iRobot Roomba 560 Robotic Vacuum

How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced Vacuum Technicians :

Error 2 means the rubber brushes in your Roomba are clogged and need to be cleaned.
Charging error two (2) means a fault has been detected and your Roomba® or Braava® battery is not charging. The error indicator will vary by model. To clear the error, run the robot or remove and reinstall the battery. Check robot and Home Base for liquid damage.
Solution. Error 2 is a network error code produced by Windows NT that generically translates to: “The system cannot find the file specified.”
A: Error 2 indicates that the shock absorber is jammed. Please use both hands to gently tap the left and right side of the front shock absorber to ensure that the shock absorber can press down and rebound normally. If there is a foreign body jammed, Buffer rebound blocked Please remove.
The Roomba says “Error 2: Open Roomba`s brush cage and clean brushes.” If you are getting this error, the most likely culprit is hair stuck on the brushes. It may be that you are not cleaning the brushes of your Roomba often enough, and hair is preventing the brushes from spinning properly.
If you get a more affordable model, like Roomba 675 you can expect a lifespan of up to two years. Go to the higher-end, like the iRobot j7+, and our research and testing suggest you can get five years plus of cleaning with proper maintenance.
Error five (5) means the left wheel cannot turn. Please check the following: If Roomba® is stuck under an obstacle, move it to a new location and press CLEAN to restart. Use Dual Mode Virtual Wall® Barriers to block off problem areas.
A type I error (false-positive) occurs if an investigator rejects a null hypothesis that is actually true in the population; a type II error (false-negative) occurs if the investigator fails to reject a null hypothesis that is actually false in the population.
Error code 2 means: The system cannot find the file specified.
Code 2. The system cannot find the file specified. Indicates that the file can not be found in the specified location. Most likely the folder structure / path is configured correctly, however the file name is either misspelled or file is missing.
This means that the database it is trying to run the attachability checks on is not found within that snapshot/database. – Look for the database name that was referenced in the logs. – Check to see if it is there, if it is, check to see if it holds any data or tables.
Error code 2 means that OneDrive has experienced a problem fetching your account details. Sign in to your Microsoft account to ensure there are no authentication issues.
Error three (3) means your j series robot is on an obstacle or an uneven surface and the Right Wheel is stuck. If this is the case, lift your Roomba® off the floor, place it in the center of the room, and restart the clean cycle. If this error occurred on a flat surface, check the Right Wheel for obstructions.
Error 2 – bumper stuck

Smaller obstacles are detected by the frontplate. The whole front is movable – this bumper plate presses down on a set of buttons beneath when the robot his an obstacle.

Error code 21: Incorrect battery communication

Action: Check the battery, motherboard and the connection between them.

Besides regularly cleaning the brushes on your Roomba, you`ll also need to replace them from time to time. iRobot recommends replacing the two main brushes every six to twelve months.
If your Shark ION Robot R75 vacuum stops moving unexpectedly after a few minutes of normal movement, it may simply have low battery power. Check that the device is powered on and that the battery has a significant charge.
The E2 Error is caused when there is a communication problem between the hose and the canister.
If the Side Brush is not spinning after cleaning, you may need a replacement Side Brush Module. Please visit the iRobot Store – Parts and Accessories, contact iRobot Customer Care, or use an authorized retailer or partner.
Charging error three (3) means your Roomba®/ Braava® charging system on the robot isn`t working properly, and your robot may need to be replaced. If the error persists, please contact iRobot Customer Care for assistance. For expedited service, please have the following ready: Your robot charged and with you.
With proper care, your robot`s battery should last at least 2-3 years before it needs to be replaced. Here are some battery maintenance tips to extend battery life and keep Roomba® cleaning at peak performance: Only use iRobot® batteries.
For the Roomba`s nickel-based (not lithium ion like smartphones) batteries, it`s best to keep the unit charging whenever you`re not using it. However, don`t leave it in its dock for days at a time — lots of vacuuming will keep its battery healthy.
Charging time under normal conditions is at least 2 hours. For best results, use only the battery type compatible with your robot and ensure that it is an authentic iRobot Lithium Ion/NiMH battery that comes with Roomba or purchased from iRobot authorized dealers.
Error 2 means the rubber brushes in your Roomba are clogged and need to be cleaned.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Roomba Discovery My Roomba turns on and moves but the brushes won’t turn. Someone told me that I had forgotten to put in the yellow and black end bearings, but I did. Help, I miss my Roomba
I have a Roomba 530, I have had it for 2 weeks and really loved it. I have followed all the cleaning instructions etc.. Then the Roomba wanted it’s brushes cleaning “please clean Roombas brushes” So thinking that something was stuck I removed and cleaned the brushes, (yellow tabs on and in place by the way)
ANSWER : I read somewhere that you need to clear the software in case there is a glitch. To do this, take the battery out and then, simultaneously hold down the “spot” and “clean” buttons for 30 seconds. Replace battery. This has worked for my Discovery model.

