dji common issue diagnostic tests
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DJI Common Issues

Data Compiled from DJI Resources & Forums

General Repair Strategy:

Gimbal: Replace the whole module. Repair the damaged parts (excluding core board/GPS board (including IMU)/infrared

sensing system and visual sensing module). Aircraft:

Remote controller:

Repair the damaged parts (excluding the remote controller main board).

Diagnostic Tests

Aircraft Connection Test and Version Check- Check if all parts’ hardware connections

are normal. This test is mainly used for damage assessment and aircraft version check

(FCC/CE).

Aircraft Link & CSC Test- Check the app’s error report, motor rotation, image

transmission signal, photo/video shooting, and other functions.

IMU Calibration- Recalibrate the aircraft’s IMU from six directions.

Compass Calibration- Recalibrate the compass.

Compass Interference Test- Check whether the compass has any interference.

Simple Flight Test- In damage assessment/after replacing propellers, check if the arms

are shaking and if there are more patterns on the transmitted images.

Remote Controller Link & CSC Test- Check if the remote controller’s buttons, control

sticks, and dials are normal.

Flight Test- Check if the remote controller image transmission signal communication is

normal.

Wi-Fi Power Attenuation and Coupling Test- Check whether the antenna is well

connected or damaged.

1Boards

1. Core Board- Flight controller algorithm implementation, vision obstacle

avoidance, navigation system control, and image transmission baseband.

2. ESC Board- Motor control, core board power supply, PSDK and OSDK power

supply, and 4G dongle power supply.

3. Vision System Module- 6 directional vision systems and infrared sensing systems

for sensing and positioning; beacons and auxiliary lights; TOF distance

measurement; compass heading

4. 5. RTK Board- Obtains GNSS time service and IMU information

RF Board- Baseband and RF signal switch; signal transmission and receiving,

signal multiplication, signal filtering; two transmitting and two receiving; long

distance transmission under high power

6. FPV Module- FPV Module

7. ADS-B Board Module- ADS-B receiver, upper beacon control, fan connection, and

battery locker

8. Barometer Module- Barometerrometer Module

9. Battery Port Board Module- Connects battery and ESC board

Evaluation Process

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Motor Base- check physical damage

Motors- Rotate the four motors and check whether they move smoothly. Check

whether there are scratches on the motors and whether the motors are

misshapen.

Landing Gear- Check whether the four landing gears are misshapen or damaged

a. If there is damage check to see if it extends into other components such as

the body

Arms- Check whether the four landing gears are misshapen or damaged.

a. Check whether the left arm and right arm are broken and whether there

are scratches on the arms.

b. (if applicable) Check whether the left auxiliary arm, right auxiliary arm,

left main arm and right main arm are broken and whether there are

scratches on the arms.

c. (if applicable) Check whether the connector of the auxiliary arms and the

connector between the main arms and middle frame are misshapen or

damaged.

Upper Shell, GPS Cover and Nose Cover – Check whether there are scratches or

2cosmetic damage on the upper shell, GPS cover and nose cover and whether they

are misshapen.

a. Check whether the power button and unlock button can spring back or not.

6. FPV- Check whether there are scratches on the FPV module and Forward Vision

System module and whether they are broken or damaged. Turn the FPV camera

and check whether the camera can pitch and roll normally.

a. If the FPV camera is crooked but functional it may still need replacement

7. Vibration Absorbing Board and Gimbal Quick-release Port- Check whether the

vibration absorbing board and gimbal quick release port are broken or

misshapen.

8. Lower Shell and Downward Vision System- Check whether there are scratches

on the bottom shell and Downward Vision System module and whether they are

misshapen.

9. Battery Compartment – Check whether the battery compartment is misshapen or

damaged.

a. Check whether the pins on the battery port are misshapen or damaged.

10. (If applicable) Compression Plate – Check whether the left compression plate,

right compression plate are misshapen or damaged.

11. Middle Frame – Check the screw rod on the middle frame is misshapen or

damaged.

a. For Inspire models, middle frame plastic washer may be worn out causing

problems raising and lowering the landing gear into travel mode. Problem

may be intermittent and present as limp arms

12. Main Controller- Check the main controller is misshapen or damaged.

13. Central Board, Battery Compartment and Indicator Functional Check – Place

the aircraft on an even surface. Insert batteries. Power on the aircraft and check

whether the indicators on the rear of the aircraft will flash

14. (if applicable) Central Frame Functional Check- Press the power button five

times or more. (The battery level indicators will turn on one by one.)

a. Check whether the aircraft exits Travel mode.

b. Check whether the aircraft shakes when the aircraft transforms to how it

looks during flight.

c. If it shakes, the screw rod may be misshapen and damaged.

