Your vape pen stopped working, so you charged the battery. After the charge, though, you’re still not getting any vapor out of it. So, what’s the problem? Either the reason why your vape pen wasn’t working had nothing to do with the battery, or there’s a new issue that didn’t exist before. Either way, you’re in the right place because we’re going to help you get your vape pen working again. Your vape pen isn’t working after a charge? Here’s how to troubleshoot the problem – and if you don’t find the solution here, refer to our comprehensive guide on fixing a vape pen that isn’t working.
Make Sure Your Vape Pen Is Turned On
If your vape pen doesn’t do anything when you puff on it or press the fire button, the first thing you should do is confirm that the device is actually turned on. If your device has a manual fire button, it has an on/off function and won’t do anything when it’s turned off. The procedure to turn a vape pen on varies between devices, but you usually need to press the fire button five times. When you do that, the indicator light should blink to confirm that the device is now on. Your vape pen should now work as normal.
If your vape pen doesn’t have a fire button, it most likely doesn’t have an on/off function. You can confirm that by checking the device’s instruction manual. A vape pen without a fire button should always work when a vape cart or pod is connected. If that isn’t the case, read on for further troubleshooting advice.
Try a Different Cartridge to Confirm the Cause of the Issue
The second reason why a vape pen might not work after a charge is because the connected pod or cartridge has a problem. The problem might be residue from a leak – we’ll cover that next – or it could simply be that the cartridge or pod has an issue. In order for a vape pen to work, the battery must form a complete circuit with the heating element in the pod or coil. That can’t happen if your vape pen doesn’t have an electrical connection to the cartridge or pod. It also can’t happen if the cartridge’s heating element has failed due to heat stress – which can happen after a cartridge has been in use for a while.
If your vape pen isn’t working after a charge, you can isolate the cartridge or pod as the cause of the issue by replacing it with another one. If your vape pen works with the new cartridge, you know that the old cartridge has a problem.
In most cases, there isn’t much that you can do to fix a failed vape cartridge. If the cartridge has never worked, though, it’s possible that the pin at the bottom of the cartridge isn’t making solid contact with the pin in the center of your vape pen’s threading. It might be possible to extend the pin at the bottom of a vape cartridge by pulling it with a pair of tweezers. If the pin moves when you pull it, try using the cartridge again. If it still doesn’t work, it’s probably best to move on and start using a new cartridge.
Clean Your Vape Pen’s Threading
If your vape pen isn’t working after a charge – and none of the troubleshooting steps that you’ve tried so far have fixed the issue – it’s possible that a cartridge has leaked and contaminated the threading of your 510 battery. As we mentioned above, your vape pen can’t work if it doesn’t have a solid electrical connection with the cartridge or pod – and that issue can happen if your device’s threading is dirty.
Remove the cartridge or pod from your device and examine the device’s threading. Is the threading dark and discolored because of a leak? If so, cleaning the threading will probably get your device working again. Take a cotton swab and dip it in rubbing alcohol. Push the cotton swab into your device’s threading and twirl it around for a few seconds. If the swab is dirty, repeat the process with fresh swabs until a swab comes out clean. It’s also a good idea to clean your cartridge’s threading using the same technique. Try vaping again after giving the vape pen and cartridge some time to dry completely.
Get Your Cartridge Flowing Again
If your vape pen isn’t working, it’s possible that that problem actually isn’t caused by an issue with the device or the cartridge. If a vape cartridge sits around unused for a while – and it’s stored at a cool temperature – it’s possible for the oil to become so viscous that it stops flowing through the cartridge’s wick. If your vape pen’s light turns on when you try to vape – but your device either produces a burnt flavor or doesn’t generate vapor at all – it’s likely that this is the cause of your problem. You can try two things to get the oil flowing again.
- Try warming the cartridge a bit to loosen the oil. You can do this by putting the cartridge in a zip-top bag and holding it under warm running water or by using a hair dryer on the lowest heat setting. If you start to see bubbles coming from the cartridge’s wick openings, the oil is flowing again. Give the wick a few minutes to absorb the oil and try vaping again. Learn more about how to unclog a vape cart.
- In some cases, it’s also possible for air bubbles to form in a vape cartridge’s wick, blocking the flow of oil. Tapping the cartridge a few times with your fingernail should break the bubbles.
If a Vape Pen Doesn’t Work After a Charge, There’s Usually a Quick Fix
Reading this article, you’ve learned several tips that can help you fix a vape pen that isn’t working after a charge. As you’ve discovered, most of the fixes are actually quite simple. We’ll summarize them here.
- Tap the fire button five times to make sure that the vape pen is turned on.
- Try a new cartridge or pod and see if your vape pen works. If it does, the vape pen is working fine – but the cartridge has a problem.
- Make sure that oil hasn’t leaked into your vape pen’s threading. If a leak has occurred, remove the residue with cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol.
- If your vape pen works but tastes burnt – or doesn’t produce vapor at all – try warming the cartridge gently to get the oil flowing.
