{
  "$schema": "robofaults-fault-record/v0",
  "kind": "symptom",
  "brand": "roomba",
  "page_en": "https://robofaults.com/roomba/moving-in-circles/",
  "page_es": "https://robofaults.com/es/roomba/gira-en-circulos/",
  "slug": "moving-in-circles",
  "slug_es": "gira-en-circulos",
  "device_type": "vacuum",
  "title_en": "Roomba moving in circles",
  "title_es": "El Roomba gira en círculos",
  "severity": "warn",
  "severity_note_en": "coverage collapses — the robot cleans one patch and misses the room",
  "severity_note_es": "la cobertura se hunde — el robot limpia un rincón y se salta la habitación",
  "series": [
    "600",
    "e",
    "i",
    "j",
    "s"
  ],
  "tools_en": "none (Phillips screwdriver if you replace a wheel module)",
  "tools_es": "ninguna (destornillador Phillips si cambias un módulo de rueda)",
  "time_min": 20,
  "difficulty": "moderate",
  "safety": "none",
  "safety_note_en": "",
  "safety_note_es": "",
  "meaning_en": "Circling — the classic \"circle dance\" — means the robot is getting <b>bad bumper or wheel data</b>. A jammed bumper sensor is the usual cause; a debris-choked drive wheel comes next. Both are cleanable at home.",
  "meaning_es": "Girar en círculos —el clásico «baile en círculo»— significa que el robot recibe <b>datos falsos del parachoques o de las ruedas</b>. Lo habitual es un sensor del parachoques atascado; después, una rueda motriz llena de suciedad. Ambos se limpian en casa.",
  "causes": [
    {
      "title_en": "Stuck or dirty bumper sensor",
      "title_es": "Sensor del parachoques atascado o sucio",
      "detail_en": "Debris lodged behind the bumper makes the robot believe it is hitting something constantly, so it backs and turns without end. Older models pair this with a nine-beep error.",
      "detail_es": "La suciedad alojada tras el parachoques hace creer al robot que choca sin parar, así que retrocede y gira sin fin. Los modelos antiguos lo acompañan de un error de nueve pitidos.",
      "likelihood": "most_common"
    },
    {
      "title_en": "Debris around one drive wheel",
      "title_es": "Suciedad en una rueda motriz",
      "detail_en": "Hair around an axle slows one side. With one wheel dragging, the robot arcs into circles instead of tracking straight.",
      "detail_es": "El pelo en un eje frena un lado. Con una rueda arrastrando, el robot dibuja arcos en vez de avanzar recto.",
      "likelihood": "common"
    },
    {
      "title_en": "Dirty cliff sensors",
      "title_es": "Sensores de desnivel sucios",
      "detail_en": "One blocked sensor makes the robot shy away from a phantom edge on that side, turning it in loops.",
      "detail_es": "Un sensor tapado hace que el robot esquive un precipicio fantasma en ese lado y gire en bucle.",
      "likelihood": "common"
    },
    {
      "title_en": "Failing drive wheel module",
      "title_es": "Módulo de rueda motriz averiado",
      "detail_en": "A worn motor or encoder keeps the circling going after every sensor is clean. The fix is a replacement module for your series.",
      "detail_es": "Un motor o codificador desgastado mantiene los círculos con todos los sensores limpios. La solución es un módulo de recambio de tu serie.",
      "likelihood": "uncommon"
    }
  ],
  "steps": [
    {
      "title_en": "Tap the bumper loose",
      "title_es": "Desbloquea el parachoques a golpecitos",
      "detail_en": "Tap it briskly 15–20 times, alternating left and right, then blow compressed air into the gap between bumper and body with the robot on its back.",
      "detail_es": "Dale 15–20 golpecitos alternando izquierda y derecha, y sopla aire comprimido en la ranura entre parachoques y cuerpo con el robot boca arriba."
    },
    {
      "title_en": "Clean both drive wheels",
      "title_es": "Limpia las dos ruedas motrices",
      "detail_en": "Cut away hair at the axles and spin each wheel by hand — resistance should feel identical left and right.",
      "detail_es": "Corta el pelo de los ejes y gira cada rueda con la mano — la resistencia debe ser idéntica a izquierda y derecha."
    },
    {
      "title_en": "Wipe the cliff sensors",
      "title_es": "Limpia los sensores de desnivel",
      "detail_en": "A dry microfiber cloth across every window on the underside.",
      "detail_es": "Un paño de microfibra seco por cada ventana de la parte inferior."
    },
    {
      "title_en": "Reboot and retest in open floor",
      "title_es": "Reinicia y prueba en suelo despejado",
      "detail_en": "Hold CLEAN until the tone, then start a run in the middle of a clear room and watch the first minutes.",
      "detail_es": "Mantén CLEAN hasta el tono, lanza una limpieza en medio de una habitación despejada y observa los primeros minutos."
    },
    {
      "title_en": "Still circling? Swap the wheel module",
      "title_es": "¿Sigue en círculos? Cambia el módulo de rueda",
      "detail_en": "Persistent circling after a full cleaning points to a worn drive wheel module — match the part to your series below.",
      "detail_es": "Si los círculos persisten tras una limpieza a fondo, apunta a un módulo de rueda desgastado — elige abajo la pieza de tu serie."
    }
  ],
  "parts": [
    "roomba-drive-wheel-module-600",
    "roomba-drive-wheel-module-ei",
    "roomba-caster-wheel"
  ],
  "related_codes": [
    "9",
    "10",
    "1"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "label_en": "iRobot Support — Roomba is circling, spinning, or backing up",
      "label_es": "Soporte de iRobot — El Roomba da vueltas, gira o retrocede",
      "url": "https://homesupport.irobot.com/s/article/358",
      "kind": "official"
    },
    {
      "label_en": "Digital Trends — Why does my Roomba keep going in circles",
      "label_es": "Digital Trends — Por qué mi Roomba no deja de dar vueltas",
      "url": "https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/why-does-my-roomba-keep-going-in-circles/",
      "kind": "community"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "official",
  "last_verified": "2026-07-05"
}