Automatic Litterbox Central

We've had the Litter Robot II for a few months and within the past few weeks, on seemingly random occasions, it has started with a blinking red light. This light appears to mean sensor/timing and I even think that it sometimes resolves itself and cycles anyway. Well, it did. Now it blinks incessantly and doesn't cycle at all. I used to be able to push the Cycle button and have it cycle manually, but as of the past couple of days, it doesn't do that anymore either.

I called the company and spoke to someone last night about it and she recommended adjusting the timing, checking for blocks, etc. She also mentioned something about the black covered area underneath the tray and the bolt/nut being exposed a little much. I wasn't 100% sure what she was talking about until I got a good look at it myself today. Anyway, I've put in another call to the company about it and am awaiting a response, but my question is (I'm sure you were waiting): Has anyone else had this/similar problems?

Just to follow up on my previous post. I did speak again with Shirley over at Automated Pet Care Products and she gave me some additional tips. I'm not sure what happened, but apparently it was just set to be too sensitive. Removing the black plastic cap underneath the tray exposes the underside of the bolt that you're adjusting when you change the black knob under the LR. The only reason to do this is to correctly gauge where it's "supposed" to be. The factory default would have this bolt being 1/4" exposed.

It's like taking your car to a mechanic. I swear I had that sensor in every possible combination and nothing worked, but when Shirley redirected me on the phone, it went flawlessly. At this point, I don't care! It works. =)

I'm now having the same problem with mine. I came home and it was a solid red, no cycling and a full litter box. The past two days it will not run correctly and I am trying to figure out your post to try. If not I'll cross my fingers and hope I get someone from support who's able to walk me through it. *sigh*

Since my original posts, I've had to futz with it many more times. I don't really know what the problem is but this LR2 has not been as reliable as my first LR. The blinking returns for no apparent reason, or it just turns solid red sometimes. I fear this will happen when we're out on vacation for a few days so I just worry constantly. I've messed with the sensor thing a ridiculous number of times. Every time I do, it does seem to help for a while, though I don't think I've really changed it from what it was. It's like a crapshoot.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade the LR for anything and I'm *VERY* fond of the increased size of the tray in version 2. I'm just a little upset that I voluntarily upgraded (the LR1 was working fine) to get one that has this problem from time to time.

My advice: remove the tray and the black cover you see. Then futz with the screwy dial on the bottom to make sure the bolt, which is what you're manipulating with the dial, is sticking up at least 1/4".

Oh man! I have yet to be able to figure it out too. It goes solid red... then after a while has cycled... but not every time. The cats have even gone outside the box which is really frustrating. It's a lot of money for something that is supposed to give me piece of mind... yet now I am literally getting up in the middle of the night just to make sure it's on.

I've had the same going-outside-the-box problem too. Hrmm. I never realized that maybe that's because it's not cycling. I didn't put those two together. Now you're making me more concerned. hehe Anyway, call the company. They've always been super nice and helpful to me, though their solution for refixing the leveling is not consistently working. I wonder if there's a malfunction in the thing. Hrmmm.

I fixed my Robot's red blinking light!! (SORRY! Anyone with this problem will understand how excited I am!)

I have the original Litter Robot bought 3 years ago, but I wouldn't doubt the newer model is the same.

These were the symptoms: I'd plug it in, the motor turned for a split second, but then the yellow "In Use" light turned on. After about 2 minutes, the red "Sensor/Timing" light would blink forever. It fixed itself several times, but then it stopped working permanently. Now it works perfectly!

Tools used:
- Phillips screwdriver
- Nail file
- Mirror (optional, but handy)

Time taken: 5 minutes?

First off, there are TWO sensors!

1. I think we all know about the sensitivity foot sensor. I tried WD40, but that didn't work for me. I completely unscrewed the foot and took apart the sensor and rubbed a nail file on both parts where the sensor's metal pieces touched each other. The metal was originally dull and grimy and when filed they turned shiny new. I was very optimistic, but it still didn't work. (Just doing this could be enough to fix your robot!)

2. There is also the "anti-pinch" sensor! (This is the sensor attached to the plastic string/cable.) You'll see a screw on the top of base on the far end of the plastic string. (If the Robot II doesn't have this screw on top, follow that plastic cable and the sensor should be at one end of it.) I used a mirror to look inside the base behind the screw and made a note of how the sensor was assembled. Then I removed the screw. Again the metal contacts were ugly so I grabbed my nail file again (which is now my exclusive sensor file). One half of the sensor was easy to file because it popped right out, but I needed to use my mirror to properly see the other half since it's permanently attached to the base. I'm glad I had that mirror too, because it took my a few tries to actually get the metal nice and shiny.

I put it back together and that was it! Works like new again! Now I'll add wd40 to both sensors to prevent it from getting crummy again.

Anyway try it out & I hope this helps you! (Oh, and of course, be careful to not pull on or file the wires.)

If you need more details, let me know!

It's been 3 years and my 2 cats and I still love the Litter Robot!!
-Wendy

I just wanted to say that my robot is still working perfectly after fixing it a couple months ago..

That's great. Mine has mostly been working too, but occasionally it goes bonkers again. I didn't go through all the trouble you did, though.

Yes, terribly old thread but THANK YOU CHEEKY! I thought for sure my litter robot was dead... nope! I just had to take the foot off and remove the rubbery covering (I didn't even realize that could come off...) and sand it down a little. Works like a charm now!

cheeky wrote:I fixed my Robot's red blinking light!! (SORRY! Anyone with this problem will understand how excited I am!)

I have the original Litter Robot bought 3 years ago, but I wouldn't doubt the newer model is the same.

So this was for a Litter Robot I? The LRII has microswitches now, so I have no idea what you would be filing to fix an LRII.