Even though kids often drive their electric cars carelessly, they are still a lot of fun to drive. Fortunately, most electric cars for kids are constructed of plastic and put together with simple clips and screws, making it simple for anybody to do repairs and replace components.
Parts that no longer operate are often replaced rather than repaired. You may save money and give your kid more time to play with their toys if you learn how to do these repairs yourself rather than take them to a mechanic’s shop.
Diagnostic And Troubleshooting Procedures
A low-cost voltmeter is an essential tool for diagnosing the issue with your child’s electric car. If your toy car has an electrical problem, you may use this tool to perform most diagnostics. The battery, battery charger, and motor health may all be evaluated using this device.
You may also use an extra voltmeter to check the flow of current in wires, which is useful for a variety of other issues that may arise with your toy car (such a damaged foot pedal).
Screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, and other household tools are all you need to get the job done. You don’t have to spend a fortune! Instead of using power tools to tighten screws on your child’s toy car, hand tightening is preferred since you don’t want the screws to be too tight and risk stripping them or damaging them.
Bad or corroded wiring, corroded batteries, damaged switches and connections, and too tight wheel retainers are the most typical causes of a non-functioning electric toy car in children. Keep reading to find out how to fix and replace your electric car’s most frequent issues!
Battery Replacement and Repair
The batteries in most toy cars endure for a few years at most. Repairs or replacements are inevitable. The battery life of your toy car will be reduced if you leave it unused for months at a time in cold conditions.
Car battery repair or replacement steps:
- Locate the car’s battery (usually under the seat or in the hood).
- Remove the battery from the automobile by carefully disconnecting the plugs.
- Sulfuric acid, which is included in the batteries, may burn your skin if you’re not cautious.
You’ll need to figure out whether the battery is broken or if anything else is wrong before you can fix it. The first step is to verify the battery’s condition using a voltmeter.
Use a voltmeter to check whether the battery has voltage if it won’t charge or won’t retain a charge. As a result, if it does, it indicates an issue with the battery charger. Next, ensure sure the battery charger is operating properly.
If the charger has to be changed rather than the battery, you may save $60-$80 on a new battery! However, it’s time to get a new battery if your old one has gone dead and has no voltage.
Corroded connections are another typical problem with batteries. Even if the battery is completely charged, corroded connections prevent the transmission of electricity to the automobile. Fortunately, a new battery isn’t necessary; you can just swap out the connections.
Wires that are loose or corroded should be looked for at the same time as the battery. You don’t need to buy a new battery to replace these parts.
Ensure that the battery is free of fractures and corrosion by visually inspecting it for signs of wear and tear that indicate heavy use. Your electric car may not be running even if the battery is fully charged due to excessive corrosion or rust. You need to replace the battery if you see any of these indicators.
Replace your battery only if you are certain that the old one has been properly disposed of before doing so. Home Depot and Lowe’s are two places where you may recycle it.
Keep in mind that overcharging your battery and reducing its lifespan are also possible consequences of keeping it plugged in all the time.
Tire Repair and Replacement
Tire replacement on a toy car is comparable to that on a real automobile, but only about one-fourth the size! When it comes to replacing the tires on a toy car, it’s a straightforward process:
- Remove the tires from the car by unscrewing them.
- Remove them from the equation.
- Install new tires in their place.
Elevating the toy car or turning it over on its back is all that is required to finish this procedure, which can be done in a matter of minutes. Retainers and hubcaps for each wheel must be removed.
Then, you can install new ones after they are detached. Afterwards, restore the hubcaps and retainers, ensuring sure that each component is securely in place and that the wheel spins smoothly.
Another problem arises if the wheel retainers are excessively tight, since the automobile tires will not be able to rotate. Fortunately, the solution is simple: just release the retainers to allow the wheel to freely spin.
If the plastic on your tires is severely broken and worn out, or if anything is lodged in them, it’s time to replace them.
Repairing plastic tires isn’t an option, unfortunately. You must replace them as soon as they fail. Although you may be able to patch tiny fractures by applying more hold glue or fiberglass to the gaps, this is not always the case.
Rubber tires are preferable than plastic ones. This has several advantages:
- Rubber tires are more durable and quieter than steel wheels.
- They can handle a variety of terrain and situations.
- Tires made of rubber offer greater grip and traction than those made of plastic.
- You don’t have to replace them if there is a leak or a hole, since you can just patch them.
Remember to check that any new tires you purchase are compatible with the toy car you want to use them on. Rubber spray, such as Flex Seal Spray, may be used to improve traction and protect plastic wheels from wear and tear at a lower cost. This spray may be reapplied many times.
Gearbox Repair
The gearbox is responsible for shifting gears. Plastic gears are standard on most electric toy cars, but you can swap them out for hardened steel ones if you so choose. You must know how to get to the gearbox no matter what!
Before you can get to the gearbox, you’ll need to remove a wheel and pull the gearbox out of the engine.
- Remove the screws on the front face using your screwdriver. The gearbox may be accessed by removing the front panel.
- Afterwards, you may access the gears and determine what needs to be repaired or replaced. In the case of changing gears, be sure that the number of teeth on your new gear matches the number of teeth on your old gear.
- Re-install the gearbox into the car.
- Reattach the front face and screw it together when you’re done.
A grinding noise emanating from the engine bay is a telltale indicator that a gear is stripped and has to be replaced.
Note: If you’re going to upgrade the batteries and the engine, the gearbox should also be upgraded.
Fixing Motor’s Problems
Kids electric car’s engine is probably in need of repair or replacement if you hear a clicking sound while the automobile is operating. It is only possible to get to the engine if you remove the wheels, which connect to the motor. Before removing the gearboxes, unplug all the cables you can see. The engine will then be within easy reach.
- Using a screwdriver, remove the screws holding the engine in place.
- The voltmeter may also be used to test the motor. Check to determine whether the engine works by connecting it to a voltmeter.
- Changing the motor is as simple as opening the motor box with a screwdriver and taking out the old one. Before putting in the replacement motor, make the following checks:
- The replacement engine should have a new metal flat head installed (note: make sure it has the same number of teeth as the old fathead).
- Put in the engine and make sure it’s connected to the transmission properly.
Keep in mind that batteries and/or tires may need an upgrade to fit the higher motor power requirements.
Final Thoughts
We’ve covered all of the main issues that might arise with your child’s electric toy car. To get the best results, make sure you follow each step exactly.
Furthermore, buying a quality kids’ electric car will save you money and time. It minimizes the need for frequent component repair. You can visit our electric car catalog for more information.
