How To Hotwire A Lime Scooter? (Step-By-Step)
Lime Scooters are capable and efficient vehicles for easy transportation, and many people wish to own them.
Since the introduction of the Lime Scooter in 2017, there have been many cases of theft or vandalism. Here, we’ll discuss how to hotwire and personalize a lime scooter.
To hotwire a lime scooter, disable the “brain,” which controls the GPS tracker, alarm system, and other functions. Then remove the impact plates, oval controller cover, battery, and controller and cut its cables. Next, join the cables to a 3rd party controller, rearrange the battery, impact plates, and the oval controller cover, then sample the configuration.
What is Hotwiring, and how does it work with the Lime Scooter?
Hotwiring is a pretty popular concept, thanks to various movie depictions. It involves starting a vehicle without a key or an ignition switch and is mostly used to steal cars.
Sometimes, however, the actual owner of a vehicle may do it in situations where they misplace their keys.
Lime scooters have a very complex system that can overcome the issue of theft or hacking.
People say that how difficult a scooter will be to hack or steal depends on its level of customization.
Can you Hotwire a Lime Scooter?
Lime scooters, unlike other e-scooters, have very complex systems that act to prevent theft or hacking of the scooters.
It is all thanks to their customized parts, which have no resale value if stolen. However, if you’re skilled enough and have the right tools, you can hotwire a lime scooter.
Some people have been able to go around the complexity of these scooters and successfully hotwire them. However, the processes involved, skills required, and tools needed aren’t easy.
In other words, though it is possible to hotwire a lime scooter, it is no easy feat and requires a lot of preparation.
How to Hotwire a Lime Scooter (Step by Step)?
Hotwiring a lime scooter, as earlier mentioned, is not an easy feat and involves a lot of preparation and skill.
But first, you must have gotten your hands on a scooter before needing to hotwire it. You will need tools and supplies to help in the process.
They include:
- Interchangeable screwdrivers
- Power drill
- 1/4″ drill bitTorx bits
- Power drill
- Interchangeable screwdriver
- Drill bit suitable for aluminum (1/4” ideally)
- Torx bits:( T10, T20, T25)
- Soldering supplies (solder, steel wool, iron, flux, and sponge)
- Heat shrink
- Wire strippers
- Electric tapes( interchangeable with the heat shrink)
- Wire cutters
#1. Step 1
Take away the Impact Plates, Oval Controller Cover, and The Battery. Unscrew the screws that hold each component and unplug the battery before putting them aside.
#2. Step 2
Take away the Controller and Cut the Controller Cables. Unscrew the screws on the neck of the controller and unplug the five controller cables and keep the controller aside.
Then identify and cut the following three cables as long as possible.
- The motor-controller cable is colored Black.
- The battery-controller cable
- The handlebar-controller cable is colored green
#3. Step 3
Attach Controller Cables to 3rd Party Controllers. Strip 1″ of the black insulation off each of the four cables at the cut end.
