Repair a Ryobi Pressure Washer / How to fix an Electric Pressure Washer 

I also bought one of this product and the same problem happened to me, it stops working after ten minutes of operation, what is the solution to this problem

@@luma7901 You either have a blockage causing the unit to overheat, or the GFI is overheating and cutting off the power. Try replacing the GFI circuit and see if that helps. It seems to be a common problem with these units.

@@ModernDIYProjects mine smells like it is burnt when I turn it on

@@xBroWsinG That is not a good thing. You'll have to track down the smell to see where it comes from. It may be a replaceable part. If it smells but still works then that is a good sign.

Glad it helped!

Glad I could help!

What store did you get the plug? Cause I don't like ordering on line cause of the wait lol. Thanks

That wasn't even problem the Ryobi pressure washer will not start up or have power to the pump without it being connected to a hose with water pressure all you did was by pass that fall safe system Ryobi had in place to protect the pump from ever being ran dry!Omg that's funny

Haha, funny you should mention that because only a few days after I made that video I went and got one. Go check out my review of the Harbor Freight one ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-SqnamlCB1GE.html

Quickest $50 an electrician can make. Resetting or replacing a GFCI on a porch when the customers bathroom light won't work. Sparkies will get why.

I also bought one of this product and the same problem happened to me, it stops working after ten minutes of operation, what is the solution to this problem

@@luma7901 I changed out the plug. I did notice when I opened up the original plug that the manufacturer had screwed the terminals down metal to plastic instead of metal to metal. Most likely causing a weak connection

Yeah, you're right about that.

Normally the gfi is checked first.😂

Happy to help!

A surge protector is for protecting the device only. The GFCI protects you from shock and is important because of the water involved primarily. Are you still there?

@@stevenbryant4718 haha yes Steve. All that info was just options. The replacement plug is only $15 online. I bought that and installed it properly. Only reason I tried the splice route was buddy was gonna throw it out so before it hit trash I just went for diagnosis and made the plug to see if it was seized (I just was seeing if it cycled power not running it)

@@patrickstafford8480 During a hurricane it is illegal in FLA to power your home with electric generator if it is in anyway tied to the grid. That is beacause people do stupid things with electrical wiring they saw on the internet. The power company technicians will come to your home and pull your meter. They don't like to work on live circuits, go figure. Sure they have life insurance, but who'll repair the downed power lines?

Yeah, I did'nt think they went bad either, because it doesn't happen that often. The reason they are on devices like this is because you are working with water, and it's to prevent you being electricuted while standing in a puddle of water.

I know right Frank Caan?!?! I was thinkin the same thing! I think that is just plain dumb for that light to come on right at the beginning. Bc when I didn’t see the light on up on the unit right away I thought, well the lights on on the plug, so it’s gotta be something with the motor or pumps shot. Just thought the worst.

I also bought one of this product and the same problem happened to me, it stops working after ten minutes of operation, what is the solution to this problem

Actually that means that your GFI circuitry is slowly failing. You shouldn't need to do that every time you plug it in. Don't be surprised if one day soon your GFI fails.

@@ModernDIYProjects actually some are designed that way

Thank you my friend, glad to have you on board. I must visit Canada one of these days. I hear it's a beautiful place. Cheers!

Yes, it was a very common issue a while back. I don't know if it's been corrected in newer models.

i have the newer version of this model and it just happened to me. crap product

Yes, mine had the green light lite up, that is why I was confused at first. I later learned as you said that the green light only means power is going to the plug not through the plug.

Just look up GFI, its easier than Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. On Ebay (Amazon too I'm sure) they sell them with the cord and everything so all you do is install it from where it connects to the motor. Cheaper and safer.

Replace the plug with a standard plug instead of a GFCI and see if it works. If not then the motor is bad because I don't remember any other fuses or breakers on this unit.

Thank you! Cheers!

Yes, that is even better.

There is no need for a part number. I just got a generic GFI plug and replaced it. I didn't use a Ryobi part. Go on Ebay or Amazon and look up GFI or GFCI replacement and you will get tons of results. I picked the cheapest one.

These GFCI parts are super easy to find on Amazon.

Follow up my second GFCI switch didnt last too long either maybe 1 year used it 5 times and this season dead.These switches are junk all of them the board is a nightmare of cheap electronics. Also dont have to take these units apart first. I know this is your first time but for new viewers just plug it in and remove the small cover and see if you have 110 volts coming out where the two wires connect going to the unit with a multimeter. 90% of the time there will be no voltage coming out...I put a regular two prong male receptacle on mine Im done changing these cheap GFCI protectors Ill take my chances with getting zapped for now on. The cord on these Ryobis is very long so that helps stay dry most times for me and my outdoor receptacle has a GFI outlet...

The bad part about not using the GFCI is that you could get electrocuted. If the cord touches water and shorts it can electrocute you if you are standing in the water. It could also blow out house fuses and such. To get a replacement just look at the specs on your machine. Should be stamped on it somewhere. Easy to get a cheap GFCI on Ebay or Amazon or maybe at a local hardware store. If you have an old hair dryer that doesn't work you can take that part and swap it over.

Did you happen to use yours without a gfci on it at all? Was thinking of trying get one use out if it before i got a new replacement gfci

The light is irrelevant if it doesn't work. Make sure that the GFCI works. There is a test button, use than and see if it still works. If the little light diode burned out you really don't care. All you care about is that the GFCI works. If it doesn't work, then you can probably get a replacement for less than shipping it to be fixed. If you are so inclined, I would say to fix it yourself. Easier and faster.

