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TGA Breeze S4 Scooter Fault

securespark

securespark

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I've got a 2012 Breeze S4 Scooter and swapped the batteries (lead acid) in July 2018 (the batteries have a date of December 23 2017 stamped on them).

The last few journeys I've had reduced speed. Instead of the usual 8mph, I'm getting 6.5 or 7, with 8 only downhill.
Going back uphill I get 6mph.

Yesterday, the bloody thing stopped dead in the middle of the road. Luckily, there was no other traffic around.
Today when I unplugged the TGA charger, it was blinking all the LEDs together.

Looking that up, it suggests it's a battery fault.

When taking it out, I got an exclamation mark in a circle appearing on the display in the bottom LH corner.

Obviously there's an issue, and I'm hoping it's just the batteries, but I don't want to shell out for a new pair to find issues elsewhere.

I checked their voltages: 12.82 and 12.88V. I'm not sure what they are meant to be, I guess similar to auto batts?
 
If you had a car with batteries of these standing voltages, would you consider them goosed?
 
Thanks.

Yeah, not quite sure how to do that, because the batteries are under the seat. I'd have to rig up some leads to a multimeter, I suppose and test it while I'm riding along..... A bit dodgy!

But if I can do that, what voltage would you expect under load?

I realise I could run the motor with the driven wheels off the road, but I think it would be better to actually run it with me on the machine and the machine on the road.
 
Thanks.

So what you're saying is that the batteries could be good, but if they are trying to drag a machine that is effectively being braked to some degree with a fat b'stard on top of it, it's naturally going to begin to struggle?
 
securespark said:
Thanks.

So what you're saying is that the batteries could be good, but if they are trying to drag a machine that is effectively being braked to some degree with a fat b'stard on top of it, it's naturally going to begin to struggle?
Click to expand...

Pretty much :-) That design, uses an automatic brake. The brake is on, while ever, it is unpowered/not being driven. A common fault, it them sticking on, or partially on. If they are failing to release, then the friction will cause them to get quite hot.
 
Nwgs2 said:
Click to expand...

I've looked at this list, thanks.

One of the points mentioned that the exclamation mark means the electronic brake is engaged.

Bit embarrassing, but I'm sure I searched for it before. I guess I missed it.

On the TGA Breeze, there is a red emergency brake lever on the left. I've never used it, because as soon as you let go of the "throttle", the thing comes to an abrupt halt.

It must be kicking in occasionally, as the exclamation mark warning does go on and off.

But what flummoxes me is that if the electronic brake kicks in, the power to the motor should be instantly cut off, but it doesn't seem to.

I'm not familiar with the working of these beasts, so I may just ring TGA and ask for a service call.

There is scant information on tinterwebby about servicing TGA stuff.

The machine itself is a 2012 model and I'm wondering whether to get a newer one. I bought this one at 2 years old, I think. They are £6490 new with the canopy and the long range batteries like mine. I also have a backbox (like a topbox on a bike, but on the back) and a basket on the front, but they don't offer these any more.

TGA sell stuff second hand too. At the moment, they don't have any Breeze S4 models for sale second hand and you're never sure what you're getting off the auction sites.

There's a 2024 model up on eBay for 3,800, which has the canopy and is LR, but no basket and no box. They would probs swap over though.
 
Harry Bloomfield said:
Pretty much :) That design, uses an automatic brake. The brake is on, while ever, it is unpowered/not being driven. A common fault, it them sticking on, or partially on. If they are failing to release, then the friction will cause them to get quite hot.
Click to expand...
Thanks.

Sorry, I was busy writing when you posted that.

So, as I said, I'm a bit confused because I thought the brake would cut out the operation of the motor, but you're saying it keeps going, which is my experience also.

I haven't checked the voltages under load yet.

Maybe tomorrow.
 
securespark said:
They are £6490 new with the canopy and the long range batteries like mine. I also have a backbox (like a topbox on a bike, but on the back) and a basket on the front, but they don't offer these any more.
Click to expand...

All mobility stuff, is way overpriced. I would suggest you take a close look at a Veleco, particularly the Gravis model, a Class 3. I paid £925, brand new, unused, 2 years old, but unused with a new set of batteries fitted. New, they go for £1600. It is very capable, of going uphill, at an illegal 16mph. Has massive under seat storage, a large storage box on the seat back, a hook for a shopping bag to hang at the front, plus a pocket, cupholder, USB charger, and a claimed range of 35miles.

The downside, might be if any repairs are needed - UK scooter dealers/repairers shun them, because they sell direct from the factory in Poland, so UK dealers make no profit on them - and so all you hear is how poor the build quality is, which is total rubbish. I trust me to service and repair, more than I would trust the dealers.
 
Therein lies the problem.

I wouldn't have the knowhow to do that.

But I'll have a shufty.

How did you get yours cheap if they sell direct from the factory?

Did you find one over here?
 
securespark said:
So, as I said, I'm a bit confused because I thought the brake would cut out the operation of the motor, but you're saying it keeps going, which is my experience also.
Click to expand...

You pull the wig-wag lever to make it go, it powers the brake release, and runs the motor. It has no feedback, to confirm the brake has been released, so it will try to drive against a stuck on brake. What happens, if you push that yellow/red lever at the back of the scooter, which is supposed to release the drive, so the scooter can be pushed?

There are lots of videos, on youtube, showing these electric brakes, and they are not a big job to replace them with a new one.
 
securespark said:
Therein lies the problem.

I wouldn't have the knowhow to do that.

But I'll have a shufty.

How did you get yours cheap if they sell direct from the factory?

Did you find one over here?
Click to expand...

It had been bought by an old guy, over in Warrington, and he had never had the confidence to go out on it, so it had sat unused in his garage, until he had passed away - wrecking the batteries. His son had new batteries fitted, and put it up for sale on FB Market. I snapped it up, after I worked out I could bring it home, on my little trailer, if took the sides, front and rear sides off. I bought it is around April, and registered it as new, with DVLA.

It uses a brushless, 1000w motor. Rather than the electric automatic brake, it has hydraulic disk brakes at the front, drum brakes on the rear, and two motor bike type levers to work the brakes - these suit me much better, than automatic brakes.
 
Don't the DVLA have something to say about the naughty 16mph setting?

Apart from don't use it!
 
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