RC vehicles are more than a hobby. But every hobby has some setbacks. Most RC vehicle owners face the throttling problem at least once. Luckily, it’s super easy to fix and only requires some knowledge.
So, what to do when RC vehicle steering works but no throttle?
RC vehicles often steer and but don’t respond to throttle. To fix this, check whether the battery packs are working or not. Then you’ve to check the servo motors as they can overheat easily. After that, make sure your transmitters and receivers are working properly.
Anyways, that was nothing but just a summary of the whole problem. We’ve discussed each of these problems in detail.
Keep reading if you wish to fix the throttling issue of the RC vehicle.
How Do Steering and Throttling Work?
The steering and throttling function through a radio transmitter. It’s also called a radio control system. These systems are proportional and have multiple channels. However, you can see this throttle problem in quadcopters too.
The proportional system lets you change and adjust the steering angle and vehicle speed. In most radio transmitters, steering is channel 1 and throttle is channel 2. Also, in advanced radio systems, there can be 6 or 8 channels.
Then, what’s the reason behind Traxxas Teton steering but no throttle?
It can only mean that the throttling channel isn’t working. Batteries are mostly the prime culprit. They can easily be discharged or overcharged. Some other reasons include servo motors and transmitter failures.
Like Traxxas steering servo problems, these problems also happen very often. But don’t worry because they are quite easy to fix.
So, we suggest you go through each function to determine the root of the problem.
3 Possible Reasons Behind the Problem
So far we’ve discussed the problem in general. But it’s time to dig deeper. There are many possible problems since an RC transmitter is very complex.
Therefore, many users wonder why are RC cars not responding to throttle or steering?
It’s most likely to be a battery problem. It can also be a receiver problem since both channels are disabled. So, you’ve to check the batteries and transmitter in this case.
Likewise, if the RC car has a throttle but no steering, then check the steering wheel. Then you’ve to check the batteries, receivers and other parts-
Problem 1: Battery Pack isn’t Charging Properly
Issues with battery packs will always be there. It’s one of the most common problems out there. They often get faulty and quite an obstacle to deal with.
Understanding Batteries & Voltage
Battery capacity determines how long your vehicle will run after a full charge. It’s represented by milliamp hours or mAH.
On the contrary, voltage determines how much speed and power your vehicles will have. More voltage means more power and speed. But every vehicle has a limit.
You can easily find suitable batteries from the product page.
Understanding Battery Chemistry
Batteries come in different sizes, voltages, and capacities. There are mainly two types of batteries.
LiPo
LiPo batteries are made of Lithium Polymer and they have 3.7 volts each. They come in 2, 3, & 4 cell packs.
These batteries have a voltage rate of 7.4 volts, 11.1 volts, and 14.8 volts respectively. You should know- fully discharging destroys these batteries.
NiMH
NiMH batteries are made of Nickel-Metal Hydride and are 1.2 volts each. It’s less powerful and cheaper than LiPo batteries.
Unlike LiPo batteries, they come in 6, 7, & 8 cell packs. They have a voltage rate of 7.2 volts, 8.4 volts, & 9.6 volts respectively.
These batteries can be fully discharged but not overcharged. Also, sometimes NiMH batteries fail to hold charge. But it can be fixed very easily.
[Dantuluri, Surya. (2018). Rapid Autonomous Car Control based on Spatial and Temporal Visual Cues.]
It’s time to find the issue and solve it. There are a lot of issues out there. But we’ve picked the most frequent ones and solved them for you.
Issue 1: Overcharged Battery
Overcharged batteries are potential risks for RC vehicles. When a LiPo battery gets overcharged, it gets swollen and has weird shapes.
Fix: Get a New Pair Of Batteries
Unfortunately, overcharged batteries can easily catch fire. So, they can’t be used at all. Throw the old batteries and get some new ones.
This way, you can keep your vehicles safe. Also, you can avoid overcharging by charging only 50% of the capacity after each usage.
Issue 2: Severed Connection
Sometimes a very simple fault can cause a big problem. Severed connections in RC vehicles or ESCs are quite common.
Fix: Check the Wires
First, open up the vehicle and check the battery area. You may find a severed connection or two. After locating it, simply replace it with a new wire.
Other than this, you can also check the battery packs of the transmitters. This problem can arise from both ways.
Issue 3: Incorrect Voltage
Sometimes wrong voltage can cause throttling issues. When the battery is discharged under the recommended voltage, it can easily die.
