How to fix electric recliner couch

Yes, generally speaking, if your power recliner has stopped working, it usually can be repaired. In a lot of cases, a broken recliner is an easy fix. So if you sit down in your chair and find that the recliner won’t work, don’t stress out straight away!

There are lots of different things that can cause your power recliner to stop working. In a lot of cases, it is something as simple as a malfunction in the electrical system which is a very easy fix indeed.

So, before you panic that your power recliner is beyond repair, it is best to troubleshoot this issue. 

The majority of power recliners will come with a remote control that can be used to control the reclining function of the chair. On this remote control, you will usually find a button that is labelled ‘reset’. 

It might sound stupid to say that one of the best ways to fix a broken recliner is to essentially switch it off and back on.

But this really is one of the best ways to fix some of the common issues that power recliners experience. So, if your recliner is playing up, press this ‘reset’ button and see if it fixes the issue. 

If this doesn’t fix the issue, then this doesn’t mean that your power recliner is beyond repair. It simply means that you might not be able to fix the issue yourself, and that you should contact a professional.

But don’t worry because most issues that power recliners face can be easily fixed by someone who knows what they are doing.

If resetting your power recliner does not fix the issue, then the device is probably experiencing an issue with its motor. This is a fairly common issue, and can easily be fixed once you know what you are doing. So, let’s take a look at how you replace a power recliner motor. 

But, before you decide to replace your power recliner motor yourself, check whether you are still in warranty, or not. If you fix this issue yourself then it might damage your warranty, meaning the company will not fix your power recliner if you experience any more issues. 

However, if you are out of warranty, you must begin by disconnecting your recliner from the power, and leaning it onto its side. This allows you access to the power cord, which you should then disconnect, followed by the din plug which is at the side of the motor.

Then move onto the clevis and remove this from the base of your recliner, before finally disconnecting the power motor.

You can then install your new power motor by putting it in the exact same place as the old motor, and reconnecting it to the clevis. Ensuring that none of the cables are tangled, you should then begin reconnecting the din plug and the power cord which you removed earlier.

Once this is done, place your recliner back vertical, reconnect it to the power source, and it should now work. 

How much does it cost to fix a power recliner?

As we have said, in most cases, a power recliner can be fixed if it has broken. However, the cost of fixing it will vary. This is because the cost of repairs depends on so many things.

Not only does it depend on what is actually wrong with your power recliner, but it will also be influenced by the area that you are in, the make and model of the recliner, and how easy it is to get parts for the device. 

Generally speaking, you can expect to spend anywhere up to $150-200 to fix your power recliner. This will, of course, depend on what the issue is, and how easy it is to repair.

This is why it is always best to get a quote for the work before you give the mechanic the go ahead to complete the work.

If your recliner was only a cheap model, then you might find that the cost of repairs are more than the recliner is worth, so you might decide to scrap the recliner and buy a new one. 

The cheapest way to fix your broken power recliner is to do it yourself. This is because you will only be paying for the costs of the parts, and not the additional cost of labor. So, if you are particularly handy, it might be worth doing the work yourself to keep the costs down. 

What do you do when your electric recliner stops working?

When you sit down in your chair, and press the button to make it recline, only to find it does not work, then this can be a very stressful time.

Electric recliners are by no means cheap, which is why it can be particularly worrying if the device stops working suddenly. But, the most important thing is not to panic, as in a lot of cases, these issues can be easily fixed. 

The first thing that you should do when your recliner stops working is checking the power connection. If there is any strain on the power cable, then it is possible that it will have worked loose from the socket, causing your recliner to stop working.

Should the cable still be connected, check around the room to see if all the other electrical devices are working. If they are not, then there could be an issue with your electricity, not an issue with your recliner. 

If the issue is not your electric, try unplugging your recliner then plugging it back into the electrical outlet as this could fix the problem. However, if it does not, try to find your recliner remote and press the ‘reset’ button to see if that solves the issue.

