Is this normal? (newbie question)

[WSPFreak]

Hello,

I am new to these micro rc's and I got a ZZSE Viper for X-mas. When I first put the thing together, it ran for a good 6-7 minutes, with the lights on. Now I only get about 2 minutes of runtime, and I have only had this thing for a couple of days. My brother also got one, I believe it is the Corvette, and his is still running about 6 minutes on one charge. I've read some other posts, and bought brand new batteries for the controller, and I am getting the same 2 minute runtime, sometimes less. My question is should I only be getting 2 minutes of runtime, or could there be something with wrong with the batteries in the car? I apologize if this is a common question, but I have checked several forums, and haven't seen to find any answers.

Thanks

[s7mk]

Same here, my bros car doesnt run half the time as mine??? Should I return it?

[damootch]

Bummer guys.
I've noticed the first time I charge my ZZ SE it runs way longer than it ever does after that. The first time I charged my Mach 1, it ran for over 15 min with out the lights. (i hardly ever plug the lights in.) Now it will go for 5-10 min.
Have you guys tried double charging them? You can safely charge them twice. (Thanks gtr2112)
If this doesn't give you a longer run time, then just return them to RS. Because you should get more than 2 minutes, with or with out the lights.

[s7mk]

You shouldn't have to double charge it every time. My bro will prob just return it.

[damootch]

You shouldn't have to double charge it every time.

I agree.

I meant to try it as a test to see if it has a bad battery: charge it twice and if it runs for only 2 minutes, then there is something wrong.
You could take it apart and try wiggling the battery to see if it's just the connection, but this is only recommended if you have experience taking apart and reassembling a SE.....or if you have a phillips head screwdriver small enough. LOL

[s7mk]

6th return comming up tommrow. It seems like the SEs are hit or miss. I finally got a perfect SE today. I popped on my new SL500 body and have been cruzin

[damootch]

6th return comming up tommrow.

I am right there with you. I've had many trips back and forth to RS. At least these third generations seem a little better. Not too many complaints on the forums. The Mach 1 was a good find. No problems.
At least RS is cool about exchanges.

[s7mk]

They should be cool about returns. They gotta know that these lil things are glitchy. I'm loving my new one though. Without the body on, it flys on rug

[damootch]

it flys on rug

A word of advise:
I learned the hard way that driving Zipzaps on the rug can be trouble.
These things are fuzz magnets. I've spent hours pulling hair, fuzz and other debris off the axles, motor shaft, and out of the gears.
Now I try to only drive them on my track. Which I mop before I use it. Yeah, I'd rather drive them, than spend hours pullin' out tiny pieces of fuzz with a pair of tweezers.

[WSPFreak]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Sounds like I must have just got a bad one. I think I will probably just pick up a new one, and keep my old one for parts or modify it with some new cells, once I get a grasp on how to do that. That way I won't screw up the "good" one I hope to pick up sometime this week. Thanks again.

[Guillaume C.]

have you cleaned the front wheel axle? if those have debris they will always make the motor to force and will 1- slow down that car 2- make it stop even if it should normally continu

[s7mk]

How do you clean the front axle? Mine got jammed up today and wont take left turns anymore.

[damootch]

Mine got jammed up today and wont take left turns anymore.

Does the tire not spin? Or does the Steering not turn?