My cordless vacuum cleaner is pulsing/ switching On & Off / has a blockage light, what does this mean? | Dyson Community
CORDLESS VACUUM - COMMMON QUESTION

My cordless vacuum cleaner is pulsing/ switching On & Off / has a blockage light, what does this mean?

  • 1 June 2022
  • 4 replies
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My cordless vacuum cleaner is pulsing/ switching On & Off / has a blockage light, what does this mean?
Userlevel 7
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If the machine switches on and off in quick succession, while making a pulsing noise, it could be an indication to either a dirty/blocked filter or an obstruction in the machine affecting the airflow.

 

Dirty filter

To maintain optimal performance, the machine’s filter(s) should be washed regularly. Instructions on the filter maintenance, including a step-by-step guide, can be found on our ‘Cleaning the filter(s) on your Cordless vacuum cleaner’ article


Airways obstruction

In the event of an airways obstruction the machine is designed to pulsate. This is an audible feature that not just indicates a restriction of airflow, but also helps in preventing damage to the motor. 

This is usually caused by a physical blockage in the machine, where debris has become tapped in one of the following locations.

  1. The Cleaner head/Accessory
  2. The Wand
  3. The Cyclone inlet

The easiest way to identify where this blockage is location, is to visually inspect each of these locations. Start by removing each component from the machine and inspecting it for trapped debris. 

Be careful not to pull the power trigger while looking for blockages.

Make sure any blockages are clear and all parts are refitted before using your machine.

Further instruction on checking for a blockage, including a step-by-step guide, can be found through the below resource. 

  1. The machine user manual 
  2. Dyson’s online support
  3. Dyson official YouTube channel 

 

The user manual

Don’t worry if you don’t have a physical copy of your machine’s user manual, a virtual copy of it can be downloaded from the local website. 

Using the Guides and manuals link, select your machine from the options available and navigate through the page until you reach the ‘User manual’ section. Click on it to begin the download. 

Once downloaded, simply view the instructions on blockages.

 

Online Support

Dyson’s online support enables users to not only troubleshooting potential issues with their machine(s), but offers a host of useful content, such as the steps to follow should there be a blockage. 

Using the Guides and manuals link, select your machine from the options available and navigate through to the ‘Troubleshooting’ page. Here you will find a host of selectable options designed to support you and your machine. 

 

YouTube

The Dyson YouTube channel hosts a vast amount of content that can support on this process. As well as those that provide tips on using, maintaining, and getting the best out of your Dyson machine. Simply use the on-screen search option or navigate through the playlists to start viewing these.

 

If you still need help, feel free to post a question to our wider community. The best place to do this is in our Ask the Community forum.


4 replies

Userlevel 5

Solved. Dried macaroni pieces blocking the inlet. 

I have checked for blockages , nothing found but still have a V11 pulsing (sounds a bit like a toy machine gun)and unable to use. What else could be the problem?

Well, when your vacuum cleaner is pulsing/switching On or Off, there could be 3-4 reasons to it. 

 

  1. When your vacuum cleaner hasn’t been charged properly. Many users commonly place the battery of their vacuum cleaner improperly, preventing a steady charge, resulting in the vacuum cleaner frequently turning on and off. 
  2. This goes hand-in-hand with the charge of your vacuum. If you’re using the ‘Max Mode’ on your vacuum cleaner on insufficient charge, it may pulsate frequently. 
  3. Check for possible blockages within the vacuum cleaner’s dust compartment and other internals. Also, use a flashlight to inspect darker areas of the vacuum cleaner. 
  4. Regularly clean your vacuum cleaner’s bin compartment. Again, this goes hand-in-hand with the previous point. If a vacuum cleaner isn't maintained at regular intervals, there are possible chances of hair entanglement or blockages--causing the vacuum cleaner to pulsate /turn on and off. 

Blocked airway for me. In my case, the motorized brush head was blocked at the exit. I found the problem by removing the narrow strip on the bottom of the head, behind the brush roller (there’s a rotating release latch). Someone vacuumed up an “S” hook, which stuck there and started catching other debris. Over time enough built up that the airway was completely blocked.

Removed all that stuff, and now it’s working normally again.

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