Try all of these things out to see if you can get your electric recliner working again. But if they do not work, it might be time to call a professional to identify and fix the problem.

Why did my electric couch stop working?

Electric couches work slightly differently to electric recliners, so if your couch suddenly stops working, you should do things a little differently. Again, don’t panic or stress, as this is usually a fairly easy problem to fix. 

If your electric couch suddenly stops working you should begin by checking the transformer box. This is located at the back of your sofa, and it will display a light to notify you that the sofa is working properly.

As long as the sofa is working properly, it should display a green light. However, if there is an issue with the sofa then this light will turn red, or not display a light at all. 

As electric couches are a lot more complex than a regular recliner chair, then there isn’t much that you can do to fix the issue yourself. You can try disconnecting then reconnecting the couch to the power, however this often will not make a difference.

In most cases, you will need to contact the company from which you bought the couch as they will have technicians who will be able to fix the problem. This will likely cost you money, but it will get your couch back in full working order once more. 

I agree with William, Burbank IL., below, and have a few more suggestions. First, I'd like to ask what was the chair doing, or having done to it, before it got stuck. For example, were children playing on it? This could be a clue. Second, I'd like to ask about your courage. If you have the courage, then you can turn the chair on its side with the handle up, pull out the staples on the black cloth, and look at the mechanical parts under that dust cover. The levers that are holding the rest open should be like scissors at some point. While wearing a glove, and the chair unplugged, can you pull on the joints of the levers to see if there is any movement at all? Sometimes as a mechanism ages the holes where the levers are connected to each other wear and become elongated, or out-of-round. This would be real bad. Perhaps they just got jammed. With the chair on its side, you can plug the cord back in, and actuate the switch to make it go. Is there a hum from the motor, or a little box somewhere in there? If so, then that's bad too. Turn the switch off and on several times to see if you can jostle loose a stuck mechanism. Maye a drop of oil is need at some joint, like thge Tin Manin the Wizard of OZ. You may decide you'll need professional help. The manufacturer should be able to help you if they're kind enough to do so without trying to sell you a new chair. You'll need to write down the make and model of the chair. Unfortunately, if its one of those made in China, there probably won't be any immediate help for you. If made in America, then there's hope. Any of the electrical components in the chair can usually be replaced, even without the manufacturer's help. If you can isolate the component, then you can read sometimes its information on its housing, look it up on the internet, and buy a replacement. An electrician c-a-n help you but I fear it will cost an arm and a leg. A handyman may be worse, because many will tell you they understand electricity and can do certain things, but they exaggerate. You can call around town and find a shop somewhere that has someone capable. When I'm stuck, I call the little appliance shops that do washers and dryers, and although they may not be able to do it themselves, they may know another shop that does have the capability. Calling around gets a lot done.

Has your power recliner stopped working? There are a few things you can do to work out what has gone wrong and fix the problem.

First thing is to unplug for 2 minutes and plug back in, which will reset any electrical failures. If that doesn’t help, troubleshoot your problem by identifying what has gone wrong. Use the steps below to gain a better understanding of what could have gone wrong.

List of common power recliner problems

The Recliner is Not Opening or Closing

Recliners include a lot of moving parts, springs, and joints. If some of these parts become stiff, your recliner will have difficulty moving.

Try applying force to either open or close the recliner. It could simply be stiff. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to grease the internal parts. Lubrication helps the parts smoothly move with each other.

Once you’ve lubricated the parts, your recliner should be able to open and close freely.

Recliner Stops Working when it’s Open

If your recliner stops working when it’s open, the first thing you should do is check that you have plugged it in. If it is, ensure the outlet has power and is on. If it does, try unplugging and plugging it back in. If it still isn’t working, you have a problem with your wiring.

Check the wire connections inside the recliner. If there are any loose wires, reconnect them.  Be sure to have the electricity off when you do this.

