Levo SL Gen 1 Levo SL buggered

[Konanige]

Just had the update done, rode home ok, washed bike, dried with airline charged up, all ok three days later go to switch her on and NOTHING! not one single glimmer of a light!! Any ideas from the Hive Mind?

 

[apac]

Loose or bad connection. 99% of the time with ebikes. Or... Water ingress could have caused a short circuit?

 

[ImSundee]

Drying off with an airline is a big no no, All you are doing is pushing water into and past seals. If you need to dry, use a car drying towel. I'd take off the plugs inspect and dry any that are wet.

 

[Konanige]

all that done, there is no water!

 

[apac]

all that done, there is no water!

It's under warranty... take it back to where you bought it or to a Specialized dealer.

 

[urastus]

I assume you've taken the battery out and checked those terminals? It suggests no power is getting through, so the battery. One other possibility is try putting the battery on the charger - for some bizarre reason it could be dead flat?

 

[SquireRides]

If you had the firmware update, is it possible the shop did that using the USB connector on the TCU? If so, they could have left a lose connection up there. Get the TCU out and check the connections. Also, if they didn't put the USB cover back properly, your wash might have got in there? Depends if you airlined the TCU though...

 

[Konanige]

There is no water in anywhere, there are no loose connections, two different TCUs have been plugged in and 2 chargers tried.

 

[apac]

Where did you buy it?

 

[Konanige]

Bicycle Chain

 

[Al Boneta]

I assume you've taken the battery out and checked those terminals? It suggests no power is getting through, so the battery. One other possibility is try putting the battery on the charger - for some bizarre reason it could be dead flat?

He would have to remove the motor to remove the battery

 

[Al Boneta]

The only Levo SL failure I have encountered sounds similar to your situation.
In the end it was the main wire harness. When the battery was installed one of the wires from the TCU was pinched between the battery and the frame.
When I had the TCU out of the frame and still connected I could move the TCU and the bike would turn off and on.

 

[Konanige]

Drying off with an airline is a big no no, All you are doing is pushing water into and past seals. If you need to dry, use a car drying towel. I'd take off the plugs inspect and dry any that are wet.

Not if you know how to use an airline properly!

 

[thewrx]

yep needs to be TSA approved air-line lol

 

[apac]

Bicycle Chain

Just take it back.

 

[Konanige]

I have taken it back, they are waiting on specialized, I just wondered if anyone out there has had similar issue so that I can help bikeshop get it sorted ASAP, was looking for constructive help really.

 

[apac]

I have taken it back, they are waiting on specialized, I just wondered if anyone out there has had similar issue so that I can help bikeshop get it sorted ASAP, was looking for constructive help really.

it does seem unusual. you could have just got inlucky with a piece of electronics either inside the motor, TCU, or battery. I wish I could help more.

 

[Konanige]

I'm not unduly concerned, it takes as long as it takes in these difficult times, I'm just building my leg strength back up on the clockwork instead! Mind you shop manager said if it looks like a long wait he's going to cannibalise one of the un-opened bikes to get me back on track!

 

[Nicho]

Mind you shop manager said if it looks like a long wait he's going to cannibalise one of the un-opened bikes to get me back on track

That's the advantage of buying your bike from a good local bike shop!

 

[TheBikePilot]

I'm not unduly concerned, it takes as long as it takes in these difficult times, I'm just building my leg strength back up on the clockwork instead! Mind you shop manager said if it looks like a long wait he's going to cannibalise one of the un-opened bikes to get me back on track!

Have heard very few problems with the Mahle/SL so I think this is just an anomaly. Sorry to hear in any case. Sounds like you have got a good dealer there also..

 

[urastus]

That's the advantage of buying your bike from a good local bike shop!

And keeping your analogue bike as a backup

 

[crazymelki]

Just had the update done, rode home ok, washed bike, dried with airline charged up, all ok three days later go to switch her on and NOTHING! not one single glimmer of a light!! Any ideas from the Hive Mind?

I have also some strange issue with the Vado SL (same ebike setup as my Levo SL)...The update was done a cupple day ago. After that, I was driving some nice km.

Then yesterday: I was able to power up, but not able switching between the three modes on TCU and Remote. I did try to reset the TCU and was also removing the backup battery. Did not help. the bike was starting in the trail mode and changed immediately to off mode.

I had just motor support with Smart Control and the mission control app.

The LBS had also no fast solution....

 

[urastus]

I have also some strange issue with the Vado SL (same ebike setup as my Levo SL)...The update was done a cupple day ago. After that, I was driving some nice km.

Then yesterday: I was able to power up, but not able switching between the three modes on TCU and Remote. I did try to reset the TCU and was also removing the backup battery. Did not help. the bike was starting in the trail mode and changed immediately to off mode.

I had just motor support with Smart Control and the mission control app.

The LBS had also no fast solution....

Yes, you should really hold back on the firmware updates! I still haven't updated my shimano system - latest updates have been out for a couple of months now. Looking at those updates, I realise they will improve nothing for me, so I won't apply those updates. If it was an update that would improve my walk mode, I'd want it, but I'd still wait to see if there were any problems with it. Just look at all the trouble Giant owners have had!

 

[crazymelki]

Yes, you should really hold back on the firmware updates! I still haven't updated my shimano system - latest updates have been out for a couple of months now. Looking at those updates, I realise they will improve nothing for me, so I won't apply those updates. If it was an update that would improve my walk mode, I'd want it, but I'd still wait to see if there were any problems with it. Just look at all the trouble Giant owners have had!

I did a quick visit at LBS...Changing the TCU did not help....they think it could be a bad cable connection. But this make for me no sense, when Smart Control is working...we will see...

 

[TheBikePilot]

I've held off on updating my Levo for this reason. These software updates don't seem to go through the same QA Testing as maybe they should.

It may be hardware. However, remember that people on the forum only come on to post problems rather than the 1000's of Mahle's out there without issue.

Feel for you, so annoying having a bike off the road/trail..

 

[cb700]

I experienced the same thing with my Turbo Levo Comp (less than 30 days old). My LBS says its a bad battery and Specialized is sending a replacement under warranty. Battery should arrive in 4 days (17 days after warranty replacement approved. I'm in Northern California BTW). I don't have great confidence in this LBS. They also will not loan me a battery to get me back riding while the replacement is sent. We will see if in the end a simple battery replacement fixes things.

 

[Boots3150]

As the great Jack Rickard said “I never met a connector I liked”

 

[boBE]

As the great Jack Rickard said “I never met a connector I liked”

Yeah, most inexpensive connectors are pretty bad. For our environment we might look for connectors made for dirt/mud/water/vibration... the construction equipment industry. Deutsch DT and AmpSeal 16 are pretty good in that environment, they probably cost more than the bike manufacturers want to spend.

 

[elyhim]

I have a new 2021 SL Bought three weeks ago and sometimes it will not start when power is pushed. Jostling it helps and it eventually will turn on. I figured loose wire or something and am waiting to bring it back for the 30 day checkup. Try picking it up a few inches and dropping.

 

[urastus]

Try picking it up a few inches and dropping.

That's pretty old technology - from back in the 50's I think