RadCity Step-Thru - Pedal Assist not working

[Tom899]

My brother has a RadCity Step-thru, new this year with very low miles and just like new.
The pedal assist has stopped working, the throttle still works. When it first started happening, shutting it down and back on would sometimes fix it for a short while, pulling the battery sometimes fixed it. Then, finally not working no matter what we tried. No error messages and throttle always works.
This is what we have done so far.
Rad sent us a new PAS sensor and mag plate. It worked for about one mile.
Rad sent us a new controller, did not fix it.
Rad has been great so far, as always!
Checked all connections.
Any ideas?

 

[mrgold35]

Not much left other than the wiring harness and LCD screen? I don't know enough about how the rear hub motor works with throttle compared to PAS to know if the issue is with that (I assume PAS/throttle duties is all handled by the controller). Did Rad send you a replacement wire that goes from the wiring harness to the PAS sensor and mag plate?

 

[Tom899]

Yes, that part of the harness that goes to the PAS sensor is part of the controller. We will be communicating with RAD, just looking for any thing from forum members that we might have missed.
Thanks

 

[AHicks]

Are the assist numbers coming up on the display normally?

Have you checked all the connections from the display to the controller?

 

[Tom899]

Yes, coming up on the display and double checked connectors and pins.
I'm wondering if the old controller burned out the new PAS sensor? I now have the new controller in and the new PAS sensor, but the new PAS sensor went in first and ony worked for a short while with the old controller.

 

[mrgold35]

Keep us posted on the fix. I also have a Radcity Step-thru we just purchased in May.

 

[ebikemom]

Very frustrating not to have your bike working! Hang in there!

 

[harryS]

You have the magnet disk as close as possible to the sensor? And also oriented the same way as you found it? If flipped around, it wouldn't work, but you did have it working for a mile. The disk isn't slipping on the shaft is it?

It's only a 5 volt chip inside the sensor, and the throttle usually runs off the same voltage. It's possible the old controller burned out the sensr chip. I would agree with a second sensor as your next move.

 

[Tom899]

The new magnet disk is very close to the sensor and a pressed on fit, deffenetly not slipping, and put on just like I took the old one off. Thanks for thinking and asking these questions.
I wouldn't mind trying another sensor.

 

[harryS]

If you have a voltmeter or a 5volt LED, you can put it across the PAS output and ground .and watch it swing from 0 to 4 volts as you spin the crank. This might be tricky if your PAS sensor has molded connectors. You can take your old PAS sensor, strip off the insulation and check its function . Doesn't need to be mounted, although it's easier to test that way.

 

[Tom899]

Keep us posted on the fix. I also have a Radcity Step-thru we just purchased in May.

It looks like there is a 2017 and 2018 controller. The new one that was sent was a 2017 model, the bike is a 2018. They are overnighting the 2018 controller. The warehouse accidently picked the 2017 model. We were assured this controller will fix the issue. Rad's service has been great throughout the whole process.

 

[larry-new]

That's exactly why I bought a Rad in the first place...glad to hear that you'll be up and running soon!