@@ModernDIYProjects thx for reply. So in theory, I could put a reg plug end on it and plugvit it into a gfi extentension cord, right?

Yes you could. Or you could get a GFCI plug end and apply it to this unit which is what I did. But be sure to ALWAYS have a GFCI on this, otherwise you could get electrocuted. Water, Electricity and the Human body DO NOT play well together.

It does not work if the problem is in the GFCI switch. Rocking the switch back and forth only works, if your power switch is bad. But the GFCI has it's own separate circuitry which is not affected by the power switch because it is built into the head of the power plug. It cuts off the power before it ever gets to the power switch.

It is not smart to run a device that uses water and electricity without a GFI. Like I mentioned before, it's easy and cheap to get a replacement GFI. You can get one online or at Home Depot and wire it in. If you are plugging the unit into a GFI that is wired into the house, then you are OK because you are already using a GFI. Some people have GFI in their garage wall outlet for such purposes.

Sure did. I took the GFI off an old hair dryer that wouldn't heat up any more. It was the same specs as the one on this machine so it works great. If you don't have an old hair dryer you can get a new GFI at Home Depot or on Amazon.

@@ModernDIYProjects right on!!

You're welcome!

Not necessarily. It could then be a broken wire, bad connectors, bad switch, bad fuse, any number of things. It could send you down the wrong rabbit whole same as what I did. The GFCI should not light up at all indicating that it is bad.

Just go on Amazon or Ebay and search for a GFI replacement. Then just chop off your old one and replace it.

That's right. That is what threw me off in the beginning of the diagnosing. It seems that the light only tells you that you have power going to the plug, and nothing more.

@Modern DIY Projects okay cool thank you so very much!

Wow people are always so unhappy when with their lives. Smh

wow u should just not comment if u have nothing positive to say. i think he was helpful

He may have already done that

Your GFI is messed up so it keeps shorting out. That is when it shuts off. It's not safe to use this way.

Sounds like a dead short in line circuit breaker or in the cord or in the machine. Maybe it's just doing it's job ?

he explained why he uses hand tools

It's a very common problem with Ryobi. Cheap products used in production.

@@ModernDIYProjects Interesting followup. RYOBI uses 2 wires past GFI to pump. I replaced with 3 wire. strange cheap manufacturing.

You can buy a new GFCI switch online. Cut the old one off and rewire the new one in it's place. It's an easy fix. I did it to this one. You can also buy an entire cord with the GFCI attached and replace it from inside the machine if you want to be safer.

No that's too much trouble and just not safe. Just buy a generic GFI unit rated the same as the one you have currently and splice it in to replace the old one. It's cheap and easy. That's what I did for mine. In fact I took the GFI off an old blow dryer that stopped working because the were both rated at 1600 amps.

@@ModernDIYProjects What is cheap $5 $50 what did you pay

Go to Ebay and you can get the entire GFI unit with a new cord for around $10 (rated for outdoor use). That way you wire it directly from the motor. Safe and cheap.

Live and learn right? Wont make that mistake again. 😄

Start at the plug, then use a non-contact beeper to follow voltage all the way to the machine. Then see if switch is getting power with the same tool. EVERY person who deals with electricity should have one of these tools. $10

Your GFI is bad, you need to replace it. It is either arching internally or it is trying to reset and not achieving it. Either that or some of the resistors or capacitors inside are messed up. If you open up the GFI you'll see it is packed with electronics. Anyone of them could be bad.

The GFCI was no good. Doesn't matter how you give it power it still would not work.

Go on Ebay or Amazon and look for a GFI replacement and pick your favorite vendor. It's literally that easy.

Couldn't tell you. I cut my old Ryobi GFCI off and replaced it with a new one from a different manufacturer. They're all going to be different.

@@ModernDIYProjects I took my r1 and filed it down maybe 10 microns on each side. Then it fit fyi

Cool, so it wasn't that the bit didn't work, it was that it wouldn't fit into the slot. Good to know.

No, failed GFCI switch.

The GFI is a real problem on these units. Poorly made!

The pump has probably gone bad.

@@ModernDIYProjects I think so too. Sad part is I’ve used it twice

Before you junk it try to lubricate it and stick a small metal rod through it. Sometimes it may be clogged or jammed. Water minerals can be problematic. That is why I always tip mine sideways to make sure all the water drains out.

Water so be careful

You're absolutely right. I'll do that next time. Thanks for the heads up.

Sure you can. If the screws are too tight and you hit it with a powerful screwdriver or impact wrench you can easily round off the head. The screws these days are made out of really cheap metal. Too much torque in either direction and you stripped the heads. Then all you have is a stuck screw and no way to grab it.

That would be suicide! The reason for the GFCI is to prevent electrocution. If this thing shorts out and you are standing in water while washing your car, you will be toast, LITERALLY! Always use a GFCI when working with electricity and water!

Did you watch the video? That was not the problem.

A bunch I would guess.

Only if you are in a hurry to die! That GFCI plug is there to prevent you being electrocuted. Is your life not worth a few dollars to fix it properly?

Have you tried this? Just looking for a temporary use, plugged in inside and pressure washer outside ...

Thank you! You can use the button I will include here, if it doesn't work properly it is also in the description. www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=4VDN7RNDYK4Q2&source=url

@@ModernDIYProjects just read the reply. Sent!

Sometimes you gotta talk out loud to solve problems.