Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

12

Time Required

                          10 - 15 minutes

Sections

2

  • Battery Pack
  • 3 steps
  • How to clean iRobot Roomba 4100 optical sensors to fix Circle Dance
  • 9 steps

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Introduction

If this guide does not fix your problem or a new problem emerges, check iRobot Roomba 4100 Troubleshooting.

What you need

Step 1

              Battery Pack
  • Turn the Roomba upside down to be able to see the yellow battery pack.

Turn the Roomba upside down to be able to see the yellow battery pack.

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Step 2

  • Remove the battery by placing your fingers into the two holes and firmly press your fingers against both sides of the battery.
  • Lift the battery directly up and out of the device.

Remove the battery by placing your fingers into the two holes and firmly press your fingers against both sides of the battery.

Lift the battery directly up and out of the device.

Step 3

  • Line up the replacement battery’s larger tab side with the larger tab hole and the smaller tab side with the smaller tab hole.
  • Insert the replacement battery into the empty space and firmly press down onto the battery until two audible clicks are heard.

Line up the replacement battery’s larger tab side with the larger tab hole and the smaller tab side with the smaller tab hole.

Insert the replacement battery into the empty space and firmly press down onto the battery until two audible clicks are heard.

Step 4

              How to clean iRobot Roomba 4100 optical sensors to fix Circle Dance
  • Begin by removing the rear particle bin.

Begin by removing the rear particle bin.

Step 5

  • Next, locate the three screws on the iRobots hubcap/wheels. (You only need to unscrew one side)

Next, locate the three screws on the iRobots hubcap/wheels. (You only need to unscrew one side)

Step 6

  • Using a Phillips Head screwdriver, remove all three screws on the side of the hubcap of the wheel.

Using a Phillips Head screwdriver, remove all three screws on the side of the hubcap of the wheel.

Step 7

  • Gently slide the hubcap up and out of the wheel well of the Roomba.

Gently slide the hubcap up and out of the wheel well of the Roomba.

Step 8

  • Notice the wires attached to the hubcap. These are directly connected to the optical encoder.

Notice the wires attached to the hubcap. These are directly connected to the optical encoder.

Step 9

  • Using a can of compressed air, gently spray and clean the optical encoder until the dust had been removed.

Using a can of compressed air, gently spray and clean the optical encoder until the dust had been removed.

Step 10

  • Using a screwdriver, gently remove the drive belt from the gear. This is the rubber band wrapped around the gear shaft.

Using a screwdriver, gently remove the drive belt from the gear. This is the rubber band wrapped around the gear shaft.

Step 11

  • Slowly lift the gear from the gear shaft. Make sure you do not lose the drive belt.

Slowly lift the gear from the gear shaft. Make sure you do not lose the drive belt.

Step 12

  • Thoroughly clean the exposed area of the wheel using either compressed air or a moist cotton swab. Be mindful of the exposed inner drive shaft when cleaning the wheel area to prevent any preexisting dust from entering the drive shaft.

Thoroughly clean the exposed area of the wheel using either compressed air or a moist cotton swab. Be mindful of the exposed inner drive shaft when cleaning the wheel area to prevent any preexisting dust from entering the drive shaft.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    Christian

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                       Cal Poly, Team 20-7, Maness Fall 2010                        

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                                            7 Guides authored

photofil - Apr 14, 2016

Reply

Thanks for your advice. I cleaned the sensors on the wheels and still the unit was having a circular dance. From another site mentioning another model there could be a problem with the sensors behind the front bumper bar and yes that was the problem. They needed blowing out with a strong air gun. Now after extensive cleaning my Roomba is running like a dream :-)

Will Long - Aug 26, 2017

Reply

My problem as well with my Roomba scheduler. The black and white front wheel housing was packed with rug fiber. Cleaned it out and all is well.

Also have a roomba discovery. It has a different front wheel with out any apparent sensor.

Rodney - Feb 10, 2018

Reply

I have a roomba4100 it will turn on it will try to go but will stop after 1second don’t know what’s wrong could it be the belt

Stephen Martinson - Oct 25, 2018

Reply

I have a Roomba from 2002 (before the 400 series. This tutorial looks like it might apply, but I can only get 2 of the 3 screws off the hubcap of the wheel. The other one is blocked by the top cover.