The Owners Guide to Kids Power Wheels Maintenance and Safety Tips

September 19, 2021

The Owners Guide to Kids Power Wheels Maintenance and Safety Tips

Getting your child a large power wheel is a surefire way to make his or her outdoor play more fun and exciting. But, before you let your child ride on the huge toy, you need to know some important facts about the safety of power wheels and what you can do to keep them safe for your child.

There have been several discussions on how safe these toys are. This is most likely because certain motorized toys have been recalled for safety reasons.

Safety, of course, is a primary consideration for parents. While it's fun to see them gleefully speed off down the driveway or onto the porch, you probably can't help but feel concerned that things could go wrong.

Although power wheels for kids have gone a long way since they were first introduced in the market, and manufacturers adhere to strict criteria for safety and protection, you can never be too cautious.

To put your mind at ease, we've compiled a list of suggestions for making your kid's ride fun and accident-free!

power wheels

The Fisher Price Power Wheel Issue

An accusation was brought against Fisher Price because they failed to reveal major safety flaws in their power wheels. On June 7, 2001, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of the United States announced that Fisher-Price has agreed to pay a $1.1 million fine.

This was the largest fine ever issued against a toy company in the history of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (up until 2001). The charge turned out to be a blessing in disguise since it forced all power wheel manufacturers to put excellent safety standards on their products to avoid being fined such large sums.

Nowadays, all makers of motorized toy vehicles have adhered to stringent safety regulations to ensure that their products are completely safe for your child to ride on. All of the power wheels on the market include important safety features to help keep your kids safe while they're riding these mini wheels.

The Notable Safety Features of Power Wheels

The majority of these vehicles come with a remote control. You now have complete control of the vehicle. You may use them to brake, accelerate, steer, and even turn the car off.

power wheels 12v battery

In the event of a minor collision, all-electric cars have a seat belt to help keep your child safe. Most wheels are made of polycarbonate. This means that if your child runs over something, the vehicle will provide the necessary protection.

Tips on How to Maintain and Clean Your Power Wheels

Make Sure to Read the Instruction Manual

It's important to read the manual after you've bought your little one's power wheels. Your child may be tempted to jump right in and try it out, but you should do your homework first!

Before you start putting together a kids' electric vehicle, you should familiarize yourself with the Power Wheels. Always begin by reading the toy's instruction booklet that comes with it. This will help you learn how to set up and operate your toy securely.

Once you have a good understanding of the dos and don'ts, explain them to your child in simple words. Explain how the automobile works to your youngster and establish some ground rules for its operation. The goal is to teach your little one how to operate his or her toy safely.

Remove or Lock Out the High-Speed Option

Your small first-timers need not go on high speed; the ride needs to be safe and fun. Many versions include a lock to assisting your child in learning how to operate their toy car without the dangerous effects of high speed.

Make Adjustments for Every Rider

If the toy car is intended for more than one child, make sure each child's seat is adjusted to a correct position. This way, he or she will be able to reach the accelerator pedal without any problem and push it without exerting too much effort. Additionally, by doing so, the odds of jerking and bouncing are considerably reduced.

Ensure a Safe Driving Environment

Make sure that your child rides their electric car in a safe environment. Allowing them to ride on busy streets where they can easily be hit is not a good idea. If at all possible, keep an eye on your child at all times. 

If your child's Power Wheels are designed for use in rugged outdoor spaces, make sure they aren't used on hilly slopes. This is because the vehicle can easily topple over, which could cause serious injuries to your child.

Teach Your Child How to Drive Their Toy

After you've finished reading the owner's manual, demonstrate to your child how to drive their car safely. This isn't always a simple process, so be ready to be patient and devote the necessary time to teach them.

Children are quick learners, so with a little time and effort, they should be able to ride in their toy vehicle in no time. Your little one's safety is the number one priority. Take your time and go through everything slowly so they understand what they can and can't do in an electric vehicle.

Clean the Toy Regularly

It's just as important to keep the kid's toy car clean regularly. You may educate your children on how to care for their toy by showing them how to clean it with a wet towel after use or play.

Remind your youngster that if they want their automobile to look fresh and new, they must avoid scratching its body at all costs. Body paint might peel if it is scratched. Make sure that your little one understands that if he or she wants the play car to look new and beautiful, they should make sure to avoid scratches.

We recommend putting together a cleaning cabinet, filling it with all of the necessary supplies, and teaching your child how to clean the body paint, seating, and rims properly. It's also a good idea to establish a post-playtime auto cleaning procedure. 

power wheels

Store the Power Wheels Properly

Choosing the right toy car storage for your ride-on car helps in keeping it in good condition. Cover the ride-on toy with a sheet or canvas when it is not in use to prevent dust from accumulating.