Roomba keeps saying clean brushes yet are clean!
ANSWER : Make sure you take off the little cap at the end (the one that spins — just grab it and pull it straight off) and clean under it too. The rest of the brush may look perfectly clean but what happens is that hair gets stuck under spinning cap and, like a slowly growing washer, it pushes the whole brush toward the gear box. When it gets pushed over enough, the large yellow ring starts to rub against the side of the brush deck making it harder for the motor to turn the brush and you get that “remove and clean brushes” message.

My Irobot Roomba keeps saying that I need to clean Roombas brushes. I have cleaned the brushes…they are spotless. Still the Roomba will go for 2 minutes and shut itself off stating once again to clean the brushes. What up?
ANSWER : Perform the troubleshooting found at the iRobot website: http://tinyurl.com/nh5c8a (I promise that really does go to the right site.) That troubleshooting will enable you to determine exactly what’s causing this problem. (The Easy Way: Run the Roomba minus the dustbin and look in the back. Is the brush turning? If not, there’s the problem. Give support a call at 1-877-855-8593 and they’ll let you know how to replace the necessary part.)

Roomba keeps saying clean brushes yet are clean!
ANSWER : Remove the Yellow connectors on the end of the brushes and clean around the pin well. If there is too much there, the roomba thinks there is something stuck and goes into clear mode (as if there is a chord stuck).

My roomba keeps telling me “error and to clean the brushes. I have cleaned the brushes and when I turn the roomba back on it keeps clicking underneath the roomba. I’m not sure what else to do.
ANSWER : I had the identical problem. I cleaned the brush but the problem persisted. I then put in a new brush that was provided in the box and the problem vanished. I have since used the cleaning tool on the old brush and will try and reinstall it to see if my cleaning worked. In any case a new brush will do the job.
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.Tim B

Dirt devil vacuum cleaner–trouble vacuuming dirt and pet hair on carpeting –is the problem with the spinning brush which contacts the floor,  not contacting the carpeting??  I thought (when I bought this vacuum) that the aforementioned brush was adjustable to various heights of carpeting.  Sometimes, it seems like nothing is being vacuumed up –unless I have just put a new bag on the vacuum… Do I need or can I replace the spinning brush on the bottom of the vacuum so it kicks up and vacuums
ANSWER : Try replacing the belt. Rubber belts stretch out after about a year.

My Roomba 560 is making a clunking noise when it is on and it keeps stopping saying that I need to clean the brushes. I’ve thoroughly cleaned the brushes and I’ve cleaned lint from other small crevices but I’m still getting the error. Any suggestions?
ANSWER : I’m having the same problem with my 560 after a day of use. For me, it’s caused by the little yellow spacer that’s clipped onto each side of the bristly brush. When the brush assembly is closed, it wedges rather tightly next to that yellow spacer on the left. This causes a lot of friction and heat, and mine’s worn away quite a bit already.

My solution was to just unclip that spacer and leave it off. It’s probably not an ideal long-term solution, because dirt and hair will be more likely to get into the drivetrain. But at least it works now.

Another thing that these roombas apparently suffer from is clogged up gears. If you aren’t having the same problem as me, you could try the instructions here to clean the gears:

http://www.robotreviews.com/wiki/cleaning

Hope that helps!

My Roomba runs for a while and says error 2 to clean the brushes. This happens with cleaned brushes. And I have followed the instructoins.
i have got a brand new set of brushes also. When inserting them the same problem continues. The floor is clean.
ANSWER : Remove the two round rings…..this has worked for me like a charm since! So glad to have the Roomba back up and running!