Treadmill Turns On But Buttons Don’t Work: Behind The Scenes

Treadmills are the game-changer as gym equipment in your home. They will probably give you the most effective and safest way to work out. Like all the complicated machines, over the years treadmills may show you symptoms of their bad health and malfunction in many ways. You will find treadmills in different sizes, models, features, and different faces of problems. You might find that your treadmill turns on but buttons don’t work at all or a few of them work. Your machine is most probably having a bad time. While wondering whether you should contact the manufacturer or replace the console check out our guide. You can easily fix this with common tricks.

The Reasons Behind Treadmill Buttons Not Working

Unlike the manual treadmill, the electric treadmill has two basic parts of its body. The Console mainly works as the controller of the Front Roller. Anything wrong with the console may turn your buttons on the touchpad not working. If you are searching for specific reasons you need to go through this.

• Faulty Control Panel

The most common and probable cause behind your home treadmill buttons not working. The treadmill turns on means there is no problem with the power supply but the control panel is causing issues. The “START” button is good, not the others.

• The Console is Broken

The consoles are separate parts from the front roller but attached to the entire treadmill’s buttons. In case the console is broken ( might be for many reasons) all the buttons or a few of them will not work.

• The Battery is Old

If your treadmill requires batteries check if the batteries become old. Occasionally, dirty conditions and loose battery connections may also create a hazard to the display panel.

• The Problematic Ribbon Cables

Most of the manufacturing company guides the customers to keep the treadmill clean. The display of the treadmill is a matrix with contacts running in double directions (both horizontal and vertical). In case one of them is broken or filled with dust, a few of the buttons will stop working.

• Faulty Sensor Reed

The sensor reed and the optic disk are located at the end of the motor and connected with the control panels. The faulty sensor reed will cause your display not to work and showing misinformation sometimes.

What to Do When Treadmill Buttons are Not Working?

The treadmills turning on means the power supply is okay. You shouldn’t panic just because the buttons are not working properly. Once you have detected the reason behind the problem, let’s check out the probable solutions. 

Step 1: Check Out the Plug and Display Labels

Check all the connections around your treadmill, especially the plug used to connect the counsel to the machine. Change the plug if it seems old or faulty. The labels on the surface of the touch screen can be removed easily with a bare hand. Remove the surface labels from the display and put that back again after a few seconds properly. Then “Start” the engine. If you are lucky enough the buttons might be working by following this simple step.

Step 2: Connect the Ribbon Cables

If Step-1 doesn’t work for you, don’t worry! There are other probable solutions. Treadmills buttons are interconnected through ribbon cables situated on the back lower side of the console. Remove the head screws on the back of the counsel. Then lift the counsel and check the ribbon cables if they are connected to the counsel properly. Depending on the models you will find 1 to 4 ribbon cables. Reconnect them if they are loose.  Even if they seem to be okay, loosen up the ribbon cables and reconnect them again. Then, put the screws properly on the console’s back.  In case you don’t understand the procedure, here is a video to help you.

Step 3: Replace the Old Batteries

A treadmill with old batteries is a source of problems for the buttons in the display. Clean the contact batteries. Check if the connection between spring and player is loose. Tight the spring with the player. In case the battery is unusable, replace the batteries with new ones.

Step 4: Adjust the Reed Switch

Another probable solution is connected with the Reed Switch located on the frame of the console frame next to the Front Roller Pulley. You need to adjust the Reed Switch keeping in mind that there is a piece of magnet on the front-right side of the roller play. Make sure the tip of the Reed switch is placed within ⅛” of the magnet. Have a look at the wire of the Reed Switch and check if that is not damage

Step 5: Adjust the Optic Sensor

The optic sensor and the disc are visually situated beneath the motor. Occasionally, you will find it on the right side of the front roller. The optic disk spins between the optics switch sensors freely without even touching any side of the sensors. Check out if the disk is touching the sensors. If so, adjust the optic sensor by loosening the adjustment bolt. Now set the disc to the center between discs. We have added an image to illustrate the whole fact.

Step 6: Replace the Console

If none of the solutions above work for you, you have only one option left if you are not willing to call some of the experts. Replace the whole console.  The console is relatively individual from the front roller. So you can always change the console in case you don’t want to bear the hassle. Never mind calling an expert if you want to!

Why does the fast-slow button doesn’t work?

Treadmill buttons are interconnected through cables back of the console. The possible reasons might be the loose carbon cables, the broken wire in the power chord. But most possibly your faulty speed sensor alignment on the motor is the issue. Remove the motor cover hood by loosening the screws and check the speed sensor located on the left side of the frame. Make sure the speed sensor is duly aligned with the magnet. To adjust the sensor, loosen the screw to hold the sensor. Now retighten the screws.

How do I reset my treadmill?

Many different models have different ways of resetting but most of the models have a reset button on the console display. It is kind of an easy task. To reset it press the “reset” button and a few more buttons depending on the models you are using. You should follow the user’s manual to know the buttons exactly you need to press afterward.

Conclusion

Starting the electrical treadmill is quite easy but managing the faulty control panels with un-working buttons will give you a hard job. The problems could lie on any portion of the whole treadmill. Keeping the connections tight and the important parts clean is a wise thing to do. Use the treadmill properly if you want to make your workout session effective and lengthy.

Related Resources:

1. Top 8 Treadmill for Heavy-Persons