# HELP 2010 e4 model dies out fast **URL:** \ **Category:** GEM Forum\ **Created:** [June 28, 2021, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771 "2021-06-28T21:40:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dougl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b19c9b/32.png) [@dougl](https://community.electricforum.com/u/dougl)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 3:23pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/41 "2021-07-04T15:23:25Z")
What is all that white powder on the top of your controller and where did it come from? Is it battery acid corrosion or aluminium oxide? Either of those is a bad sign and especially with the controller cooling vent right there next to the made connector. ---
**Author:** ![AssyRequired](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/assyrequired/32/7621_2.png) [@AssyRequired](https://community.electricforum.com/u/AssyRequired)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/42 "2021-07-04T15:28:00Z")
> Can I just pull my ground off the negative cable at the controller or from the battery pack? The B- lug at the controller should be fine for your reference. Dougl - I also find that power/dust/crap around the controller plug is a concern. It looks like there is more around the F connections too. I’m more curious to what the inside of the controller looks like now. It’s regrettable that these things aren’t all that water tight and they put them in such a wettable location. Just hosing the car can be a bad idea. MikeKC - Thanks for stepping up. I think you might want to get a box ready. ---
**Author:** ![gofast67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gofast67](https://community.electricforum.com/u/gofast67)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 5:23pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/43 "2021-07-04T17:23:31Z")
Dirt dobber made themselves a nice home at some point. ---
**Author:** ![gofast67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gofast67](https://community.electricforum.com/u/gofast67)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/44 "2021-07-04T17:30:25Z")
I sent you a pm, but have no idea how to see if you responded. 3524949517 cell text would be easier at this point ---
**Author:** ![dougl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b19c9b/32.png) [@dougl](https://community.electricforum.com/u/dougl)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 5:51pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/46 "2021-07-04T17:51:26Z")
Does the 2010 also have the 2 12V relays on the right side where one enables a buzzer of some sort and the other is a controller enable of some sort? Just wondering if since they need to stay energized for the GEM to operate, if one was failing out after a short time it might cause a no-go situation. Just a shot in the dark as I’m not looking at any schematic, just memories of others having no-go problems they isolated by swapping the relays since they are identical. ---
**Author:** ![AssyRequired](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/assyrequired/32/7621_2.png) [@AssyRequired](https://community.electricforum.com/u/AssyRequired)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 6:13pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/47 "2021-07-04T18:13:20Z")
2010 most likely does have the twin relays. One activates the handbrake beep and the other activates the e-brake light. I think the e-brake light will stop the car if removed, but it does so by killing power to the contactor. I believe in this case the contactor is still going “clunk” every time the pedal is pressed so everything is passing safety checks. (unless I am mixing symptoms up with another car?). ---
**Author:** ![dougl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b19c9b/32.png) [@dougl](https://community.electricforum.com/u/dougl)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/48 "2021-07-04T18:18:39Z")
while I think this thread asked about if the contactor stays engaged and was not specifically answered, I think it was stated would re-engage when the pedal was depressed to try and go after 30 seconds which would mean the contactor operation was still happening. If so, then it’s unlikely one of those pair of relays is failing to hold. ---
**Author:** ![AssyRequired](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/assyrequired/32/7621_2.png) [@AssyRequired](https://community.electricforum.com/u/AssyRequired)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/49 "2021-07-04T18:29:49Z")
@dougl - Back up around post 24~25 He went through some exercising involving the main contactor cycling on/off. It satisfied my curiosity enough to rule it out. When I had him Key on and wait before engaging and found a no-go tells me it is probably not a bad contact/resistance issue there. ---
**Author:** ![dougl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b19c9b/32.png) [@dougl](https://community.electricforum.com/u/dougl)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 6:49pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/50 "2021-07-04T18:49:31Z")
correct, I recalled that and how he described things seemed to imply the answer to the question of the contactor clunking again after the 30 second timeout. ---
**Author:** ![gofast67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gofast67](https://community.electricforum.com/u/gofast67)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/51 "2021-07-05T21:21:12Z")
That is correct, it repeats the same over and over. Strangest thing I have ever seen lol ---
**Author:** ![MikeKC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MikeKC](https://community.electricforum.com/u/MikeKC)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 11:21pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/52 "2021-07-05T23:21:48Z")
Could be a bad contactor or controller - just throwing that out there as well… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gofast67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gofast67](https://community.electricforum.com/u/gofast67)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2021, 1:54am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/53 "2021-07-06T01:54:08Z")
Ugh lol I really hope we get this figured out!!! ---
**Author:** ![AssyRequired](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/assyrequired/32/7621_2.png) [@AssyRequired](https://community.electricforum.com/u/AssyRequired)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2021, 2:39am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/54 "2021-07-06T02:39:00Z")
> Could be a bad contactor or controller I thought it might be the contactor also. Then he mentioned just switching on the key and waiting 30 secs before stepping on the pedal (then activating the contactor) and the power is gone. The contactor still clunks in and out as normal. I’m really leaning towards the controller. @gofast67 - do you have a chance to look at the pedal V out and return V from the pedal? Then think about popping the cover off your controller for a look. Watch what you poke at in there. I think there are a few caps in there that may have a little zip to them. ---
**Author:** ![MikeKC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MikeKC](https://community.electricforum.com/u/MikeKC)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2021, 1:51pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/55 "2021-07-06T13:51:28Z")
Controller is enroute to him now. ---
**Author:** ![gofast67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gofast67](https://community.electricforum.com/u/gofast67)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2021, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/56 "2021-07-10T22:25:04Z")
I am just waiting on controller to come in. ---
**Author:** ![MikeKC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MikeKC](https://community.electricforum.com/u/MikeKC)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/57 "2021-07-10T23:57:06Z")
it should have been there by now? ---
**Author:** ![MikeKC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MikeKC](https://community.electricforum.com/u/MikeKC)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/58 "2021-07-10T23:57:55Z")
**Delivered** July 10, 12:06PM Hawthorne, FL ---
**Author:** ![gofast67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gofast67](https://community.electricforum.com/u/gofast67)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 12:55pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/59 "2021-07-11T12:55:08Z")
I am on vacation, it is probably there I’m sure. Thank you again ---
**Author:** ![gofast67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gofast67](https://community.electricforum.com/u/gofast67)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 11:58pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/60 "2021-07-11T23:58:09Z")
It is here,I will swap it tomorrow and then message you the outcome. ---
**Author:** ![gofast67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gofast67](https://community.electricforum.com/u/gofast67)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 4:01pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771/61 "2021-07-12T16:01:29Z")
Well I installed the controller. Stillness the same thing. CRAP [Previous page](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771.md?page=2) [Next page](https://community.electricforum.com/t/help-2010-e4-model-dies-out-fast/21771.md?page=4)