You’ve just purchased that REALLY GREAT singing, dancing, walking, talking and jiggling toy off of eBay, but when you tried to play with the toy it did NOTHING!!
Don’t despair, TROUBLE SHOOT! While all battery operated and electronic toys can stop working for no explicable reason, many times it is a simple problem that can be easily remedied.
Here is your basic trouble shooting guide:
- Insert BATTERIES. Here at Katrina’s Toys we ship our toys without batteries. We do this for many reasons: it’s against USPS rules to ship batteries, it adds unnecessary weight to shipping.
- Batteries installed wrong. Make sure the batteries are in the right slots, facing the right direction, and completely seated in their little slots.
- Old Batteries. Try some fresh batteries. Or if you’re using some cheap brand, try a different brand. If using re-chargeables , make sure it is fully and properly charged.
- Battery compartment lid is not screwed on snuggly. Some toys will not work unless that lid is re-installed. Using a screw driver, gently hand tighten those screws to re-install the lid.
- Check your on/off switches. Some toys have actual on/off switches located most often on the voicebox or on the battery compartment. However, some toys are activated by light, by voice, some by squeezing sensors located in feet, tummies, ears etc. Please contact your seller if you are not sure how to “turn-on” your toy.
- Re-set the reset button. This will be a tiny hole, most likely located on the battery compartment lid. Insert a paper clip end or a pencil tip and give it a little poke.
- Corrosion: If the toy has been sitting for a long time with batteries stored inside or the battery compartment has been exposed to moisture and air there could be some corrosion. In addition to replacing the batteries, clean the battery contacts. I have had good results with q-tips and plain old windex. For heavy corrosion you can also try a baking soda paste.
These tips will solve most problems. However, sometimes toys will stop working for absolutely no reason at all. They will require more advanced repair.
Fresh batteries here!
Katrina’s Toy Blog recommends rechargeable batteries – so much better for the environment, and you will find them to be better for your wallet too!! Here’s what you will need from Amazon.
Energizer AA Rechargeable batteries NiMH 2300 mAh 1.2V NH15 – 12 Count
EBL 8 Bay AA, AAA, Ni-MH, Ni-CD Rechargeable Battery Charger – Upgraded ETL Certified
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Katrinas Toy Blog 
This is a very helpful guide, thanks!
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I know this post is REALLY old, but just in case you’re still checking it, I have a question about animated toys. My son, who is 15 and diagnosed with Autism, is a bit obsessed. 😉 He has a turtle that is supposed to stop dancing at certain points in the song he plays. Instead, it dances throughout the song and won’t stop dancing until a battery is removed. Any idea what might cause this? Thanks in advance!
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Hello,
Sorry for the delay in my response.
I wish that I had answers for you. My guess is there is some type of moving part inside him that turns off the power
at those key times that he’s supposed to stop dancing.
You would need to open him up and have a look at his insides – have a super curious and very handy person do this!
Also, try youtube tutorials.
Thanks for visiting my blog, please subscribe!
Kat
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So where to go to repair soft toys with batteries?? My fav toy still singing but stoped moving(((
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The best place are youtube tutorials. Grab the nearest handy person, and beg them to watch those videos and then, ( gulp! ), give it a try!
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Thanks for your help
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Hi Alicia,
You are very welcome! Thanks for visiting my blog, please subscribe!
Thanks again,
Kat
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Hi Katrina, I have an animatronic toy that is suppose to sing a entire song verse and move on wheels in its feet halfway through the song. It starts singing but stops 1/3 of the way through the verse. Any ideas?
Unfortunately, I do not repair toys. I do recommend youtube, as there you will find many handy toy repair people at that site who have uploaded videos to help us! Good luck to you!
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