I need help with my Roomba!?

Question:For some reason my Roomba is not working properly. It will work for about 5 seconds and then it seems like it senses stairs (when there are no stairs) and it will just stop for a few seconds and then start again. I cleaned it thoroughly, has anyone had this problem, or know how to fix it? HELP ME PLEASE!

Answers:
This is almost certainly because one of the stair sensors isn't working right. It could be as simple as a little bit of fuzz clogging the opening or as complicated as an electrical short or broken emitter/sensor.

You don't mention which Roomba you have. Most (all?) have sensors built into the bumper that point downward (towards the ground) at an angle. The idea is they emit a beam, which bounces off the ground and is detected by the sensor. If the beam isn't detected, then the Roomba thinks there's a cliff and backs off.

You say you've cleaned it thoroughly -- does this include those cliff sensors? I use a can of compressed air once in a while to blow out the fuzz (I have new carpet, grrrrrr), but that might be overkill.

There's a diagnostic test you can run to figure out exactly which one is causing the problem, but running the diagnostics technically voids your warrantee. I didn't care and run the diagnostics all the time, but then again, I'm an engineer. Googling for "Roomba diagnostic tests" gave me this link:

http://mysite.verizon.net/gsplews/diagno...

and tests two and three are what you're looking for.

Good luck,

Doug