iRobot Roomba 870 Bumper Sensor Replacement

Introduction

Is your Roomba not able to sense surrounding obstacles, preventing it from avoiding such barriers? If so, this guide provides the steps to fix the problem with a simple change of the bumper sensor. You will need standard #0 and #1 Phillips Screwdriver heads to remove the two types of screws involved in this replacement.

Tools Required:

• Phillips #0 Screwdriver (1)
• Phillips #1 Screwdriver (1)

Step 1 - Bumper Sensor

Action:

Flip the iRobot Roomba over so that the underside is facing up.

Procedure:

Using the Phillips #0 screwdriver, remove the 4.0mm screw located in the center of the yellow side brush.

Remove the yellow side brush.

[Image: Underside of iRobot Roomba 870 with a hand holding a Phillips #0 screwdriver removing a screw from the yellow side brush.]

Step 2

Procedure:

Remove the two 3.5mm Phillips screws that secure the battery cover to the Roomba using a Phillips #0 screwdriver.

Remove the battery cover.

[Image: iRobot Roomba 870 underside with battery cover screws being removed, followed by the battery cover being lifted off.]

Step 3

Procedure:

Remove the two remaining 3.5mm Phillips #0 screws that attach the base-plate to the bottom of the Roomba.

Remove the entire base-plate from the bottom of the Roomba.

[Image: iRobot Roomba 870 with base-plate screws being removed, followed by the base-plate being detached.]

Step 4

Procedure:

Remove the ten 3mm screws that attach the bumper guard to the bumper using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.

Remove the bumper guard.

[Image: iRobot Roomba 870 with bumper guard screws being removed, followed by the bumper guard being detached.]

Step 5

Caution:

Be careful when removing the bumper from the Roomba to prevent damage to the sensor wires. Remove slowly!

Procedure:

Lift the Roomba so that its bumper is not resting on anything, and slowly separate the bumper from the device.

[Image: iRobot Roomba 870 bumper being carefully separated from the main body, showing sensor wires.]

Step 6

Procedure:

Remove the two 3mm screws that attach the sensor connector to the bumper/sensor using a #1 Phillips Screwdriver.

Carefully detach the sensor connector from the bumper and the sensor.

[Image: Close-up of the bumper sensor connector on the iRobot Roomba 870, with screws being removed and the connector being detached.]

Step 7

Caution:

The sensor is now loose on the bumper. Be careful not to rapidly move the bumper for fear of dislodging the sensor and breaking it.

Procedure:

Flip the bumper over, ensuring the sensor remains inside the sensor compartment.

Gently remove the bumper from the black infrared sensor.

[Image: Hands carefully manipulating the bumper and sensor of the iRobot Roomba 870 to detach the sensor.]

Reassembly

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.