Prepare each of the wires within the four cables in the following way:
Numbers | Cable Name | Wire color | Wire Purpose | Preparations |
---|---|---|---|---|
1A | battery-controller | Red | high voltage power (+36V) | strip 1/2“, twist, tin |
3A | battery-controller | Black | high voltage ground | strip 1/2“, twist, tin |
4A | motor-controller | Yellow | phase A of 3-phase motor | strip 1/2“, twist, tin |
5A | motor-controller | Blue | phase B of 3-phase motor | strip 1/2“, twist, tin |
6A | motor-controller | Green | phase C of 3-phase motor | strip 1/2“, twist, tin |
* | motor-controller | Black | Back EMF | cut off, not used |
* | motor-controller | Red | Back EMF | cut off, not used |
* | motor-controller | White | Back EMF | cut off, not used |
7A | handlebar-controller | Red | hall sensors power (+5V) | strip 1/2“, twist, tin |
8A | Handlebar-controller | Black | hall sensors ground | strip 1/2“, twist, tin |
9A | Handlebar-controller | Blue | Throttle hall sensor signal | strip 1/2“, twist, tin |
* | Handlebar-controller | White | rear brake hall sensor signal | cut off, not used |
* | Handlebar-controller | Yellow | front light power (+6V) | cut off, not used |
* | Handlebar-controller | Green | front brake hall sensor signal | cut off, not used |
Next, you should arrange the wires on the 3rd party controller in this format:
Numbers | Wire Description | Wire Purpose | Preparations |
---|---|---|---|
1B | Red with ring connector and Red heat shrink | High voltage power (+36V) | cut off ring connector, remove heat shrink, strip 1/2“, twist, tin |
2B | Red with ring connector and Black heat shrink | key switch | cut off ring connector, remove heat shrink, strip 1/2“, twist, tin |
3B | Black with ring connector | High voltage ground | cut off ring connector, remove heat shrink, strip 1/2“, twist, tin |
4B | Yellow with ring connector | phase A of 3-phase motor | cut off ring connector, remove heat shrink, strip 1/2“, twist, tin |
5B | Blue with ring connector | phase B of 3-phase motor | cut off ring connector, remove heat shrink, strip 1/2“, twist, tin |
6B | Green with ring connector | phase C of 3-phase motor | cut off ring connector, remove heat shrink, strip 1/2“, twist, tin |
7B | Red with White connector along with wires 8B and 9B | throttle hall sensor power (+5V) | remove from the white connector, strip 1/2″, twist, tin |
8B | Black with White connector along with wires 7B and 9B | Throttle hall sensor ground | remove from the white connector, strip 1/2″, twist, tin |
9B | Green with White connector along with wires 7B and 8B | Throttle hall sensor signal | remove from the white connector, strip 1/2″, twist, tin |
Take these unused wires away from the 3rd party controller:
- Purple with White connector
- Red and Black with a Red connector
- Blue and Black with a White connector
- Pink, Black, and Gray with a Red connector
- Brown with Green tube
- Yellow and Black with a White connector
- Yellow, Blue, and Green with a Red connector
- Yellow, Blue, and Green with White connector. Do not take away the Red and Black wires.
Sold the four cables to the 3rd party controller, and don’t forget to insulate each soldered connection, either with heat shrink or electrical tape.
#4. Step 4
Mount 3rd party controller. Find the “e” letter of the “Lime” logo on the right side of the scooter.
Drill a gap wide enough for the cable joints can fit through. Drill several holes in close contact to make a larger opening carefully.
Separate and pass the cable joints through the gap from the outside carefully.
Join the controller near opening them using zip ties and join the cable that connects the controller to the motor. Then reattach the battery and reconnect the battery cables.
#5. Step 5
Test the Setup. Use the throttle to see if the back wheel spins, but if not, check your setup again.
Then reattach your impact plates and oval controller cover and enjoy your scooter.
Convert Lime Scooter to a Personal Scooter: Can a Lime scooter be hacked?
Professional hackers can also hack Lime Scooters, but they usually go for user data and information.
To convert the lime scooter to a personal scooter, follow these steps:
- Remove the impact plates
- Remove the oval controller cover
- Remove the battery
- Remove the controller and cut the controller’s cables.
- Then, join the controller cables to 3rd party controller
- Mount 3rd party controller, rearrange battery, then test the setup
- Finally, rearrange the impact plates and the oval controller cover before using your scooter.
Another method is to replace the android based device that the scooter uses with a Bluetooth serial adapter.
Microcontrollers can also work, but the Bluetooth adapter method is easier.
Related: Can You Ride Lime Scooters At Night?
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lime scooters are some of the best e-scooters and have a formidable anti-theft system.
As a result, hotwiring or hacking these scooters is very difficult and sometimes considered impossible due to their complexity.
However, one can conquer the system with the right tools, skills, and patience.