15. Video Transmission – If “Disconnected” is shown in the app, check whether the

connection between the device and the USB port on the controller is good.

a. If “No signal” is shown in the app, try with another gimbal and check

whether the gimbal or the aircraft is malfunctioning.

3b. Test using a different controller then device

c. Check gimbal for water damage

16. App Data- Move the aircraft backward and forward horizontally and check

whether the Forward Vision System’s parameters shown in the app are normal.

a. Move the aircraft up and down vertically and check whether the height

measured by the Downward Vision System in the app is normal.

b. Switch to the FPV interface and press the C2 button and the Gimbal Dial at

the same time.

c. Check whether the FPV camera can pitch normally. Cover the Upward

Infrared Sensor with an object and check whether the Upward Infrared

Sensor works normally

d. Check IMU

e. Check Compass

f. Check firmware versions on app, controller and aircraft

17. Battery- Check whether the batteries are swollen and whether the batteries are

damaged by viewing the battery parameters (including the temperature,

difference between battery cells, battery life and times charged) displayed under

the Aircraft Battery menu in the app.

18. Overall Status- Check the overall status for the aircraft for any errors or

warnings

19. Navigation System- to start the motors and check whether the four motors work

well.

a. Positive motors rotate counterclockwise and negative motors rotate

clockwise.

b. Check whether the two indicators on the front of the landing gears are

solid red and the two indicators on the rear of the landing gears are solid

green.

c. Toggle the control sticks to change the speed, pitch, direction of the aircraft

and check whether they emit abnormal sounds, rotate slowly, or are

obstructed.

20. Gimbal Appearance Check- Check whether there are scratches on the Yaw- axis

arm and Pitch-axis arm and whether they are misshapen.

a. Check whether there are scratches or cosmetic damage on the flat cable

cover, lens cover and UV filter.

b. Check whether the gimbal does its calibration dance and if there is picture

showing in the app

21. 3 Axis- Rotate the Yaw-axis top cover horizontally and check whether the cover

4can move smoothly and rotate in place.

a. Rotate the Roll-axis vertically and check whether the axis can move

smoothly

b. Rotate the Pitch-axis up and down and check whether the axis can move

smoothly.

22. Gimbal Functional Check- Power on the aircraft and check whether there is

image transmission on the screen.

a. Turn the camera settings dial and check whether the camera’s exposure is

normal.

b. c. Check whether the camera can capture pictures and record video normally.

Turn the gimbal dial and check whether the gimbal can pitch normally.

Common Gimbal Errors

– Gimbal vibration error

– Check to see if the vibration absorption board and dampers are damaged

– Check propellers

– Gimbal tilt error

– IMU calibration

– Gimbal calibration

– Manually adjust gimbal roll

Common Firmware Errors

– Low battery

– Make sure the battery level is at least 50% before updating.

– Battery signal error

– Try to update again

– Charge battery at least an hour before the update

– Connection error

– Check wifi connection and make sure the file has been downloaded

entirely

– Attempt update with another USB cable

– uninstall/reinstall app and attempt the update process again

5- Try another mobile device

– If the update continues failing via the DJI GO connect the drone to DJI

Assistant 2 (doesn’t apply to Phantom 3 series and Inspire 1)

– SD card error

– Make sure there is enough storage on the SD card

– Download the corresponding firmware package. After extracting the file,

export the BIN file to the SD Card. Please don’t change the filename of the

BIN file or add other BIN files to the root directory of the SD Card.

– Loose Gimbal Flat Cable

– Phantom 3 series- Unplug and insert the cable and try to update again

Mavic Mini

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Code 180016, 180031, 180030: sensor error. Contact DJI Support for

assistance. Try restarting the drone. If it does not help, the sensors are broken

and must be replaced.

Code 40021: Gimbal IMU data error. Contact DJI Support for assistance .

Repair or replace GPS module. Watch the video how to do it.

Code 40012: Gimbal unable to connect. Repairs required. Contact DJI

Support for assistance. Need to replace the gimbal. Watch the video how to do

it.

