my roomba combo j9+ is stuck saying 'cleaning pad not detected' even though the mop pad is on and clean, what's the deal?

— asked by Morgan

Quick answer: The robot thinks the mop pad assembly is missing, even when it's attached. This is almost always a communication problem with the small metal contact pins on the robot's underside that need to touch the pad's connector.

Diagnosis

The robot thinks the mop pad assembly is missing, even when it's attached. This is almost always a communication problem with the small metal contact pins on the robot's underside that need to touch the pad's connector.

How to Fix It

First, power off the robot. Remove the cleaning pad and its plastic mount. Take a cotton swab with a tiny bit of isopropyl alcohol and gently clean the three small, circular metal contact pins on the underside of the robot. Let it dry completely for a minute. Then, reattach the pad mount, ensuring it clicks firmly into place. Power the robot back on.

If That Didn't Work

The plastic mount itself might be the issue. Inspect the small metal contact plate on the back of the mount for any corrosion or debris. If it looks damaged, you'll need a replacement mop pad mount (iRobot sells them).

Heads Up

Never run the robot with a wet mop pad already installed when you start a job. The docking station's auto-fill system needs to detect a dry pad first, or you'll get errors and potential leaks.

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