DigiQ DOA

[rody]

I wanted to try one of these, and was able to pick one up on ebay. Unfortunately, I can't get it to work. After looking through all the threads, it seems that there is a very specific charging/starting sequence.

1. Turn off car
2. Turn on controller wait for light to stop blinking
3. Charge car (can take up to 20 minutes)
4. When charge light turns green remove car from charger
5. Turn off controller
6. Turn on car
7. Switch channel switch to appropriate setting (shown on the back and underside of car) on controller
8. Turn on controller

Here's what's happening. After I put the car on the charger, I get no charging light for about 5 minutes, then finally the red charging light turns on. After a while, about 10-15 minutes, the charging light turns green, and I remove the car. I've charged the car about 4 times, but nothing happens when I try to run the car. I've changed the batteries in the controller/charger, and put freshly charged batteries in it. I've made sure that the controller is on channel 2, since the car shows ID2 on the back sticker, and on the underside of the car. Can anyone give me any suggestions on what to do? Can the batteries in the car be dead? Is there anyway to check? Thanks for your help.

Sounds like the battery in the car might be dead

[rody]

OK, an update on my DigiQ. I was able to pick up 2 more DigiQ's on ebay. One of them actually works. I like it a lot, and want to try and repair the other two.

So now I have 2 cars that don't work. I pulled my first one apart, to try and see if I could see anything obvious...I couldn't. From doing some research here on the boards, the cells are 1.2volts each 2.4V total. I measured the voltage across the battery pack, and got a reading of 1.24 V. Does that mean one of the cells is bad, and I need to replace the battery pack?

When I try to charge it, I get no red led that tells me it's charging. I've left the car on the charger for about 30 minutes, and still get no red led. What do you think? Should I just try to find some more batteries to throw in there, or could it be something else?

[Namuna]

Showing 1.2v, for a 2.4v nimh pack isn't all that bad (nimh are fine for draining low). Then again, if it's not going any higher than that, then indeed you might have a bad cell (or even both are bad).

The DigiQ has been out for a LONG time, so I don't doubt the ones you got were probably in long term storage and now the batts (in the car) just aren't coming back to life.

Replace the batts in the car if you can, that's probably the surest way to bring your cars back to life.

Speaking of which, my Digi-Q's have been in storage for quite awhile. I'd better check them out to see if they're OK

[epoxy]

over here in europe we have been wondering about the same things.
specially about combatdigiQ and NiMH cells.
as the cells of the combatdigiQ's are right on top of the pcb, they can do a lot of
damage when they start to leak.

http://549.rapidforum.com/topic=102472514994

(just scroll down for more pix)

some conclude that any NiMH cell over 3-5 year should be at least checked
or even better removed/replaced.

(i'dd better get me some new ones)

[rody]

I ordered a set of new batteries. I'll keep you posted, on what happens after I install them.

[rody]

OK, I got my batteries, but instead of 1/4 aaa, like I ordered, I got 1/3 aaa, so now I'm gonna try and order some more somewhere else. It's ok, because I'm able to use the 1/3 aaa on my dead Z-cars. The search goes on.

[epoxy]

bummer with the 1/3 cells, good thing you have a use for them.

i never bought anything fron these guy's:

http://www.servohut.com/A%20kan%20nimh%20batteries.htm
http://www.lipoly.de/index.php?main_...products_id=25

but they sold 1/4 cells at one time.