Make careful to keep the toy indoors, especially when it's raining. Find a suitable storage location in your home, and make sure that it is large enough to move the toy in and out without any problem.

Be Sure to Maintain All the Parts at All Times

You must maintain all the components of the vehicle and inspect it regularly for any possible damage and needed repairs. Electric car maintenance is an important part of keeping your children safe at all times. Everything needs to be kept in peak shape, from examining car parts to repairing a battery connector.

Wheels

The wheels of a child's ride-on car are usually the first to be damaged. Always inspect the wheel and look for signs of wear and tear on each one. Although power wheels are intended to bear pressure, most electric cars should be driven on smooth, not rough, surfaces. Damage occurs when it is driven on rough terrain, in the grass, or on wet ground.

Always check on the wheels and oil them regularly to keep your children safe and comfortable. The vehicle needs to be balanced and the tires should be in good working order. If they aren't, don't take any chances and replace the old wheels with new ones before letting your kids play with the toy.

Cleaning the rims and wheels regularly prevents dust, grime, and corrosion from accumulating. Dip a damp cloth in water and carefully wipe the wheel rims until all dirt and stains are removed.

Body

Cleaning the body paint of your child's vehicle after each use is one of the greatest ways to maintain it. To clean the paintwork and rims, we recommend using a moist towel. Use a cloth to prevent water from being spilled on the electrics, which could cause harm.

You should also tell your child to avoid hitting anything in the automobile if at all possible. If they collide with something, the vehicle's body may be scratched and dented. Avoid sticking anything to the body of the Power Wheels. Stickers can be tough to remove and cause paintwork to flake off.

12v Power Wheels Battery

Take extra precautions with the power wheels battery console of your children's electric automobile. The majority of these toys run on batteries. If the battery dies, your toy car will cease working as well, resulting in tears and tantrums.

So, how do you extend the life of your batteries? It isn't tough at all. All you have to do is follow a few basic rules and charge your battery according to the manufacturer's specifications. Undercharging or overcharging your battery can cause harm and limit its life.

If you need to replace your battery, be sure it's compatible with your 12v power wheels battery toy car. If you're not planning to let your child play with the toy for a long time, unhook the power wheels battery to prevent corrosion before storing it in a safe place.

How to Repair Your Kid’s Electric Car

power wheels for kids

Repairs are sometimes necessary, no matter how well you care for your child's ride-on toy car. As parents, we enjoy seeing our children have pleasure while driving, so restoring any damaged parts is at the top of our priority list.

Diagnose Issues and Parts Needed

If the electric car starts having problems, the first step is to figure out what the cause is. A volt multi-meter can help diagnose more significant problems. A few common issues might cause a car to stop working.

Although, in some circumstances, significantly smaller repairs are required to bring most electric ride-on vehicles back up and running. Repairing any loose cables, replacing spare parts, or installing a new battery are all possibilities.

Testing the Power Wheels Battery

If your child's automobile won't start, use a volt multi-meter to make sure the battery has enough power. The meter should read 6+ volts for 6-volt batteries, and 12+ volts for a 12v power wheels battery.

Because a false reading from the battery is possible, double-check the battery terminals inside the connectors on both the battery and vehicle sides. There could be a variety of reasons why the batteries aren't working, including motor or electrical issues.

Test the Foot Pedals and Throttle

Check the foot pedal and throttle switch with your volt multimeter for any problems. Disconnect the foot pedal switch to aid in locating the problem. If the motor starts turning, you know the problem isn't with the pedals.

The fast and slow switches, as well as the forward and backward switches, are other areas to check if you have a problem. If your child's electric toy car is slow, won't run, or just travels forwards or backward, the switches are likely malfunctioning.

Replacing the 12v Power Wheels Battery

Installing a replacement battery or battery charger is a difficult task, so you may require assistance. Check which parts you'll need for your make, model, and voltage.

The metal clips can be soldered, but you can typically disassemble them and reuse the plugs. Make sure you have a good understanding of where the positive and negative cables are located.

When installing a new battery charger, make sure the metal clips in the connector are in contact. Positive to positive and negative to negative should be the order. After that, double-check that the charger is producing the correct voltage and that it is shutting down when it should. This could result in a burned-out battery if it doesn't cut off.

Test the Motor and Controller

Always check the batteries and switches first if your electric car isn't working properly. If neither of these is the issue, you can proceed to the motor and controller. Step slowly on one pedal or carefully move the throttle. If you hear a click, there's a problem with either the motherboard or the controller.


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