Although NiMH batteries can be fully discharged, LiPo batteries cant. Here’s a small table for LiPo batteries-
| LiPo Batteries | Voltage Rate | Fully Charged Capacity | Discharge Capacity |
| 2 Cell Pack | 7.4 Volts | 8.4 Volts | 7.0 Volts |
| 3 Cell Pack | 11.1 Volts | 12.6 Volts | 10.5 Volts |
| 4 Cell Pack | 14.8 Volts | 16.8 Volts | 14 Volts |
In simple terms, it means the amount of voltage you can safely discharge. For instance, you can charge a 2 cell pack to 8.4 volts and can discharge 7 volts.
Fix: Use a Multimeter to Determine Voltage
Measuring a battery’s voltage is super easy. First, get the multimeter and set the mode to Voltage.
If you don’t have a multimeter already, you can check out these top-notch multimeters among the lot-
| Image | Title | Price |
|---|---|---|
  | Etekcity Digital Multimeter, Voltage Tester Volt Ohm Amp Meter with Continuity | Check Price |
  | AstroAI Digital Multimeter TRMS 6000 Counts Volt Meter Ohmmeter Auto-Ranging Tester | Check Price |
Then attach the red wire to a positive and the black wire to the negative end. After that, look at the reading to see if it’s under 3.5V (per cell) or not. If it is, you’ll have to get new batteries.
Problem 2: Servo Motors
Servo motors are used to receive electrical commands and transform them into physical movement. In other words, without a proper servo, you can’t expect a throttle at all.
So, what are some RC steering servo problems?
Steering servos most have overheating problems. Dirt, clogs, and overloading are prominent reasons behind overheating. Also, servo lead wires can get flayed or cut. Then there’s a chance that the servo motor has failed or been damaged.
Servo motors do have a couple of issues-
Issue 1: Overheating
All sorts of servo motors generate heat. But when there’s dirt and clog involved, it gets really hot.
If the servo motor overheats too much, it may become disabled.
Fix: Clean the Servo or Get a New One
If the servo is clogged or there’s too much dirt inside, you’ll have to clean it. It doesn’t guarantee the old performance though. But it’s still a good try.
These motors require a lot of precision to repair. That’s why it’s just better to install a new servo motor.
Issue 2: Failed Servo Motors
This is unfortunate but there’s nothing to do about it. However, don’t be too fast to throw it out. There’s still something you can do.
Fix: Plug the Servo In Another Channel
First, unplug the throttle servo connector and install it in the 2nd channel. You’ve to detach the steering servo to do this test.
After that, try to run the throttle and check the result. If it works, then it’s a channel issue. Otherwise, you may need to get a new servo.
Issue 3: Servo Wires Has Been Cut or Flayed
Sometimes wiring can get exposed due to usage. It can cause your vehicle to have no throttle.
Fix: Solder the Wiring
The easiest way to fix a torn wire is to solder it. Find the exposed section and insert a heat shrink tube on one side.
Now, get the soldering iron and solder the area. After that, place the tube on the section and shrink it with a heat gun.
Problem 3: Transmitter and Receiver
Sometimes transmitter and receiver failures can cause throttling issues. It can either be wrong frequency, wrong receivers, and faulty channels entirely.
Issue 1: Transmitter Frequency
Transmitters have certain frequency limitations. Also, it has to match with the receiver too.
Fix: Pair the Transmitter and Receiver by Resetting
If you’re having frequency and response issues, you can reset the frequencies. It’s super easy to do.
Take the receiver near to the transmitter. Then press the reset button for 5-10 seconds. Both transmitter and receiver will light up when it’s done and has been paired.
Issue 2: Wrong Transmitter
Using a different transmitter and receiver is a common mistake. They don’t work together if they have different spectrum technology.
Fix: Use the Correct Transmitter or Receiver
Transmitters like spectrum or Futaba work only with their receivers. So, you can’t mix them at all.
So, you’ve to make sure the correct transmitter or receiver is installed. You can also bind a transmitter to a receiver by adjusting trim. But it’s a very lengthy, complex, and time-consuming task.
FAQs
Why does my RC car keep stopping?
It’s most likely to be a loose wire. But you can rule out the battery issues. Check if the batteries are fine and all connections are proper.
Why is my RC car making a clicking noise?
Answer: It happens when there’s an imbalance between gears. If the pinion gear connects with other gears, it will make a clicking noise.
Can you bind any transmitter to any receiver?
Binding a transmitter is a lengthy task. You’ve to make sure your antenna is unique to your receiver. This task is hard but not impossible.
Final Words
That was all we could provide on RC vehicle steering works but no throttle. Hopefully, this discussion was a great help to you and you’ve found some answers.
Finally, happy racing!