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A vape that has stopped working entirely usually falls into one of five problems: dead battery, dirty or misaligned contacts, locked device, faulty coil or no e-liquid. The good news is the diagnostic process is quick. Work through the steps below in order.
Work through these in order. Each one takes a few seconds. Most vape failures are solved within the first three steps.
Check the battery
Is the LED indicator on? Try charging the device for at least 30 minutes with a known-working USB-C or micro-USB cable. Lithium batteries deplete fully sometimes and need a minimum charge before the LED activates.
Check if the device is locked
Most mods lock after 10-15 minutes of inactivity to prevent accidental firing in pockets. Five rapid clicks of the fire button unlocks most devices. Some require a different click count (3 or 4). Check your device manual.
Check the contacts
Unscrew the tank from the battery. Look at the small metal contact in the centre of the 510 thread (the connection point). It should be clean and spring slightly when pressed. Wipe with a dry cotton bud. E-liquid build-up here is a common cause.
Check the coil
Reseat the coil firmly. Make sure it screws in or clicks in correctly. A loose coil cannot complete the circuit. If the coil looks gunked or charred, replace it.
Check the e-liquid level
Pod kits often refuse to fire if the pod is empty. Refill if low and prime the coil.
Specific behaviour usually points to a specific cause. Match what your device is doing to the table below.
Battery issues account for around half of all “not working” complaints. Three things to check.
The metal connection between battery and tank carries the firing signal. Any disruption breaks the circuit. This is often called the 510 connection.
Unscrew the tank from the battery
Twist the tank off the battery and examine the small metal pin in the centre of the 510 thread.
Look for build-up
E-liquid that has leaked or been spilled around the connection dries into a sticky residue. This insulates the contact and stops the circuit completing.
Wipe with a dry cotton bud
Twist a cotton bud (Q-tip) around the metal contact. Repeat on the matching contact at the base of the tank. A few twists usually clears the residue.
Check the spring
On most mods, the centre contact is spring-loaded. Press it gently with a fingernail. It should depress 1-2mm and spring back. Stuck springs cause intermittent firing.
Reattach and test
Screw the tank back on, hand-tight. Press fire. Most contact-related issues are fixed at this point.
Modern mods have safety locks. Each manufacturer uses slightly different patterns.
Work through the diagnostic in order
Battery, lock, contacts, coil, e-liquid. Most failures are solved in the first three steps.
Contacts are the most overlooked cause
E-liquid residue on the 510 connection is invisible but stops the device working. A 10-second clean with a cotton bud solves most cases.
If software fails, hardware needs replacing
Coils, charging cables and pods are inexpensive. Try the cheapest replacement first before assuming the device itself has failed.
Part of our guide
Plain-English guides to vape kit, e-liquid and common problems for UK vapers.
Back to Consumer Guides