Code 40002: Gimbal stuck. Check whether gimbal cover is removed and

ensure gimbal can rotate freely. Be careful. You can burn the suspension

motors, if you forget to remove the cover.

Code 40002: Gimbal stuck. Check whether gimbal cover is removed and

ensure gimbal can rotate freely. Be careful. You can burn the suspension

motors, if you forget to remove the cover.

Code 30226: Start failed. Restart aircraft and DJI Fly App. Follow the

instructions of the DJI.

Code 30210: Power system hardware. Restart aircraft. Reboot helps. If not,

update the firmware.

Code 30168: Aircraft power insufficient. Fly with caution. The error most

often occurs in high winds, but it can be due to a worn battery or a faulty ESC

module.

6Repeat the same steps as

9. Code 30064: Unable to TakeOff. Make sure that nothing prevents the drone

from taking off and that you are in the area where flights are allowed. If all

conditions are met, but the error remains – restart mavic mini. Doesn’t help –

update the firmware. If again the error – need repair mavic mini ( but here it is

needed to understand which module is broken, the fastest is the problem in ESC

module).

10. Code 30060: Compass error. Ensure there are no metal or magnetic objects

near the aircraft and calibrate it before use. If there are definitely no metal

objects around mavic mini and calibration does not help – repair or replace the

gps module.

11. Code 30055: IMU not calibrated. Calibrate IMU. with the Code 30050 error.

12. Code 30050: IMU calibration required. Calibrate IMU – In the settings, find the

IMU calibration function and calibrate according to the instructions. If it does not

help, repair or replace the gps module.

13. Code 30049: GPS Module Error. Restart Aircraft . Restart the mavic mini. If it

does not help, repair or replace the gps module.

14. Code 30047: Barometer initialization failed. Restart aircraft. Follow the

instructions of the DJI.

15. Code 30007 & 30008: No GPS signal. Unable to hover. Fly with caution.

Repair or replacement of the gps module is required.

16. Code 10023: SD card malfunction. Change card. Try pulling and inserting

back. It did not help – change the SD card.

17. Code 10022: No SD card. Insert sd card. Just insert or replace the card.

18. Code 10016: Camera not calibrated. Image quality can be affected. Contact

DJI Support for assistance. Calibrate the camera, if the error persists – replace

or repair the camera.

19. Code 10001: Camera malfunction. Repairs required. Contact DJI Support

for assistance All you can do is restart the drone. If it doesn’t help, replace or

repair the Gimbal camera.

20. Code 10022 means they need to insert a SD Card.

21. Code 30008 means weak GPS signal and may be caused by the environment

Battery Issues

7- Check battery for water damage, signs of disassembly, if the buckles are loose,

and/or the contact pins are misshapen

– If the battery is water damaged or disassembled then it needs to be

replaced

– If the buckles are loose then the battery may fall out of the battery

compartment

– If contact pins are misshapen then the batter cannot connect to the aircraft

normally

– Insert the battery into the aircraft to check if the battery level is normal

– After pressing the buttons there is no response and the LEDs do not light

up. It is possible that the battery has entered the shutdown low battery

level protection mode. Charge battery on hub to resolve.

– After pressing the buttons, there is no response. Battery may be in

firmware update mode due to an update failure. To resolve mount battery

to aircraft and update firmware

– After pressing the power button, the aircraft can be powered on but the

aircraft soon powers off. The battery needs to be charged

– The battery can be charged normally

– If there is no response after pressing the button and the LED lights do not

light up after being mounted into the charger it is most likely that it is in

Permanent fail mode

– The aircraft with an inserted battery can be powered on normally but the

battery cannot be charged normally after inserting it into the two way

charging hub and the LEDs blink in a specific pattern. The protection

function is triggered and charging is forbidden

– The aircraft can be powered on normally but the battery cannot be

charged normally. The battery charging circuit is damaged

– The battery can be charged normally but the charging hub and aircraft

battery level indicators blink one by one. The update failed and the Battery

is in FU mode

– The app shows that the battery is normal

– Check if the voltage difference is large, communication failure,

authentication failure or the battery is poorly mounted

– If the battery cycle is over 200, old age may be the cause.

