How to Make Your Powerwheels Faster

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Power Wheels cars are fun toys for your little ones but if they want to add just a bit more pep or have grown out of the slow pace, adding a new motor or battery can be the solution. Aftermarket batteries are cost-effective and electric motors are very common as they are found inside radio-controlled toys. Both options provide a quality upgrade to your Power Wheels car.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Installing a New Motor

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  1. Flip your car upside down and remove the wheels to access the black motor hardware. Remove the motor by loosening the screws using the proper screwdriver, and wiggling the cylinder-shaped motor until it comes free. [1]
  2. Ensure that the new motor that you have chosen is the correct size for your Power Wheels. Remove the brushless motor from your secondary car. It will be cylinder shaped and you may need to remove some hardware to expose the motor.
    • Wipe the motor clean with a dry rag to remove any buildup of dirt. [2]
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  3. You may be able to salvage the spade off of the Power Wheels motor by heating it gently and applying some pressure with a flathead screwdriver. [3] If you can’t remove it, purchase an inexpensive spade from your local hardware store rather than potentially ruining the already-connected spade and the actual motor itself.
  4. Gently push the motor in spade-end first. [4] Using your screwdriver, put the screws back into the hardware to hold the battery in place.
    • The brushless motor may need some twisting and turning until it is solidly inserted so be patient and don’t try to force it.
  5. Carefully unwrap the wires from the original motor and re-attach them to the brushless motor following the same connecting points. At this point, a new battery could also be inserted if desired.
    • Disconnect the battery to avoid getting shocked.
  6. Your car should be compatible with the remote from the brushless motor. Keep the car upside down as you test to be cautious, as the speed will be greatly increased.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Installing an Aftermarket Battery

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  1. When choosing a battery, look for information on your Power Wheels battery to guide you on the exact specifications. You must note the voltage, chemistry, and size. For example: Fisherbrand Power Wheels batteries are often lead based, 12 Volt and are 16.0 x 11.0 x 8.0 so you must ensure that the aftermarket battery you choose matches these specifications.
    • The advantage to after-market batteries are that they are inexpensive compared to the Power Wheels brand batteries. [5]
  2. [6] After the top cracks, use the screwdriver to pull the edges off the top away from the battery. Completely remove the top piece but be gentle to avoid damaging the casing of the battery.
    • Stay away from the black connector inside the battery as this will be used to hook-up your new battery to your Power Wheels car. It will need to be replaced if you unintentionally damage it.
  3. After some wiggling, the connector will pop up and out of the rest of the battery. Pull the two attached positive and negative wires out as far as you can, and then gently clip them as close to the battery as possible. [7]
    • Use wire cutters or crimpers to ensure a clean, crisp cut. these are available for only a few dollars at your local hardware store.
    • After the connecter has been disconnected, recycle your battery at the recycling depot. Batteries contain a large amount of nasty chemicals and are harmful to the environment. [8]
  4. Insert a 30 Amp fuse into a fuse holder. [9] Once connected, strip approximately 1 cm of wire cover from each side of the connector using your wire crimping tool. Insert the exposed wire into a wire connector and crimp down on the wire connector to hold the wire firmly in place.
    • The positive side of the connector will be white or red.
    • After crimping the wire connector, insert the one wire from the fuse to the other side of the battery connector. Crimp down to connect the fuse to the battery connector.
    • Fuses, fuse holders and wire connector are available at local hardware stores. [10]
  5. Attach an insulated female spade to the negative wire of the battery connector (often black) and the remaining exposed fuse wire. [11]
    • Female spade connectors come in many different styles. To save time, take your aftermarket battery with you to the store and compare the male components located on the battery terminals to the positive connectors in the store.
  6. Connect the negative battery terminal (black) to the negative wire of the connector (also black). Connect the positive terminal (red) to the fuse end of the connector. [12]
  7. Be cautious and place your car upside as the speed will be greatly increased.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    If I convert a 12V to 24v, using two 12v batteries, can I use the 12v charger?
    Community Answer
    If two 12v batteries are connected in parallel, the 12v charger will work but if they are in series the charger will not charge it.
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    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 35
  • Question
    Will installing a 24v battery in a 12v car burn up the motor?
    Community Answer
    Not immediately, but the motor will give up in maybe 2-3 months. If you are going to use a 24v battery, I recommend changing the motor to a 24v motor.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 14
  • Question
    Why would I want to control it with an RC controller, and will it still work with the pedal in the car?
    Community Answer
    The brushless motor requires the speed controller from the RC car. It is extremely likely that the RC speed controller will not support the amps required to move such a large object. For this idea to work, the donor RC car must also be 12v and of similar physical size.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      Tips

      • After each use, charge the battery for at least 14 hours. [13]
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      • When using the battery, never allow it to drain fully. Allowing the battery to drain completely will lessen the life of it. [14]
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      • You can make 18V or more by hooking batteries in series when needed for more speed or for a larger child
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      Warnings


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      Things You'll Need

      • Wire Cutter
      • Wire Crimper
      • After-Market Battery

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycfv3QIqvco
      2. ↑ http://www.rccaraction.com/blog/2013/06/07/how-to-clean-and-maintain-your-brushless-motor/
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycfv3QIqvco
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycfv3QIqvco
      5. ↑ http://www.batteryeducation.com/2009/08/how-do-generic-aftermarket-batteries-compare-with-name-brand-batteries.html
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRWivBV4F5I
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRWivBV4F5I
      8. ↑ http://www.call2recycle.ca
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRWivBV4F5I
      1. ↑ http://www.homedepot.com/b/Electrical-Power-Distribution-Fuses/N-5yc1vZbtvm
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRWivBV4F5I
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRWivBV4F5I
      4. ↑ http://www.fisher-price.com/inst_sheets/j4394pr-0921.pdf
      5. ↑ http://www.fisher-price.com/inst_sheets/j4394pr-0921.pdf

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make your Power Wheels faster, install a new motor by first removing its wheels, unscrewing the motor, and wiggling the cylinder-shaped motor free. Then, insert a solder-free spade connector to the pin of the brushless motor. Once you’ve inserted a new spade, gently push your replacement motor into your car spade-first. After you’ve replaced your motor, carefully unwrap the wires from your original motor and re-attach them to your new brushless motor. To finish off, thread the wheels back onto your Power Wheels and enjoy your faster car. For more tips, including how to install an aftermarket battery to make your Power Wheels faster, read on!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Matthew S.

        Oct 14, 2016

        "When choosing an original purchase, go with the car that had 2 speeds."
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