Why My RC Car Won’t Move? [7 Reasons and Solution]

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Introduction 

You are playing with your RC car and suddenly it won’t move? It is one of the most frustrating things you can ever face. We will understand your feelings. You tried all the basic things, but still, you couldn’t fix it.  

So, you’re looking for the reason why my RC car won’t move?

A defective motor or a faulty ESC might be the cause your RC car isn’t working. It might also be the worn gears. The most prevalent cause of this is a sloppy, slippery grip. Worn-out wires might lead the RC to cease working. Steering issues, on the other hand, are caused by a faulty servo.

Here I just quickly mentioned the reasons. In the article, you will find the why and how behind the reasons and the solutions. Let’s go to get more details about it. 

7 Reasons Why RC Car Won’t Move

When you have movement issues, a few common parts are typically at fault. Nitro and electric remote-control cars are typically comparable. ESC, slipper gear, or the motor, for instance. You need to connect the ESC properly to your RC car.  

It might also be some worn-out wires or stripped gears. Whatever the issue, we are prepared to provide you with solutions. So move on to the section after this:

Reason 1: Poor Motor

A motor issue is indicated if your car makes no noises at all when accelerated fully. Or perhaps there are some loose motor wires. In either case, your motor is completely stationary. Your RC car isn’t moving as a result. 

Reason 2: Unsecured Slipper Clutch

This is the most frequent cause of RC car inactivity. Slipper clutches are designed to prevent stripping of your spur gear. To start with, it’s always a little loose. 

The spur gears won’t even turn if they become too slack. And it frequently goes like that. When you press the accelerator if you hear an odd noise. The slipper clutch is usually to blame. 

When the car won’t move forward quickly enough, that’s another sign of a loose slipper clutch. Even at full throttle, the speed won’t increase all the way. 

Reason 3: Drive Cups with Loose Screws

Your RC car comes with a few drive cups. These are bases that are joined to the wheel-turning shafts. Only the bases rotate while the wheels are stationary if the drive cups are loose.

Reason 4: Rusted Gears

Some gears may have stripped if you hear your motor spinning but your car won’t move. Your spur gear or the axle gears might be to blame.

Reason 5: Malfunctioning ESC

Our RC car may also stop moving if your ESC isn’t working properly. A multimeter can be used to test ESC as well. The frequency of binding may experience issues. If so, you will need to calibrate your ESC once more using your radio controller.

Reason 6: Rusted Wires

The wires might experience frequent wear. The covers may have slits where wires are protruding. Or perhaps there is contact between the positive and negative wires.

This typically occurs on the wires between the ESC and the battery. Simply use electrical tape or new wires that have been resoldered. If you decide to use electrical tape to cover new wires, ensure to waterproof your wiring. 

Reason 7: Malfunctioning Servo

Finally, your servo may be preventing your RC from moving to the right. You may experience steering issues at this point. Check inside your car by opening the casing. Your servo horn is likely missing from the front axle. 

You’ll need to reattach them. Additionally, your servo motor horn might have vanished. If you drive your remote-control car forcefully, this is not unusual. 

Now, we will talk about how to fix this problem. If you read the instructions attentively, you will be able to fix the problem. 

How to Fix the Problems with Your RC Car

In this section, we will talk about the solutions to those 7 problems. We will talk about the details so that you can fix them on your own. Let’s find a solution to the problem. 

  • To begin with, look for any loose wires. They may need to be resoldered. You will need to replace your motor if it continues to malfunction. A voltmeter can be used to examine a brushless motor if you have one.
  • You only need some vices and screwdrivers to solve this issue. The slipper clutch next to the spur gear needs to be slightly tightened. Avoid over-tightening it to prevent it from functioning properly.
  • A screwdriver is required to fix this. The screws on your drive cup can be tightened using it. An RC car typically has 4-6 drive cups. Be sure to tighten them all. 

If you need to buy a screwdriver, then check out these products: 

Product-1
Product-2 

You need a screwdriver to fix your RC car. Read the reviews if you have any doubts.  

  • You must examine your casing to determine which components are stripped or melted. In some cases, they can even break. You’ll then need to swap out that gear for a new one. Generally speaking, stripped or broken gears cannot be repaired and used again. You must purchase a new replacement.
  • The gear housing may occasionally be harmed. The gear slips, as a result, preventing the wheels from turning. Or they could only make a one-directional turn. If so, you can either repair the housing or put the gears in a new housing. 
  • To accomplish that, switch off the ESC and confirm that it’s operating at the same intensity. Trying to hold down the power button for approximately 10 seconds will accomplish this. Then three times on the power switch. Finally, press it once more and hold it there for two seconds. When it works again, you’ll always hear beeps, make sure you know. 

FAQs 

Why isn’t my RC car’s servo working?

Simply disconnect the faulty servo from the transmitter and reconnect it to a new network. For example, if the steering servo isn’t working, remove the cable from channel 1 on the receiver. After that, reconnect the receiver to channel 2.

Why is my remote control car blinking?

Remove all of the batteries from the vehicle and the controller. Then, after 30 seconds, replace them and restart the car and the controller. Now, check if it has resolved the issue. Also, ensure that all of the cells in both the car and the controller are brand new.

What is the function of an RC bind plug?

The binding plug, on the other hand, performs none of those things. It just connects two wires on the receiver that aren’t ordinarily linked. Everything you said is done by the recipient. The plug is only a wire, and you may use whatever you want, including tweezers.

How do you deactivate a servo motor’s brake?

The signal to the brake is normally regulated by a switch or transistor in the transmission. When you provide power, the brake is released, enabling the engine to rotate easily. When power is lost, the brake engages and holds the weight in place.

Wrap Up 

Are you still confused about why my RC car won’t move? I don’t think so. I tried to cover every possible way and also give solutions. 

If you follow the instructions properly, you will find the problem your RC car is having. After that, you will fix it accordingly. You will be able to drive your RC car but always take safety precautions first. 

Take care and best wishes!!

About the author

Travis Murray

I am Travis Murray, and my love for RC began in 2017. It gradually turned into a passion, leading me to become an RC enthusiast and blogger. I write in-depth reviews and DIY guides for RC enthusiasts to provide troubleshooting tips and insider knowledge to help starters find the hidden gems in the hobby.
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