8- The flight test in low altitude is normal

– Check voltage difference

Remote Controller Issues

– Visual inspection

– Connect the remote controller to the aircraft to check if the remote controller’s

buttons are normal

– Determine the corresponding damaged button,control stick, or button

board

– Link the remote controller to the aircraft and check if the image transmission on

DJI Fly is normal

– Check if the antennas are properly connected, if yes the rc main board

may be bad

– The flight test is normal

– Check antennas

– Check main board

DJI Assistant 2

– Make sure that it is the latest version of Assistant 2

– Update

– Is the device manager able to detect the virtual port?

– Download the latest version of assistant 2 and the virtual port driver

– Is only one port being detected?

– Uninstall both virtual ports and reinstall

Aircraft fails to maintain altitude while flying

– Perform the connection test to see if the sensing system is normal.

– Determine the corresponding damaged part

– Check to see if there is dirt obstructing any sensors

– Turn on aircraft and check if infrared sensor lights up

– Perform flight test

– The downward facing sensors or core board may be damaged

Propeller/Arm

9- Make sure the props are on their corresponding motors

– Check for physical damage

– Check esc board for water damage

Abnormal IMU

– Calibrate

– Flight test

– If calibration repeatedly fails then the IMU is defective

– Check propellers/compass

Abnormal Compass

– Calibration

– If calibration fails multiple times then the compass is defective

– Have the aircraft take off and check if there are any error reports.

– May be strong electrical interference or the compass is installed poorly

Image transmission signal issue

– can you see out of the camera via the DJI Go 4 App

– Try another controller to determine which part is damaged

– Check to see if the antennas are installed correctly

– Aircraft core board or rc main board may be defective

– The image transmission signal transmits smoothly.

– Perform the test outdoors where interference is weak.

– Check firmware and make sure everything is updated

– flight test and distance flight test to see if the test result

– Aircraft main board or rc main board is bad.

Gimbal

Image issue

– The pictures taken are defective

– Check camera for physical damage

– The camera or the coaxial cable may be defective

– Pictures are clear

10- Camera is defective

– dark dots or dots with abnormal colors on the pictures.

– The issue may be due to image noise or dirt on the camera

– If issue persists camera is defective

Camera error after replacement

– Download camera data

– Attempt to calibrate

– Check connection points

Rotation issue

– DJI Fly gimbal calibration

– If there is an issue then there may be something wrong with the axis arm

Altitude Detection Error

1. 2. 3. 4. Perform a link test to see if the infrared distance sensor and downward vision

system is functioning normally

Check whether there is dirt on the downward vision system. If yes, clean off the

dirt

Power on the aircraft, and check if the infrared distance sensor indicator on the

right side of the aircraft light up. If not, the infrared distance sensor is

malfunctioning.

Perform a flight test. If the aircraft still fails to detect the current altitude, it is

possible that the downward monocular vision module or the core board is

damaged.

Front LED Not Lighting Up

1. 2. Disassemble the aircraft, and check if the front LED is damaged. If the aircraft

cannot be disassembled, check if the ESC board can drive the motor normally. If

yes, the front LED is damaged.

Check whether the front LED is connected to the ESC board normally. If not,

reconnect it and see if the error still exists

113. Connect a normal front LED to the ESC board. If the LED does not light up, the

ESC board is damaged.

Aircraft Not Making Sounds when Powered on

(The startup sounds are emitted by the motors.)

1. 2. Connect each motor to the ESC board, and power on the aircraft to see if the

motor can emit sounds normally. If not, the motor is damaged.

Replace the ESC board and test again. If this issue is fixed after the

replacement, the ESC board is damaged.

Bluetooth/WIFI issues

1. 2. 3. Switch the aircraft to Wi-Fi mode, and check if the aircraft status indicator can

blink correctly. If not, it is possible that the core board is damaged.

Connect the aircraft to the mobile phone, and check if the connection is

successful on DJI Fly. If the Wi-Fi signals are weak, it is possible that the

antennas are defective. If the Wi-Fi signals are totally unavailable, the core board

may be damaged

Check if the aircraft can be controlled normally (supported in future). If not, it is

possible that there is a firmware failure or core board hardware error.

4.

Phantom 4 V2

The aircraft cannot be powered on

a. b. Check whether the power supply is cut when a short circuit is detected.

i. If issue occurred due to a short circuit find which board is short

circuited

Disconnect the FPC flat cable between the power port board

Check whether the FPC cable between the power port board and 3 in 1

c. d. ii. board

Replace the FPC cable between the flight controller and 3-in-1 board

disconnect the FPC f