Top 5 Wheelchair Ramp Problems and How to Fix Them

0:00If your wheelchair van ramp isn't working, 0:02check these five things first. 0:04If none of them fix it, I'll explain how to use 0:06a manual backup, then give us a call. 0:08Number one and the one we hear about 0:10most, you press the button and nothing happens. 0:13Before you assume the ramp is broken, 0:15check the interlock. 0:17It's a safety system that only lets the ramp 0:19move when the van is set up safely for loading. 0:23If any one of these things aren't right, 0:25the ramp won't get power. 0:27First, start the van or put it in ACC mode. 0:31Second, the van has to be in park, 0:34not neutral, park. 0:36Third, the parking brake has to be on. 0:38Check that the e-brake light is illuminated 0:41on the dash. 0:42Fourth, the doors have to be fully open. 0:44Even the slightest bit closed will trigger 0:46the interlock system. 0:48There's a quick way to check all three at once. 0:50Look at the interlock display. 0:52Located in the centre console, each of these 0:54checks has its own indicator light. 0:56When all the conditions are met, 0:58the green light will turn on, indicating 1:00that the ramp is ready to be used. 1:02If that green light is off, 1:03at least one of those conditions are not met. 1:06Number two, something is blocking the ramp path. 1:09The ramp needs a clear path to come out and fold 1:13back in, even if something small can stop it. 1:16A rock, loose floor mat, 1:18a bag tucked beside the door, in the winter, 1:21add snow and ice to that list. 1:22So look at the whole path inside the van 1:25and out, clear, and try again. 1:28And if you park tight against the curb, 1:30a snowbank or a post, 1:32the ramp may not have enough room to come out. 1:34Pull forward a few feet and try again. 1:37If your ramp still is not working, 1:39it's time to look at the power. 1:41Number three, no power to the ramp. 1:44Start simple. 1:45Is the van on? 1:46If it is and your dash lights look dim, 1:49it could indicate a weak battery. 1:51If the van is on and the ramp still has no 1:53power, it could be a fuse. 1:56A blown fuse is one of the most common reasons 1:59a ramp goes dead. 2:00Reach out to us. 2:01We can help guide you on locating 2:03the correct fuse and replacing it. 2:05If your vehicle continues to have power issues, 2:08stop right there. 2:09That could indicate an issue with the electrical 2:11system and that's when you want to call us 2:13to get it checked. 2:14Number four, 2:15the manual release handle is pulled up. 2:17Every powered ramp we built has a manual backup 2:20and you use it with the release handle. 2:22It's usually to the right of the passenger seat 2:26between the seat and the pillar. 2:28When the handle is up, 2:29it disconnects the ramp from its power system 2:31so you can move the ramp by hand. 2:33That's exactly what you want in a pinch 2:36but if the handle gets left up or accidentally 2:38set the ramp won't run under power. 2:41So check the handle. 2:42If it's up reset it then try the button again. 2:45Number five. 2:46The ramp is bent or twisted. 2:48This almost always starts the same way. 2:50With the ramp deployed on the ground, 2:53that isn't level. 2:54One side sits higher than the other. 2:55The other end isn't resting on the ground. 2:58So the ramp is holding weight in a way it wasn't 3:00built to. 3:01Then someone stands on it or pushes a wheelchair 3:03up it, that pressure bends and twists it. 3:06Sometimes you can see it. 3:08An edge that doesn't sit flat or a ramp 3:10that looks a little off. 3:12Sometimes you notice it as the doors instead 3:14because a bent ramp can stop the doors 3:17from closing properly. 3:18Preventing it is simple. 3:20Before you deploy, look at where you parked. 3:22Find the flattest spot you can so the ramp sits 3:25evenly on the ground. 3:26If you think your ramp is already bent, 3:28stop using it and call us. 3:30That's a repair, not a quick fix. 3:32So what happens if you checked all five? 3:34The ramp still won't work 3:36and someone needs to get in or out right now. 3:39That's what the manual backup is for. 3:41Whatever is going on with the power you and 3:43your passengers are never stuck. 3:45Here's how it works. 3:47Find the manual release handle to the right 3:49of the front passenger seat between the seat 3:51and the pillar. 3:52Pull the handle up, twist it in either direction 3:55and then let go it'll lock in place. 3:57That disconnects the ramp from its power system. 4:00Then pull the ramp out by hand. 4:01The ramp has grab handles on both sides 4:04to make it easy. 4:05When you're done, fold the ramp back in place 4:07and reset the handle. 4:09You can reset the handle by taking the handle, 4:12twisting it back in the original position 4:14and letting go. 4:15It'll reset back in power mode. 4:17One thing to keep in mind, 4:18the backup gets you moving, 4:20but it doesn't fix whatever stopped the ramp. 4:22Once everybody's where they need to be, call us. 4:25And whenever something's wrong, 4:26call MoveMobility first before a local shop and 4:30before you start taking anything apart. 4:32Two reasons. 4:33We can tell you whether it's covered 4:35under warranty. 4:36And a lot of the time, we can figure out what 4:38is going on right over the phone. 4:40If it does need to be brought in for service, 4:42we'll set up an appointment at one 4:43of our service centres 4:45or with a local service shop near you, 4:47and we can guide them through the repair. 4:49The best way to avoid issues with your powered 4:51ramp is consistent maintenance. 4:53Regular service every 750 cycles 4:57or every six months makes a ramp last longer, 5:00catches small problems 5:01before they leave you stuck in the parking lot. 5:03If you checked all five and the ramp still isn't 5:05working, call our service team 5:08or request service from our form linked below. 5:11We'll help you figure out the next step.