If a wire has caught in the mechanism and has cut in half, reconnect the two sides. Cover this in electrical tape to secure the two sides together.

If no wires are loose or cut, you likely have a problem with the motor or hand control.

Recliner Doesn’t Move Properly or Makes Noise When Reclined

Your recliner may not recline smoothly when you use the lever. Make sure to hold the lever down for at least 5 seconds when inclining or declining. If you jerk the handle, the recliner may become stiff and recline strangely.

If you are holding down the handle and the recliner still doesn’t move, there may be something blocking its path. Make sure there is nothing in the way or blocking the mechanism.

Loud Clunking Noise

If there is a loud noise when you open or close your recliner, there may be a problem with your footrest rod.

Your footrest may have popped out and out of its place. This creates a grating sound when opening and closing. To stop this, replace the footrest rod.

What to do if Your Power Recliner isn’t Working

If your power recliner isn’t working, the first thing you will want to do is try and troubleshoot. Finding out what the problem is will be the first step towards fixing it.

Locate where the problem is by going through the above possible issues. You can also check the transformer box at the back of the furniture.

If the transformer light is green, the electricals are fine. However, if it displays in red, there is likely an electrical issue with your recliner.

How to Fix Electric Recliner Chairs and Troubleshoot

One way to troubleshoot your electric recliner chair is to note the position of the recliner.

If your recliner has stopped working while open, you may have a problem with the electrical parts. Double-check it is still plugged in. If it is, you may have a faulty connection within the recliner.

Check all the wires are still connected, reconnecting any loose wires.

If your recliner has stopped in the middle, it is likely that the mechanism cut a wire. To fix this, splice the two wires back together and cover in electrical tape.

If you’re not too sure of the problem, a good step is to reset your recliner. Between the open and close buttons, there is a reset button.

You can press the reset button by putting a paperclip into the hole. This will restart the recliner. If you can’t properly access the hole, unplug your recliner for 2 minutes before plugging it back in.

Ashley Furniture Power Recliner Not Working

If your Ashley power recliner isn’t working, you can claim spare parts as they offer a warranty. You’re included in this warranty if you have bought a recliner in the past 5 years.

Get in contact with Ashley Furniture directly to discuss replacement and repairs.

La-Z-Boy Power Recliner Not Working

La-Z-Boy reports that all of their products come with a 10-year warranty. If your product stops working, you should contact them and discuss a replacement.

Contact the retailer from whom you bought the product, make sure to take your proof of purchase. If your model is no longer trading, contact for more information.

Where to Find an Electric Recliner Reset Button

You can use the electric recliner reset button to reset the status of a recliner. This comes in handy when fixing electrical issues.

On the hand control, there should be an open and close button. Between those buttons, there will be a small hole. That is where you can locate the reset button.

To press it, insert a paperclip to hold it down. If you still can’t access the button, unplugging the recliner for two minutes will have the same impact.

How to Troubleshoot Power Lift Recliner Chairs

The first step of troubleshooting a power lift recliner is to check you have plugged it in. Make sure the socket has power by plugging in something else and seeing if that works.

From there, follow the cables that connect to the recliner. Are any of them damaged or broken? If so, that could be your problem.

Don’t forget to check your recliner’s battery pack if you are using one. Batteries lose power over time and can become obsolete.

Check your hand control, if there is a display light that doesn’t light up, you will know your problem is electrical.

If the lights are working, then your problem is mechanical. Other signs of this are grating noises or popping noises when the chair moves.

Another sign of mechanical failure is the footrest and backrest leaning to one side.

Wrapping Up What to do if Your Power Recliner isn’t Working

If your power recliner isn’t working, your problem is either mechanical or electrical. Double-check that no wires are loose or snipped, as well as that the power connection is on and working.

If your recliner handset is lighting up, it’s more likely the problem is mechanical. Troubleshoot the recliner to establish the problem. Then, get in contact with your vendor to discuss replacing parts.

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