Electric Bike Throttle Not Working – Top Reasons and Easy Solutions!

Your e-bike becomes a regular one when you suddenly notice that the throttle is not responding in the middle of nowhere. Yep, that’s what it feels like if you can’t troubleshoot it and have to pedal your way through to the nearest repair shop.

That’s why it’s a good idea to have a clear understanding of how exactly e-bike throttles can come up with troubles and how to solve them. If you don’t want a mini heart attack if your electric bike throttle not working in the middle of a ride, read along. We will be going through the top possible reasons and the easy solutions, too!

Is the Throttle Really Faulty?

Before you start blaming the throttle for its malfunction, you need to make sure if the throttle is actually faulty or not. Here are some common protocols you should follow before you get into troubleshooting.

1. Check if the brake of your bike is coming back to place. If it doesn’t, it means it is powered off, and it will cause power failure. Hence, the throttle malfunctioned.
2. Check if the interface of the motor linking to the display is on or off. You can try stepping on a pedal to check if the motor gives any support. If it doesn’t, the display interface may be the real culprit.
3. If your e-bike has battery discharge protection, it may turn off when you are putting overload on the bike. This may cause throttle unresponsiveness.

Different Types of E-Bike Throttle

Now, if you want to handle a faulty throttle yourself, you need to understand the types and forms of e-bike throttles. Basically, there are three types of throttles out there

• Thumb throttle
• Half-twist throttle
• Full-twist throttle

Depending on the type of throttle, you may find different features on the throttle. For example, some throttles come with both forward and backward switches that change the direction of your bike. Some throttles have different levels of power settings, like low, mid, and high. Then again, some recent models of throttles even have digital displays on them to show different stats.

Why Does the Type of Throttle Matter?

The thing is, the wiring of a throttle varies according to the type and design. Generally, three types of wire are used for a regular throttle. However, depending on the complexity of the throttle design, the number of wires can be from five to eight and more.

That means the more complicated design the throttle has, the more possible reasons are there for it not to work.

Tools To Use for Throttle Troubleshooting

While the problem may be of diverse types, the solutions shouldn’t need a different arsenal. All you need to have with you is a flat-headed screwdriver. This should solve most of the common problems with your throttle if it’s not a major hardware issue.

Common E-Bike Throttle Problems and Solutions

So, here are some of the most common e-bike throttle problems that cause it to become unresponsive. Plus, we are going to find easy and nifty solutions for these problems, too! Let’s get into it!

1. Jammed and Stuck Throttle

This is the most common problem of a faulty throttle. The throttle is a single piece that’s made up of multiple tiny parts inside. Depending on the design, there are many components that make up a throttle. These parts are often moving ones and can easily get jammed for no reason.

Even the wires inside can get entangled after a while. Plus, dust and debris can form inside the throttle and cause the throttle to struggle.

Solution: The solution is simple. Use the flat-headed screwdriver to open up the throttle compartment and clean up the mess inside. If it’s because of the dust and debris, you may want to use a blow dryer and simply blow the dust away. For tangled wire, your fingers can do what is necessary.

2. Throttle Not Responding to Twist

Another ‘urgh..’ moment is when the throttle simply does not give us responding when you are trying to twist it. The most common reason is a faulty connection and damaged cable.

Solution: To solve this, you need to use a flashlight and inspect the cable connections that connect to the throttle compartment. Check if the cables are damaged or displaced. Sometimes, the cables can get scratched, and that causes a slow or compromised response. In this case, you may need to replace the cable altogether.

3. Faulty Brake Sensor

Sometimes, the unresponsive throttle doesn’t have anything to do with the throttle altogether. If the brake sensor is faulty, the throttle’s performance is compromised, as well. The brake sensor usually overrides the throttle when it senses an active brake command.

If the brake sensor is faulty, then the throttle can also become non-responsive for this reason.

Solution: This solution is a bit tricky. You need to be cent percent sure that the fault is with the brake sensor. That’s why you need to open up the controller panel of the e-bike and locate the brake sensor wires. Unplug the wires and activate the throttle to see if the wheels are moving. If they do, then you need to change the brake sensor immediately.

4. Damaged Hall Effect Sensor

The hall effect sensor is a crucial sensor that is placed inside the throttle compartment. It has a magnet connected to it which turns as you twist the throttle. Basically, the more you twist the throttle, the more the magnet is turned, and the hall effect sensor accelerates the movement of your bike accordingly.

If the sensor gets damaged, you will find it difficult to twist the throttle.

Solution: To find out if the hall effect sensor is damaged, you need to open up the throttle panel and locate the hall effect sensor. It appears to be a small electrical part that has three legs, and it usually has wired connections.

Check if the sensor is burnt or damaged. If yes, then replacing it is the only option to make the throttle function again.

You May Also Read: How To Keep Handlebar Grips From Slipping?

Final Words

So, the next time you figure out something’s wrong with your bike and worry like “My Electric bike throttle not working!” – you can read this whole piece again. The issues are often quite simple and easy to solve than we tend to believe. If you know the type of throttle your e-bike has and the way it operates, it won’t take much time for you to troubleshoot.