There’s nothing more frustrating than settling in for a nice, relaxing massage after a long day only to find that your massage chair remote refuses to cooperate.
You press the buttons, but nothing happens.
Don’t panic just yet! You should be able to fix it without replacing the remote.
In this post, I’ll go over the reasons why your massage chair remote not working and show you how to get it working again.
There are a few things you can do to hopefully get that remote working again. Let’s start with the simplest and work our way up:
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A common culprit behind a non-responsive massage chair remote is dead batteries.
Many remotes run on regular AA or AAA batteries that need to be replaced periodically. Start by taking out the batteries and putting in a fresh set.
If the remote still doesn’t turn on or control the chair, move on to the next step.
Dust, grime, and spills can sometimes gunk up the buttons on your remote, which can prevent them from making a good connection.
So take a close look at the buttons – are any of them stuck or look damaged?
Try gently cleaning the buttons and remote surface with a soft, slightly damp cloth. Be sure not to use any harsh cleaners that could further damage the electronics.
Most massage chair remotes use infrared (IR) signals to communicate with the chair’s control unit. To see if your IR still works, point the remote right at the massage chair’s receiver (check your user manual for the location) and press a button.
If the chair responds by turning on, reclining, or changing massage modes, then the remote’s IR is working, and the issue lies elsewhere.
This might seem obvious, double check if the massage chair itself is plugged in securely to a working outlet, and that the main power switch on the chair is turned on.
And also look for any visible signs of damage on the remote, like cracks or loose buttons too.
A damaged remote may need professional repair or replacement.
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Before moving onto the next steps, see if your massage chair is still under warranty.
All reputable brands should support for a certain number of years after purchase.
Reach out to the manufacturer with details on your particular chair model, the problem you’re experiencing, and any troubleshooting you’ve already tried.
Depending on the issue, they may be able to walk you through additional steps over the phone or via email. If not, they can hopefully send out a repair technician to handle it in person if the chair is still under warranty coverage.
If those basic checks didn’t reveal the problem, and the warranty is expired, it’s time to take a closer look inside that massage chair remote.
Be warned – this gets a bit more technical, so novice tinkerers may want to consult an expert for the following steps.
The circuit board is the brain of your remote control. If something is wrong there, your massage chair remote won’t work.
Start by carefully opening up the remote’s outer shell to access this green or brown rectangular board covered in components and wiring. Look for any burn marks, cracks, or broken pieces.
If something looks amiss, that could indicate a circuit board failure requiring remote replacement.
Also use a multimeter to check for voltage running through the circuit board. No voltage reading when the remote is on would confirm that the critical board is fried.
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Unless you know about electronics, a blown circuit board is likely the end of the line for a DIY remote fix.
Another possible issue could stem from the wiring that connects it to the massage chair itself.
With the massage chair unplugged, locate the wire(s) running from the remote’s jack to the chair’s housing. Check for any cuts, breaks, or frayed sections along the length of the wire.
Use a multimeter again, this time checking for continuity through the wires themselves and at any connection points where they attach to the remote or chair.
No continuity means those wires are severed and will need to be spliced or replaced entirely by resoldering the connections.
To hopefully avoid remote malfunctions in the future, follow these basic maintenance and care tips:
If none of the solutions worked, I guess it’s time to take it to a technician. He should be able to fix it. But it might be cheaper to buy a new remote instead.
To reset your massage chair remote, remove the batteries, press all buttons to discharge power, then locate and press the reset button until indicators flash.
There are a few products marketed as “universal” massage chair remotes, but I don’t think they are truly universal because different manufacturers use proprietary communication protocols between the remote and the chair itself.
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