It’s hard to imagine a situation in vaping that’s more annoying than having a vape that’s lighting up but not hitting. Everything looks fine on the surface, but when you puff on the device or press the fire button – nothing. What in the world could be going on, and is it possible to fix it?
In this article, we’re going to walk you through some troubleshooting steps that can help you fix a vape that’s lighting up but isn’t producing vapor. We’ll discuss both disposable vapes and refillable vape kits, so you’ll get some helpful advice regardless of the type of hardware you’re using. Let’s jump right in!
Disposable Vape Lighting Up but Not Hitting
Your Vape Could Be Empty
The most common reason why a disposable vape lights up but doesn’t hit is because it’s empty. This is likely to be the case if your vape suddenly has a problem after working normally for a few days. When a disposable vape is out of e-liquid, one of two things will happen.
- It will light up but won’t produce any vapor at all. This will be the case if the device has an automatic temperature limiting function to stop the coil from overheating when it’s dry.
- It will light up and produce an extremely harsh, burnt flavor. This will be the case if the device doesn’t have an automatic temperature limiting function; the dry coil will begin to overheat.
When a disposable is empty, it’s time for a new one. Do you feel like trying something new? Get some ideas from our list of the best disposable vapes.
You Could Be Using an Off-Brand or Fake Vape
If you have a brand-new disposable vape that isn’t working – but it is lighting up – you have a completely different problem on your hands and should consider the possibility that the device you’re using is actually counterfeit. We’ll discuss some other possible causes for the problem in this article, but it’s a good idea to pause here and visit the manufacturer’s website. Go to the authentication section of the site and enter the code found on the outside of your vape’s box.
If the code doesn’t pass the authentication check, it’s likely that you are using a fake vape. Counterfeit vapes are surprisingly common, and they can have all sorts of problems – not the least of which being that they might not actually work at all. Buy carefully and make sure that you always get your vapes from a reliable vape shop.
Your Vape Could Have an Error
If you have a disposable vape that’s lighting up but not hitting, it’s worthwhile to pay attention to what’s actually happening with the device’s indicator light. If the device has a light, it should either pulse or illuminate solidly when the device is active. If the device has a screen like the Geek Bar Pulse X, it might display an animation. If your vape blinks or flashes, on the other hand, it might be trying to tell you that there’s an error. If you have a Geek Bar, for instance, you might find it useful to read our article on what to do with a Geek Bar that’s flashing red.
Here's a little information that can help you with any vape that’s blinking and not hitting.
- In most cases, a disposable vape blinks when the battery is dead. Connect the vape to your computer with a USB cable to charge the battery.
- If your vape started blinking after you dropped it in water or on a hard surface, the blinking could indicate a short circuit. Learn what to do with a vape that you’ve dropped in water. If you dropped the vape on a hard surface, it may be permanently damaged.
The Airflow Could Be Blocked
The final reason why a disposable vape might light up but not hit is because the device’s airflow vent is blocked. The puff sensor is activating when you puff on the device, but there isn’t enough airflow to carry the vapor to your mouth. There are three potential ways to resolve this.
- Check the bottom of the device for a sticker. A disposable vape will often have a sticker covering the airflow opening because that prevents the device from activating in the box. Remove the sticker and discard it.
- Check to see if your device has a tab or slider for adjusting the airflow. If the airflow vent is closed, your vape won’t work.
- Make sure that you’re not holding your vape in a way that blocks the airflow opening.
Refillable Vape Lighting Up but Not Hitting
The Issues Above Could Apply to Your Vape
Before we begin to discuss troubleshooting steps that specifically apply to a refillable vape, it’s important to note that many of the steps above apply to both disposable and refillable devices. You need to make sure that your device is charged, the airflow vent is open and the pod or cartridge isn’t empty. Once you’ve done those things, you’re ready to continue with the troubleshooting steps below.
Your Vape Could Have an Error
If you’re using a vape mod or pod vape with a screen, you’re in luck if your device is lighting up but not hitting because the screen should display an error message that gives you a hint about what to do next. We’ve written an entire guide devoted to troubleshooting “Atomizer Short” and other common vape mod errors. If your device doesn’t have a screen but does have a light that blinks when you try to vape, consult the instruction manual to find out what the error code means. Once you’ve done that, you can refer to the guide linked to above to get some troubleshooting ideas that correspond with the error code your device is displaying.
Your Vape Could Be Locked
In the past, vaping devices usually didn’t have locking functions; your device would simply turn on or off if you clicked the fire button five times. Today, though, it has become common for vapes to offer separate locking and on/off functions. Clicking the fire button five times might still turn the device on and off, for instance, but clicking the button three times might lock and unlock it. If your vape displays a lock icon when you press the fire button, it’s locked. Consult the instruction manual to find out how to unlock it. Also, note that some vapes have physical lock switches. If there’s a sliding tab on the side of your vape, try moving the switch to see if it unlocks the device.
Your Vape May Have Leaked
After a dead battery, leaking is probably the next most common reason why a refillable vape would light up but not hit. This is particularly likely to happen with a pod system. E-liquid has gotten under the pod, and it’s now touching the contact points that allow power to transfer from the device to the pod. The liquid is either causing the device to detect a short circuit, or it’s preventing the device from detecting the pod at all. Here’s what you should do.
- Remove the pod from your device and look under it. If you see e-liquid, dry the pod completely and set it aside.
- Hold a paper towel over the top of your vape and blow hard through the intake vent to clear out any vape juice that may have gotten inside the airflow system.
- Remove the rest of the e-liquid from your vape with cotton swabs or a paper towel.
- Check your pod to make sure that the coil is pushed all the way in. In some pod vapes, the coil is keyed and can only be pushed in fully if the orientation is correct. If the base of the coil has a flat section, make sure that lines up with a flat section at the bottom of the pod.
- Reinstall the pod and try vaping again. If your device works, you’re all set.
In addition to incorrect coil installation, overfilling is another common reason why pod systems leak. Learn more about how to fix common problems with pod vapes.
Vape Mod? There Could Be an Issue with the Coil or Tank
If you’re using a vape mod with a tank – and your device is displaying a message like “Atomizer Short” or “No Atomizer” when you try to vape – it’s very likely that you either have a bad coil or an assembly issue with your tank. Here’s how to troubleshoot it.
- Remove the tank from your mod and unscrew the base to access the coil.
- Remove the coil and make sure that there isn’t a puddle of vape juice under it. If you find a lot of e-liquid in the tank’s base, the coil probably wasn’t screwed all the way in. Dry the e-liquid with a paper towel.
- Screw the coil into the tank’s base all the way. It should be very tight, but it shouldn’t be so tight that you’d have difficulty removing it.
- Reattach the tank’s base, screwing it in carefully to make sure that it’s not cross-threaded.
- Try vaping again. If your mod still displays an error message, your coil might be faulty, and you should replace it.