When a wheelchair van’s powered ramp won’t work, it’s almost always one of five things, and most of them take under a minute to check. Patrick Cross from our service team walks through each one in order: the interlock, something blocking the ramp, no power, the manual release handle and a bent ramp. He also shows how to use the manual backup so nobody is stuck, and when to call our service team.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When a wheelchair van’s powered ramp won’t work, it’s almost always one of five things. Patrick Cross from our service team walks through each check, how to use the manual backup, and when to call us.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":379229,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","page_builder":"","footnotes":"","mm_video_duration":315,"mm_video_transcript":"WEBVTT\n\n00:00:00.067 --> 00:00:02.135\nIf your wheelchair van ramp isn't working,\n\n00:00:02.202 --> 00:00:03.937\ncheck these five things first.\n\n00:00:04.037 --> 00:00:06.306\nIf none of them fix it, I'll explain how to use\n\n00:00:06.306 --> 00:00:08.008\na manual backup, then give us a call.\n\n00:00:08.609 --> 00:00:10.744\nNumber one and the one we hear about\n\n00:00:10.744 --> 00:00:13.547\nmost, you press the button and nothing happens.\n\n00:00:13.680 --> 00:00:15.482\nBefore you assume the ramp is broken,\n\n00:00:15.749 --> 00:00:16.617\ncheck the interlock.\n\n00:00:17.284 --> 00:00:19.653\nIt's a safety system that only lets the ramp\n\n00:00:19.653 --> 00:00:22.890\nmove when the van is set up safely for loading.\n\n00:00:23.457 --> 00:00:25.492\nIf any one of these things aren't right,\n\n00:00:25.826 --> 00:00:27.227\nthe ramp won't get power.\n\n00:00:27.794 --> 00:00:31.532\nFirst, start the van or put it in ACC mode.\n\n00:00:31.965 --> 00:00:34.067\nSecond, the van has to be in park,\n\n00:00:34.568 --> 00:00:36.136\nnot neutral, park.\n\n00:00:36.403 --> 00:00:38.505\nThird, the parking brake has to be on.\n\n00:00:38.972 --> 00:00:41.074\nCheck that the e-brake light is illuminated\n\n00:00:41.108 --> 00:00:41.875\non the dash.\n\n00:00:42.109 --> 00:00:44.511\nFourth, the doors have to be fully open.\n\n00:00:44.945 --> 00:00:46.847\nEven the slightest bit closed will trigger\n\n00:00:46.914 --> 00:00:47.781\nthe interlock system.\n\n00:00:48.248 --> 00:00:50.651\nThere's a quick way to check all three at once.\n\n00:00:50.884 --> 00:00:52.319\nLook at the interlock display.\n\n00:00:52.452 --> 00:00:54.688\nLocated in the centre console, each of these\n\n00:00:54.688 --> 00:00:56.723\nchecks has its own indicator light.\n\n00:00:56.823 --> 00:00:58.325\nWhen all the conditions are met,\n\n00:00:58.559 --> 00:01:00.861\nthe green light will turn on, indicating\n\n00:01:00.861 --> 00:01:02.429\nthat the ramp is ready to be used.\n\n00:01:02.496 --> 00:01:03.864\nIf that green light is off,\n\n00:01:03.931 --> 00:01:06.099\nat least one of those conditions are not met.\n\n00:01:06.333 --> 00:01:09.069\nNumber two, something is blocking the ramp path.\n\n00:01:09.603 --> 00:01:13.006\nThe ramp needs a clear path to come out and fold\n\n00:01:13.006 --> 00:01:15.676\nback in, even if something small can stop it.\n\n00:01:16.076 --> 00:01:17.778\nA rock, loose floor mat,\n\n00:01:18.011 --> 00:01:20.881\na bag tucked beside the door, in the winter,\n\n00:01:21.081 --> 00:01:22.783\nadd snow and ice to that list.\n\n00:01:22.983 --> 00:01:25.285\nSo look at the whole path inside the van\n\n00:01:25.452 --> 00:01:28.088\nand out, clear, and try again.\n\n00:01:28.722 --> 00:01:30.390\nAnd if you park tight against the curb,\n\n00:01:30.557 --> 00:01:31.892\na snowbank or a post,\n\n00:01:32.226 --> 00:01:34.261\nthe ramp may not have enough room to come out.