Aventon Level.2, Pace, Sinch and Aventure: battery won't charge in the cold, or W04 on the display

You plug in your Aventon after a cold ride or after storing it in a cold garage, and the battery won't take a charge. On some Aventon hub drive bikes the display shows W04. W04 is low temperature charging protection: it can stop the battery charging while it's on the bike, and the likely causes are a cold room or a damaged battery (Aventon W04). Charge the Level.2 only between 32 and 104°F (0 to 40°C) (Level.2 manual). Short answer: bring the battery somewhere in that range, wait two hours, and try again.

Most likely cause

Aventon's batteries are protected from charging when they're too cold. For W04, stop charging, move the battery to between 32 and 104°F (0 to 40°C), wait 2 hours and try again. If W04 comes back after that, replace the battery (Aventon W04).

Other causes to rule out

A battery that won't charge has four likely causes: the charger isn't connected well, the charger is damaged, the wiring is damaged, or the battery is damaged (Level.2 manual, Sinch manual, Pace 350 and 500 manual, Aventure manual).

• A charger plug that isn't fully seated at the wall or the battery.
• Dirty or bent contacts. Look for bent prongs and grit, mud or snow build up on the contacts (Aventon battery care).
• A battery that was submerged. Don't use one that was underwater to a depth of 1 meter or more (Aventon battery care).

How to confirm

1. Feel the room. If it's below freezing, or the bike just came in from the cold, move the battery indoors to room temperature (Aventon battery care).
2. Wait 2 hours, then try charging again (Aventon W04).
3. Check both ends of the charger cable are pushed fully home.
4. Watch the charger light. On the Level.2, solid red means charging and solid green means complete (Level.2 manual).
5. Look at the charge port and contacts for grit, moisture or bent pins (Aventon battery care).
6. Try a known good Aventon charger made for your bike if you have one. Use only the charger supplied for your battery (Aventon battery care). See check your charger.

Fix options

Warm the battery and retry (easy)

Fixes most cold weather cases. Store the battery indoors in winter. See store your battery for winter.

Replace the charger (easy)

If the battery charges on a known good charger, replace yours with the Aventon charger for your model.

Replace the battery (easy swap, but buy the right one)

If W04 returns at room temperature, Aventon's guidance is battery replacement (Aventon W04). Buy the battery made for your model from Aventon.

Charging habits that help

• Charge indoors on a hard, flat surface such as concrete, out of direct sun (Aventon battery care).
• A full charge normally takes 4 to 5 hours on the Level.2, and never charge for more than 12 hours at a time (Level.2 manual).
• For long storage, keep about 75 to 80 percent charge and check it monthly (Aventon battery care).

Parts

• E-bike charger (the Aventon charger for your model)
• E-bike battery (the Aventon battery for your model)

Videos

When to get a pro

• Any sign of battery damage, heat or swelling.
• A battery that won't charge at room temperature on a known good charger.
• Damaged wiring at the charge port. See when to call a pro and aventon troubleshooting.

Sources

• Aventon W04, rideaventon.zendesk.com
• Level.2 manual, cdn.shopify.com
• Sinch manual, cdn.shopify.com
• Pace 350 and 500 manual, cdn.shopify.com
• Aventure manual, cdn.shopify.com
• Aventon battery care, aventon.com
• Electric bike battery care guide for the colder weather, youtube.com

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