and won’t move, or the brush roller is jammed up or has something stuck on it. Check your robot vacuum; if stuck, free it or give the cylinder brush a thorough cleaning.
If your Shark robot vacuum frequently stops, it’s a clear sign that something isn’t right and requires your attention. As you probably know, it isn’t always a smooth journey with a shark robot, and it will require your troubleshooting skills from time.
Also, the robot’s movement sensor could be clogged up with dust causing the erratic movement. Clean the robot vacuum sensors to clear the issue.
These are the two most common reasons that cause your shark robot vacuum to stop and beep.
- When the shark robot vacuum is stuck on an object
- When the main brush is clogged up
To solve the stopping and beeping, you can try these basic maintenance practices;
- Clear any obstructions – Check that your shark robot vacuum isn’t stuck on an object. It could be stuck under some furniture, toy, or piece of cloth. If so, clear the obstruction to free it up and ensure sufficient light for your robot to “see.”
- Check and clean the brush roller – Debris and pet hair can clog up around the brush gears. Therefore, the need to clean the brush roller. Open your shark robot, and take out the brush motor and gear. Remove the yellow square tip and clean out any fur or hair. After cleaning, dump some oil to lubricate the bearings.
Shark Robot Vacuum Battery Issues
Typically, your robot vacuum battery should last 2 – 3 years before needing a replacement. When the battery is fully charged, the charge should last well over 120 minutes. Your robot vacuum won’t function optimally with a faulty battery.
However, eventually, the battery runs its course and needs replacing. Luckily the robot batteries are readily available in the market and don’t cost as much as a new robot vacuum unit.
When your robot’s battery trips, tell-tale signs suggest you probably need a new battery. These are some of the symptoms;
- The battery drains abnormally quick (10 – 15 minutes into a task)
- The power indicator light doesn’t show
- Poor robot performance even after cleaning and replacing the worn-out parts
- Resetting the battery doesn’t improve the performance levels
- When your battery is old enough, even you know that a replacement is due
Once you replace the battery, your robot vacuum should revert to its old self. You can continue enjoying the cleaning services.
Different Error Messages and Solutions
The Shark ion robot uses different flashing lights to indicate what error it’s encountering. When the Clean RED/MAX flash together, check the dust bin. Probably it has been removed. Properly secure the dust bin into its place.
A particular error has occurred if your shark robot indicates a “!” symbol. Check this table for various shark ion R75 error indicator lights and their meanings.
| Shark Robot indicator Light | What it indicates and the Solution |
| All LED Lights off | This indicates that the robot isn’t turned on or needs charging. Turn the switch on or place it on the dock to charge. |
| Clean RED + “i” Both Flashing | It means the suction motor failed. Clean the filter and check for any blockage preventing suction. |
| Clean RED or MAX Flashing Light | The robot is stuck on an obstacle or has a jammed front bumper. Remove any obstructions and inspect the front jumper. If it persists, try cleaning the front caster wheel housing. |
| Dock Light Flashing | Malfunctioning Bot boundary sensors. Contact shark robot customer service |
| Clean RED and DOCK Flashing together | Cliff sensors are malfunctioning. Try cleaning to fix it. |
| MAX/ “i” Flashing Together | It means stuck side brush. Clean and clear dirt on the side brush to fix. |
| Clean RED/ MAX/ “i” Flashing Together | The wheel is stuck. Clean debris off the wheels |
| DOCK/ MAX/ “i” flashing together | Main brush blockage. Clean the brush to remove any debris. |
Sometimes, nothing you do seems to clear the error indicator. You have cleaned all the parts, but the error is still there, staring straight into your eyes. Well, here is a crazy idea I found to work: Pick up the robot vacuum and drop it from about 2 feet. Yes, you heard me right.
This clears some mechanical issues or gives the robot vacuum a shock and back to its senses. The result justifies the means: Right?
Inspect Your Shark Robot Vacuum for Physical Damages.
If your shark robot vacuum isn’t functioning as it should, there could be a broken part. The roller brushes, belt, and drive system form part of the integral components of your robovac.
First, inspect the belt and the drive line that moves the belt unit for any damages. Also, the belt could be worn out, causing mobility issues. Once you identify the faulty parts, you can easily replace them to get your device running again.
With time the brushes are worn out, and it’s recommended to replace them now and then to keep your robot vacuum at optimal performance levels. You don’t want it to be leaving lumps of dirt as it goes about cleaning your home.
Replacing worn-out parts (brushes, filters, or wheels) prolongs the productive life of your robot vacuum. Therefore, make it a habit to replace these units at the recommended time.
Final Thoughts
These vacuum robot troubleshooting tips come in handy when trouble strikes. Fixing your robot vacuum becomes less of a trouble with the tips in your toolbox. To fix the common shark robot vacuum-like charging issues, when your shark doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi, abnormal movement behavior, or the shark robot error codes.
Fixing these issues with the solutions provided here extends your robot vacuum lifespan and ensures that the performance levels are always at optimal levels. I like getting the maximum value from my investment and if we are a tad alike, keeping your robot vacuum running is crucial.
The shark robot vacuum robot comes with a limited warranty. Therefore, if your robot vacuum issue persists, no matter your efforts, contacting shark robot customer support is a valid option. With your warranty, you can get your robot vacuum repaired or a faulty part replaced for free.
