Scooba doesn't pick up water - iRobot 5900 Scooba Robotic Wet/Dry Vacuum

You need to remove the bottom plate and clean the unit. http://homesupport.irobot.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1126/p/3346

the dirty water lines may be clogged. I don't exactly know how to un-clog it, but I would check to see if there is any way to flush them out. or talk to the company's customer service people. They would know what to do without voiding the warrenty.

Does it put down clean water onto the floor? If so, rinse the four ports on the underside of the tank really thoroughly. You might have a clog; it's not difficult to dislodge it if you use enough warm water. Also make sure that the squeegees on the cleaning head cartridge (which holds the brush) are straight and in good condition.

If it doesn't put down water at all, try the tank rinse anyway, as it can help with that issue, too.

Rinse the four ports on the underside of the tank with warm water, particularly the round opening that covers your Scooba's vacuum port and the curved one that matches the filter. Odds are, there's a clog in there and your Scooba knows it. Rinse the two oval ports as well, as thoroughly as you can.

Also, try priming the pump with water. The iRobot website shows how to do this under the Scooba troubleshooting section.

Then run the unit with water and vinegar (in place of the Clorox Cleaning Solution) if possible.

This has happened to me twice. Frustrating. The first time I fixed it by half way filling up the dirty tank side, shaking the living bejeezes out of it, rinsing, and repeating a few times until big nasty clumps of **** fell out of the tank. The second time I was able to fix it by half way filling both sides of the tank (clean and dirt sides) with salt water, shaking the living bejeezes out of it, rinsing with fresh water, and repeating a few times with fresh water until big nasty clumps of **** fell out of the tank.

Fill the dirty water tank with hot water and giving the tank a good shake then pour the water out. Continue to do this until the water coming out of the dirty side of the tank is clean.

You can try rinsing the tank very thoroughly with warm water. Be very sure that you rinse the four ports on the underside of the tank (one round, two oval, one curved like Scooba's filter) very thoroughly, because all the dirt and dirty water moves through those openings and can clog things up.

Fembot

I have had the same problem for six months and finally found the solution.

The problem is that the air duct into the dirty water tank was blocked. The air flows up the black removeable hose, into the dirty water tank and out through the filter. With the air duct into the dirty water tank blocked, no dirt gets anywhere near the filter.

The black removeable hose is the hose in the base of Scooba that the instructions tell the user to clean after each use. Despite cleaning this hose after each use, plenty of cat hair and other dirt passed by the hose and got lodged above it on the tank side of the incoming air duct.

The air duct into the dirty water tank is formed out of the blue plastic the tank is made from. You can find it by looking to see where the black removeable hose lines up with the tank when it is placed on Scooba. It is the same diameter is a the removeable black hose so you can't miss it.

Getting the gunk out is tricky because there is a bend in the duct. I fished most of it out with my fingers and then poked a bendable plastic spoon handle to get further down the duct. I then flushed water down it and shook the tank to get more out. After cleaning, water dripped into the air vent would come out the dirty water tank drain hole with little resistance.

After cleaning the air intake duct I ran my Scooba and got dirt in the filter for the first time in months.

If your Scooba's Green Check Tank light is coming on immediately on startup, please try the following steps:

1. Remove and reseat Scooba's battery, ensuring that you hear it click into place.
2. Remove and reseat the brush head
3. Remove and reseat the vacuum port and filter. When replacing the filter, be sure to press firmly into the hole. There is a magnet on the filter that must connect with the magnet on the Scooba.
4. Fill Scooba’s Clean Tank with approximately 1 cup of cold water, shake vigorously, and empty it to remove any debris in the tank.
5. Empty the Dirty Tank, refill with water, and slosh it around to pick up any sediment. Empty the Dirty Tank again.
6. Refill Scooba’s Clean Tank with water, adding a pinch or two of table salt. Run the Scooba. If the issue persists, please follow the steps below:

With the tank removed, press the Power button and then the Clean button.

If the robot tries to start a cleaning cycle, power off the robot and repeat, pressing the Power button first and then the Clean button. If the pump makes a “whirring” or squirting sound and the robot does not start a cleaning cycle (Check Tank indicator will light), this indicates that the pump is working. Replace the tank and try starting a new cleaning cycle with the tank on.

If Scooba does begin a cleaning cycle the second time you press the Power and then the Clean button with the tank removed, the pump valve could be blocked with debris. Using a turkey baster, straw or sports bottle, force water through Scooba’s solution valve. Confirm that the baster, straw or sports bottle fits snugly over Scooba’s solution valve, push water through the system at least three times, and then try re-starting Scooba.

Below is a link to a diagram of these steps for visual reference:

Title: Scooba is not putting down cleaning solution
http://homesupport.irobot.com/cgi-bin/irobot_homesupport.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=322&p_created=1167154849

There are only a few things that can cause the condition you describe. First would be to verify that the vacuum/blower motor is running. You can test this by placing your hand on the floor opposite the side where the charger is connected and see if you feel air movement. If no air is felt, there's your problem. Second, there is a valve located in the dirty tank that if blocked will prevent water pick-up. To resolve and clear this condition will require several processes to occur at once. Fill the dirty tank half way with hot water, add Scooba cup of vinegar. Close the stopper and shake the "Good Grief" out of the tank. This action is necessary and may have to be repeated several times to clear the flapper valve in the dirty tank. Third, there may be a poor seal between the tank and the Scooba base. Verify that both the left and right sides of the tank are close to the base and equal in distance. If the right side is farther away from the tank (larger gap) then water pick up will be poor. Some Scoobe owners resort to using duct tape to hold down the tank. Fourth, verify that the thin rubber pieces on the bottom of the tank are not deformed and properly seated in the grooves. hope this helps