Bosch Purion - display not working

[Beancounter]

Help please! I went to go for a ride this morning but the Bosch Purion controller on my ebike wouldn’t switch on.

The battery is fully charged and I replaced the batteries in the control unit this morning too so as to rule that out. The battery will charge up when connected direct to the charger but not with the battery on the bike and the bike connected to the charger (well I assume the battery isn’t charging as usually the controller display would work and you’d get the visual cues that the battery was charging).

I use the bike last Wednesday and it performed faultlessly, finishing the ride with 2 bars/40% remaining.

The cable connecting the control looks fine, no outside indication of a split wire or chafing.

The motor, FWIW, is a Bosch Performance Line Gen 2 and is on a Trek Powerfly 9.7 (2017 - so well out of warranty).

I’ve done a quick Google search and not much is coming up so asking the masses (I’ll also share this on STW).

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Is the cover on the charging port properly closed, my display doesn't come on it the charging port is open.

[Beancounter]

Is the cover on the charging port properly closed, my display doesn't come on it the charging port is open.

Just checked and open or closed, still nada.

[Nordboy]

I think the Purion displays can have more ‘issues’ than the others?

The battery could well be charging, you’d never know without the display i guess, so i would say that either the display unit has failed or there’s some sort of connection issues between the battery/ motor and the display.

Can you do controller unit resets with the Purion display? I know you can with some of the other units.

As it’s a 2017, i’d be inclined to open up the motor casing and check all the wires etc, see if there’s anything obvious. If nothing, I’d then be off to the LeBS as i wouldn’t have a clue what else to do!!

Sorry, all the above is pretty obvious, unhelpful and i’m sure you’ve thought of it already.

[Beancounter]

I think the Purion displays can have more ‘issues’ than the others?

The battery could well be charging, you’d never know without the display i guess, so i would say that either the display unit has failed or there’s some sort of connection issues between the battery/ motor and the display.

Can you do controller unit resets with the Purion display? I know you can with some of the other units.

As it’s a 2017, i’d be inclined to open up the motor casing and check all the wires etc, see if there’s anything obvious. If nothing, I’d then be off to the LeBS as i wouldn’t have a clue what else to do!!

Sorry, all the above is pretty obvious, unhelpful and i’m sure you’ve thought of it already.

Thanks NB. Any reply is welcome, even if it's just to backup my plan of taking the motor cover off and having a poke around. Right now I'm still working out how to get the crank off!

I think you're right about the Purion having more issues. The only info I've been able to read suggests that Purion displays can just fail which is a bit concerning.

Doesn't look like you can do a reset on the Purion. Everything is controlled through the controller, so I can't even switch the battery on and power the motor directly like you can on other set ups. A suggestion on STW is that a cable solder joint has failed. I think this is unlikely but worth a check (Xbox red ring of death has 'jumped species' perhaps).

Seems that my local bike shop is an authorised Bosch service centre though the last time I used them to service my Whyte they forgot to check the bottom bracket.

[Mr Moofo]

My pedals were okay this morning ...

[weeksy]

Assuming i'm looking at the right bit on Ebay it's only £90-100 which isn't as ridiculous as i'd thought it could be to buy one.

[porter_jamie]

did you take the battery out directly before you realised it wasnt working?

[Beancounter]

My pedals were okay this morning ...

My pedals are fine too, lack of use isn't bothering them. :p

Assuming i'm looking at the right bit on Ebay it's only £90-100 which isn't as ridiculous as i'd thought it could be to buy one.

Yeah, £90 so not a major cost and I was already looking at retro fitting a better unit so if that's the fix then I'll be happy.

did you take the battery out directly before you realised it wasnt working?

Nope. Put the Powertube in, and then tried switching on - same process I've been following since buying the bike last year. Then tried removing the Powertube and switching on but no luck. Replaced the batteries on the control unit and tried switching on with and without the Powertube, still no joy.

[weeksy]

YOu manage to get the cranks off ?

Any pics ?

[Beancounter]

YOu manage to get the cranks off ?

Any pics ?

Not yet, will be having a go tonight after work. Still watching 'how to' videos.

[Nordboy]

Contact issue between the battery and motor? You could try a bit of contact spray? If the purion can’t detect power then maybe it won’t turn on?

[Beancounter]

Contact issue between the battery and motor? You could try a bit of contact spray? If the purion can’t detect power then maybe it won’t turn on?

That was my initial thought but the Purion has its own internal batteries, both of which I replaced yesterday so as to rule them out.

[Nordboy]

Contact issue between the battery and motor? You could try a bit of contact spray? If the purion can’t detect power then maybe it won’t turn on?

That was my initial thought but the Purion has its own internal batteries, both of which I replaced yesterday so as to rule them out.

Did the display switch on without the main battery on the bike previously? If so, then forget the contacts bit, but if it does need the main battery on the bike as well, then maybe that could be worth looking at?

[Couchy]

Have you pushed the button on the battery ?

[weeksy]

It's going to be awesome if he's turned it off by mistake isn't it

[MingtheMerciless]

Has he read the manual yet?

[Beancounter]

Contact issue between the battery and motor? You could try a bit of contact spray? If the purion can’t detect power then maybe it won’t turn on?

That was my initial thought but the Purion has its own internal batteries, both of which I replaced yesterday so as to rule them out.

Did the display switch on without the main battery on the bike previously? If so, then forget the contacts bit, but if it does need the main battery on the bike as well, then maybe that could be worth looking at?

No idea, never tried it. TBH until this kicked off I figured the controller was powered by the Powertube.

Have you pushed the button on the battery ?

Now that I’ve found it (thanks porter_jamie), yes but all that does is show the Powertube to be fully charged. Put the Powertube back on the bike, pushed the button, no motor kicking in. Am I missing something? Never had to push that button before to make the motor work.

It's going to be awesome if he's turned it off by mistake isn't it

Has he read the manual yet?

Aye, that’s how I found out the controller has its own batteries. Of course, had I read the manual fully I’d have spotted the Powertube had an on/off switch...

Anyways, got the cranks and motor covers off tonight, had a poke around, everything looks as it should be. No loose, chafed, broken or stretched cables, reasonably clean in there too. Powertube contacts in good condition, no sign of corrosion. I’ve got the bike booked in at my LeBS so that they can plug it in but that’s not until 23rd April. I’ll keep poking away until then.

[weeksy]

Awww damn, i was hoping that'd fix it.

You know you can just use it without the motor till the 23rd It'll help with the fitness too

[Beancounter]

Awww damn, i was hoping that'd fix it.

You know you can just use it without the motor till the 23rd It'll help with the fitness too

We'll call that plan B.