\n\n00:01:34.862 --> 00:01:37.097\nPull forward a few feet and try again.\n\n00:01:37.865 --> 00:01:39.333\nIf your ramp still is not working,\n\n00:01:39.967 --> 00:01:41.101\nit's time to look at the power.\n\n00:01:41.602 --> 00:01:43.737\nNumber three, no power to the ramp.\n\n00:01:44.137 --> 00:01:44.938\nStart simple.\n\n00:01:45.472 --> 00:01:46.273\nIs the van on?\n\n00:01:46.673 --> 00:01:49.042\nIf it is and your dash lights look dim,\n\n00:01:49.543 --> 00:01:51.311\nit could indicate a weak battery.\n\n00:01:51.612 --> 00:01:53.947\nIf the van is on and the ramp still has no\n\n00:01:53.947 --> 00:01:55.949\npower, it could be a fuse.\n\n00:01:56.350 --> 00:01:59.019\nA blown fuse is one of the most common reasons\n\n00:01:59.286 --> 00:02:00.153\na ramp goes dead.\n\n00:02:00.387 --> 00:02:01.355\nReach out to us.\n\n00:02:01.488 --> 00:02:03.123\nWe can help guide you on locating\n\n00:02:03.390 --> 00:02:05.359\nthe correct fuse and replacing it.\n\n00:02:05.726 --> 00:02:07.928\nIf your vehicle continues to have power issues,\n\n00:02:08.228 --> 00:02:09.062\nstop right there.\n\n00:02:09.696 --> 00:02:11.365\nThat could indicate an issue with the electrical\n\n00:02:11.365 --> 00:02:13.600\nsystem and that's when you want to call us\n\n00:02:13.667 --> 00:02:14.401\nto get it checked.\n\n00:02:14.701 --> 00:02:15.369\nNumber four,\n\n00:02:15.702 --> 00:02:17.437\nthe manual release handle is pulled up.\n\n00:02:17.738 --> 00:02:20.407\nEvery powered ramp we built has a manual backup\n\n00:02:20.941 --> 00:02:22.643\nand you use it with the release handle.\n\n00:02:22.943 --> 00:02:25.712\nIt's usually to the right of the passenger seat\n\n00:02:26.146 --> 00:02:27.781\nbetween the seat and the pillar.\n\n00:02:28.115 --> 00:02:29.183\nWhen the handle is up,\n\n00:02:29.416 --> 00:02:31.451\nit disconnects the ramp from its power system\n\n00:02:31.785 --> 00:02:33.520\nso you can move the ramp by hand.\n\n00:02:33.854 --> 00:02:35.889\nThat's exactly what you want in a pinch\n\n00:02:36.256 --> 00:02:38.859\nbut if the handle gets left up or accidentally\n\n00:02:38.859 --> 00:02:41.261\nset the ramp won't run under power.\n\n00:02:41.728 --> 00:02:42.629\nSo check the handle.\n\n00:02:42.930 --> 00:02:45.132\nIf it's up reset it then try the button again.\n\n00:02:45.532 --> 00:02:46.099\nNumber five.\n\n00:02:46.500 --> 00:02:47.835\nThe ramp is bent or twisted.\n\n00:02:48.268 --> 00:02:50.604\nThis almost always starts the same way.\n\n00:02:50.938 --> 00:02:53.040\nWith the ramp deployed on the ground,\n\n00:02:53.407 --> 00:02:54.141\nthat isn't level.\n\n00:02:54.341 --> 00:02:55.876\nOne side sits higher than the other.\n\n00:02:55.976 --> 00:02:57.811\nThe other end isn't resting on the ground.\n\n00:02:58.111 --> 00:03:00.614\nSo the ramp is holding weight in a way it wasn't\n\n00:03:00.614 --> 00:03:01.014\nbuilt to.\n\n00:03:01.315 --> 00:03:03.717\nThen someone stands on it or pushes a wheelchair\n\n00:03:03.717 --> 00:03:06.320\nup it, that pressure bends and twists it.\n\n00:03:06.620 --> 00:03:07.821\nSometimes you can see it.\n\n00:03:08.322 --> 00:03:10.524\nAn edge that doesn't sit flat or a ramp\n\n00:03:10.524 --> 00:03:11.725\nthat looks a little off.\n\n00:03:12.125 --> 00:03:14.194\nSometimes you notice it as the doors instead\n\n00:03:14.728 --> 00:03:17.164\nbecause a bent ramp can stop the doors\n\n00:03:17.164 --> 00:03:18.065\nfrom closing properly.\n\n00:03:18.632 --> 00:03:19.900\nPreventing it is simple.\n\n00:03:20.334 --> 00:03:22.769\nBefore you deploy, look at where you parked.\n\n00:03:22.870 --> 00:03:25.205\nFind the flattest spot you can so the ramp sits\n\n00:03:25.205 --> 00:03:26.473\nevenly on the ground.