
If you have a Sonicare toothbrush, you’re probably very conscious about good oral hygiene. So it can be frustrating if your toothbrush doesn’t work the way you expect it to.
Don’t throw it away to buy a new one just yet, though. If your Philips Sonicare Toothbrush is not working or turning on, here’s a list of some things you can try.
Before you read the tips listed on this article, you may first watch the short video I’ve made about how to fix a Sonicare toothbrush that’s not turning on. You can watch it below.
This problem may be caused by a bad battery, a possible problem on the on/off button or PCB, or a motor which doesn’t work anymore.
3 Ways To Deal With A Philips Sonicare Toothbrush Not Working or Turning On
Okay, so before you can do any of the things on this list, you’re going to need to take the covers off of the Philips Sonicare. That’s easy enough to do.
Start by removing the replaceable head from the motor (the metal rod sticking out of the toothbrush on top). You don’t want it getting dirty during repairs.
Then, place the toothbrush sideways on a solid surface and wrap it in a microfiber cloth. That cloth is there to protect the Sonicare’s outer casing from the next step: hammering.
Now use a hammer to gently tap at the base of the toothbrush case to get the covers loose. To be more effective, you can rotate the toothbrush after every couple of taps.
Do this until the bottom cap gives a small pop. It should be out enough now that you can slide your fingernail in between the cap and the case to remove it all the way.
Inside the base of the tootbrush, you’ll see two white, plastic tabs positioned on the outside of a circle. Use a flathead screwdriver to push those tabs inwards.
Just be careful – the case around this section of the toothbrush will pop off as soon as those tabs are tampered with.
But now you’ll be able to pull out the Sonicare’s entire circuit board and battery setup. Once you’ve done all this, you’re ready to try out all three of my solutions.
- The Battery Has Gone Bad
You’ll find the battery near the base of the circuit board setup. To check if it’s faulty, place the probes of a multimeter against its terminals just like how I’m doing in this photo:
Philips uses 1450 rechargeable batteries for their Sonicare toothbrushes. These should output around 3.6V, as mine did when I checked for their voltage.
Anything significantly lower than that probably means your battery is dead or will die soon. The good news, in that case, is that replacing the battery is easy.
Just take the old one out and slide a new one in like you would in a remote. Make sure the polarities match – if it’s placed wrong, your toothbrush won’t power on again.
Before reassembling, you can check that it works by connecting it to the charging station. If it’s charging fine, a green light should appear just above the base of the toothbrush.
Related: Philips Sonicare Toothbrush Not Charging: Tips on How to Fix It
- The Power Button Or PCB Are Experiencing Issues
Sometimes, a faulty power button or damaged printed circuit board (PCB) stops the toothbrush from switching on.
Check the power button first – it’s the small yellow circle with a metal border near the top of the circuit board. Test it by pressing the button to see what it does.
Did nothing happen? Then look for two tiny wires that connect the circuit board to the motor. You can see the wires in the image above. Make sure they’re secure and not loose or torn.
In case the power button looks good, check the PCB for signs of cracks, debris, burning, or corrosion. If you find debris, try to remove it with a small brush or cloth.
Any signs of burning or corrosion could mean deeper electrical problems are going on. If the circuit board looks damaged, you should contact a professional repair service for a new one.
- The Motor Malfunctioned
Is the motor itself just not spinning? Even if the battery and power button are good, a burnt-out or jammed motor can keep your Sonicare toothbrush from working.
I made a makeshift power source using three AAA batteries and connected them to the motor. It needs 3.6V to run, so I recommend using 1.2V AAA batteries to power it.
Put the AAA batteries in a three-cell holder and test the output with a multimeter. If the three cells are offering around 3.6V, you’re good to keep going.
Disconnect your Sonicare toothbrush’s motor from its original battery circuit. Then attach your 3.6V battery pack directly to the motor leads the way I’ve done above.
If the motor spins up with your temporary power pack powering it, it’s likely fine. In that case, the problem is with the battery or circuit board.
But, if the motor does nothing, you need a new one. But, I think it’s better to get a whole new Philips Sonicare toothbrush at that point, instead of replacing the whole motor.
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Thomas Martinez
Hi, I am Thomas Martinez, the owner of ToolCroze.com! As a passionate DIY enthusiast and a firm believer in the power of quality tools, I created this platform to share my knowledge and experiences with fellow craftsmen and handywomen alike.
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