Dyson expanded error-code library

Dyson cordless vacuum alerts: lights, LCD messages and what stops the motor

Dyson's cordless vacuums report faults in two ways. Older and simpler models flash a light or a pattern of lights on the body or the battery, while newer models with a screen show an icon or a short message, and the Gen5detect has an LCD that names the problem and sometimes shows a run-time estimate. In every case the alert is the machine protecting itself or telling you that air, power or a filter is the problem, and most can be cleared in a few minutes without a repair.

The commonest cause is airflow. A blocked wand, a clogged cyclone, a dirty pre-motor filter or hair wound round the brush bar cuts the airflow, and the vacuum may pulse, lose suction or stop to protect the motor. Empty the bin, clear the airway from the floor head to the bin, remove hair from the brush bar and wash the filters in cold water, then let them dry completely, which Dyson says takes at least a day, before you put them back. A wet filter can trigger an alert straight away and can damage the motor.

The second cause is power. A battery that is too hot or too cold cuts out until it returns to a normal temperature, and a battery that is worn gives short runs even after a full charge. Charge on a hard surface at room temperature, keep the contacts clean and use the charger that came with the machine. Some alerts show only when the machine is under load, such as when the trigger is held on a thick rug in the highest power mode, so try a lower mode to see whether the alert is linked to load.

The page for the Gen5detect lists its LCD alerts one by one. For other Dyson models, use the model page to find the symptom, and keep the serial number from the machine's label ready for Dyson, since repairs and warranty are by serial number.