\n\n00:03:26.773 --> 00:03:28.408\nIf you think your ramp is already bent,\n\n00:03:28.642 --> 00:03:30.277\nstop using it and call us.\n\n00:03:30.377 --> 00:03:32.513\nThat's a repair, not a quick fix.\n\n00:03:32.679 --> 00:03:34.381\nSo what happens if you checked all five?\n\n00:03:34.982 --> 00:03:36.116\nThe ramp still won't work\n\n00:03:36.683 --> 00:03:38.986\nand someone needs to get in or out right now.\n\n00:03:39.553 --> 00:03:41.221\nThat's what the manual backup is for.\n\n00:03:41.889 --> 00:03:43.991\nWhatever is going on with the power you and\n\n00:03:43.991 --> 00:03:45.592\nyour passengers are never stuck.\n\n00:03:45.826 --> 00:03:46.860\nHere's how it works.\n\n00:03:47.227 --> 00:03:49.363\nFind the manual release handle to the right\n\n00:03:49.363 --> 00:03:51.632\nof the front passenger seat between the seat\n\n00:03:51.865 --> 00:03:52.432\nand the pillar.\n\n00:03:52.566 --> 00:03:54.868\nPull the handle up, twist it in either direction\n\n00:03:55.335 --> 00:03:57.471\nand then let go it'll lock in place.\n\n00:03:57.604 --> 00:03:59.806\nThat disconnects the ramp from its power system.\n\n00:04:00.107 --> 00:04:01.475\nThen pull the ramp out by hand.\n\n00:04:01.675 --> 00:04:03.977\nThe ramp has grab handles on both sides\n\n00:04:04.111 --> 00:04:04.945\nto make it easy.\n\n00:04:05.212 --> 00:04:07.714\nWhen you're done, fold the ramp back in place\n\n00:04:07.981 --> 00:04:09.082\nand reset the handle.\n\n00:04:09.616 --> 00:04:12.252\nYou can reset the handle by taking the handle,\n\n00:04:12.452 --> 00:04:14.087\ntwisting it back in the original position\n\n00:04:14.454 --> 00:04:15.122\nand letting go.\n\n00:04:15.589 --> 00:04:16.957\nIt'll reset back in power mode.\n\n00:04:17.257 --> 00:04:18.358\nOne thing to keep in mind,\n\n00:04:18.659 --> 00:04:19.893\nthe backup gets you moving,\n\n00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:22.095\nbut it doesn't fix whatever stopped the ramp.\n\n00:04:22.329 --> 00:04:25.032\nOnce everybody's where they need to be, call us.\n\n00:04:25.332 --> 00:04:26.633\nAnd whenever something's wrong,\n\n00:04:26.934 --> 00:04:30.270\ncall MoveMobility first before a local shop and\n\n00:04:30.270 --> 00:04:31.905\nbefore you start taking anything apart.\n\n00:04:32.139 --> 00:04:32.906\nTwo reasons.\n\n00:04:33.373 --> 00:04:35.075\nWe can tell you whether it's covered\n\n00:04:35.075 --> 00:04:35.809\nunder warranty.\n\n00:04:36.109 --> 00:04:38.245\nAnd a lot of the time, we can figure out what\n\n00:04:38.245 --> 00:04:40.013\nis going on right over the phone.\n\n00:04:40.347 --> 00:04:42.182\nIf it does need to be brought in for service,\n\n00:04:42.416 --> 00:04:43.917\nwe'll set up an appointment at one\n\n00:04:43.917 --> 00:04:44.985\nof our service centres\n\n00:04:45.118 --> 00:04:47.154\nor with a local service shop near you,\n\n00:04:47.387 --> 00:04:48.989\nand we can guide them through the repair.\n\n00:04:49.289 --> 00:04:51.592\nThe best way to avoid issues with your powered\n\n00:04:51.592 --> 00:04:53.760\nramp is consistent maintenance.\n\n00:04:53.861 --> 00:04:56.730\nRegular service every 750 cycles\n\n00:04:57.097 --> 00:04:59.766\nor every six months makes a ramp last longer,\n\n00:05:00.167 --> 00:05:01.301\ncatches small problems\n\n00:05:01.368 --> 00:05:03.036\nbefore they leave you stuck in the parking lot.\n\n00:05:03.470 --> 00:05:05.839\nIf you checked all five and the ramp still isn't\n\n00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:07.674\nworking, call our service team\n\n00:05:08.041 --> 00:05:10.444\nor request service from our form linked below.\n\n00:05:11.278 --> 00:05:12.679\nWe'll help you figure out the next 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