Shark IONFlex 2X Troubleshooting

The brushrolls will not spin when the Shark IONFlex 2X is turned on.

Make sure nozzle is flat against the floor and the vacuum is tilted back out of upright lock. Note that when you lock the vacuum in the upright position, the brushroll will stop spinning after a few seconds. If the brushroll is still not spinning, check the brushroll switch.

Check to make sure that the vacuum is switched to the correct mode. If the brushroll switch is turned on, and the brushroll is still not spinning, you may need to check for debris.

Open the top brushroll cover to access the brush roll. Remove any hair and/or debris from the brushroll. Avoid damaging or cutting the bristles. Close the top brushroll cover. If the brushroll is still not spinning, check that the nozzle is engaged. If the brushroll appears to be damaged, it may need to be replaced. See the Soft Brushroll Replacement Guide for more information on replacing the brushroll.

For the roller brush to spin, the nozzle needs to be completely attached, even if the vacuum has power. Check that the handheld vacuum and wand connectors are fully engaged and are making an electrical connection with the floor nozzle. If the nozzle is attached and the brushroll is still not spinning, your brushroll may be loose. Check to see if the brushroll is properly seated in the drive mechanism. If the brushroll appears to be damaged, it may need to be replaced. See the Soft Brushroll Replacement Guide for more information on replacing the brushroll.

For the brushrolls to spin the brushroll band must be intact and operating correctly. If it is broken, it must be replaced. See the Brush Roll Band Replacement Guide for more information on replacing the brushroll band.

The Shark IONFlex 2X will only run for a little while, or will not turn on.

The ION Power Pack comes charged at about 30%. Fully charge the pack - this should take about 3.5 hours. Place pack onto the vacuum, and assess battery performance. Battery run time is affected by the length of time cleaning, and the cleaning level performed. It is recommended that you charge and use each battery a similar amount.

The battery may have overheated. If the battery is in the vacuum, remove the battery and place it in a cool, dry location. Allow the battery to cool down before placing back into the vacuum.

When the vacuum will not power on even after charging, it is possible that the battery needs to be replaced. See the Shark IONFlex 2X Battery Replacement|Battery Replacement Guide] for more information on how to replace the battery.

The Shark IONFlex 2X is not picking up debris.

The vacuum dust cup may be full. Remove the dust cup from the Shark IONFlex 2X and discard debris. Place the dust cup back into position.

Remove the vacuum wand and inspect all of the openings on the ends of the wand as well as the inside of the wand to make sure there are no obstructions. Remove the floor nozzle from the wand and check for blockages. Inspect the inside of the wand, specifically the flap near the hose, and clear any blockages. If there were no blockages found, the filters may need to be cleaned.

There are two locations that you will find filters. The first filters are located on the top of the vacuum. You will need to turn off the vacuum and remove the battery. Place the vacuum on the floor and pull out the filter assembly. Gently separate the larger foam filter from the smaller felt filter. Rinse both filters with water until the water runs clear. Let air dry for 24 hours before reinstalling. Slide the foam filter back onto the felt filter and reinstall. The second filter can be found under the handle of the vacuum. Press the handle button to remove the cover and pull out this filter. Rinse with water until the water runs clear, then allow to dry for at least 24 hours before reinstalling. Reinstall the filter under the handle and close the cover by pressing it into place.

The Shark IONFlex 2X may produce small static shocks to the user during operation.

Note: This is harmless.

In certain dry climates or during dry winters, common static electricity can build up in the vacuum and produce small shocks. This is similar to getting shocked by a door knob or wool sweaters. This can be avoided by moisturizing your hands and/or removing static-conducting clothing (wool socks, sweaters, etc) prior to using the vacuum.

The Shark IONFlex 2X will not respond to button prompts.

Charge the battery. After the battery is charged, install the charged battery back into the vacuum and try to turn on vacuum cleaner. If the vacuum cleaner turns on, check to see if the other buttons work.

Here are the approximate run times for each mode, assuming the battery is at 100% capacity:

Visually inspect the buttons. Are the buttons dirty? Does there appear to be debris or buildup in the spaces between the button and the casing and the buttons? When you press the buttons, do they stick inward or do they spring back to their original position? If the buttons are dirty and the buttons seem to stick inward, debris may be causing the buttons to stick. The buttons may need to be cleaned.

You will need some Q-tips (or any cotton swabs), a bottle of high percentage isopropyl alcohol, and a canned air duster to clean the buttons.

Turn off the vacuum and remove the battery. Make sure the button and casework is facing upside down when you are cleaning it to prevent alcohol from dripping into the inside unit. Next dip the Q-tip into the isopropyl alcohol, making sure to shake off the excess alcohol. You want the Q-tip to be saturated with alcohol but not dripping. Use the Q-tip to clean the sides of the button that stick out from the casing, making sure to use the fibers of the Q-tip to clean as far into the sides as possible. After cleaning with the Q-tip, push down on the button a few times to work out any grime that may have come out, and clean that off with the Q-tip as well.

Now the inside where the button meets the casing needs to be cleaned with the Q-tip. Press down on one side of the button with your finger, while cleaning the inside area of the casing surrounding where the button is pressed in. Once you have cleaned one side, move your finger to the side of the button you just cleaned and clean the other side of the inside area of the casing that your finger was previously covering with the Q-tip.

Finally, with some canned air, point the nozzle of the canned air parallel to the surface of the button and give it a few quick bursts of air to blow the debris out of the space between the button and the casing, but be careful to not blow any of the debris back into the device. Repeat the process for all of the buttons that are sticking. Let the buttons dry for at least 30 minutes before reattaching the battery and turning on the device. Note: you may need to repeat the cleaning process a couple of times for buttons that are heavily soiled.

If the previous steps fail to fix the problem of the buttons not responding, the buttons may need to be replaced. The buttons are not an easily user replaceable item, however, so the repair may need to be performed by a repair technician.