Home › Diagnosis › Shimano STEPS battery not working: BT-E6000/E6010/E8010/E8020/E8035/E8036 LED patterns and errors
Shimano STEPS BT-E6000, E6001, E6010, E8010, E8020, E8035, E8036 battery: elimination flow
BatteryShimano STEPS BT-E
Shimano battery packs report their state through the LEDs next to the power button and through error codes on the display or in E-TUBE. This flow separates a sleeping pack, a charging error, a contact problem and a real cell or BMS fault, and explains which display codes are actually battery codes.
Warning: Never open a Shimano battery or short the terminals; the packs use welded cell groups and a damaged one can ignite. Use only the Shimano EC-E6000, EC-E6002 or EC-E8004 charger and its adapter for your pack.
What you need
- the Shimano charger (EC-E6000/EC-E6002 for BT-E6000/E6010/E8010/E8020, EC-E8004 for BT-E8035/E8036) with the correct plug adapter
- the E-TUBE Project app on a phone with Bluetooth (needs the EW-EN100, SC-E7000, SC-E8000 or newer display) or a dealer with E-TUBE PC
- the key for the battery mount
- a dry cloth for the contacts
LED patterns and what they mean
| Press the battery power button: 1 to 5 LEDs light (E6000 series) or 1 to 5 LEDs on the top face (E8000 series) | Normal. Each LED about 20%. On E6000/E6010 the button on the pack also powers the bike on. |
| Press the button: no LED | Pack in sleep or deep-discharge protection, or BMS shut down. Go to the charger step. |
| Charging: LEDs light one after the other, the top one blinking | Normal charging. All LEDs steady and then off: charge complete. |
| Charging: charger LED blinks and the battery LEDs are off | Charger cannot start: pack outside 0 to 40 C, wrong adapter, or the BMS refuses. Warm up and retry. |
| Charging: battery LEDs blink twice, pause, repeat (or a fast flash of all LEDs) | Battery error reported by the BMS. E-TUBE will show the matching code. Needs a dealer check. |
| Battery LED blinks red (BT-E8035/E8036 and newer packs with a single indicator) | Battery error or temperature protection. If it persists at room temperature, BMS fault. |
| Battery LEDs normal, bike does not power on | Battery fine; mount contacts, EW-SD cable, display or drive unit. |
Step by step
1. Read the display error and classify it
Turn the bike on if you can. SC-E6000/E6100/E7000/E8000 show a code like E010 or W013; EW-EN100 shows it as a red/blue LED pattern that E-TUBE translates. Battery codes are E020 (communication between battery and drive unit), E021 (battery not supported by this drive unit), E022 (battery communication error), E023 (battery abnormality detected). W013 is torque sensor initialisation and E010 is a system (communication) error: neither is a battery code, but both can be triggered by a bad battery contact that makes the system brown out at start-up.
If OK: No code, or the bike does not turn on at all: go to step 2.
If not: E020/E022: contact or cable, go to step 5. E021: wrong battery for this drive unit (or a firmware mismatch), go to step 7. E023: BMS-logged fault, complete the flow anyway, then see verdicts. W013/E010 appearing together with a reboot on bumps: contact fault, go to step 5.
Turn the bike on if you can. SC-E6000/E6100/E7000/E8000 show a code like E010 or W013; EW-EN100 shows it as a red/blue LED pattern that E-TUBE translates. Battery codes are E020 (communication between battery and drive unit), E021 (battery not supported by this drive unit), E022 (battery communication error), E023 (battery abnormality detected). W013 is torque sensor initialisation and E010 is a system (communication) error: neither is a battery code, but both can be triggered by a bad battery contact that makes the system brown out at start-up.
If OK: No code, or the bike does not turn on at all: go to step 2.
If not: E020/E022: contact or cable, go to step 5. E021: wrong battery for this drive unit (or a firmware mismatch), go to step 7. E023: BMS-logged fault, complete the flow anyway, then see verdicts. W013/E010 appearing together with a reboot on bumps: contact fault, go to step 5.
2. Battery LEDs off the bike
Unlock and remove the pack. Press its power button for 1 second.
If OK: LEDs light: pack is awake. Go to step 5 (contacts and bike side).
If not: No LEDs: go to step 3.
Unlock and remove the pack. Press its power button for 1 second.
If OK: LEDs light: pack is awake. Go to step 5 (contacts and bike side).
If not: No LEDs: go to step 3.
3. Charger, adapter and socket
Plug the charger into a good socket with nothing attached: its LED should light. Check you have the correct adapter: BT-E6000/E6010 use the charge port on the pack, BT-E8010/E8020 charge through the same port, BT-E8035/E8036 can also charge on the bike through the frame port. Connect the battery and watch both LEDs for 5 minutes.
If OK: Charger LED steady and the battery LEDs begin their sequence: go to step 6 after it is full.
If not: Charger LED off on a good socket: charger fault. Charger LED blinking: go to step 4.
Plug the charger into a good socket with nothing attached: its LED should light. Check you have the correct adapter: BT-E6000/E6010 use the charge port on the pack, BT-E8010/E8020 charge through the same port, BT-E8035/E8036 can also charge on the bike through the frame port. Connect the battery and watch both LEDs for 5 minutes.
If OK: Charger LED steady and the battery LEDs begin their sequence: go to step 6 after it is full.
If not: Charger LED off on a good socket: charger fault. Charger LED blinking: go to step 4.
4. Temperature and deep-discharge recovery
Bring the pack to room temperature for 2 hours (Shimano refuses charge below 0 C and above 40 C). Reconnect and leave it 1 hour undisturbed. Shimano BMS boards wake slowly from deep-discharge: the first LED can take 30 to 60 minutes.
If OK: Charging starts: the pack was cold or deep-discharged. Charge to full, then run the health check in step 8.
If not: After 2 hours still nothing, or the LEDs go to the error blink: BMS lock-out. See verdicts.
Bring the pack to room temperature for 2 hours (Shimano refuses charge below 0 C and above 40 C). Reconnect and leave it 1 hour undisturbed. Shimano BMS boards wake slowly from deep-discharge: the first LED can take 30 to 60 minutes.
If OK: Charging starts: the pack was cold or deep-discharged. Charge to full, then run the health check in step 8.
If not: After 2 hours still nothing, or the LEDs go to the error blink: BMS lock-out. See verdicts.
5. Mount contacts and EW-SD cable
Look at the contacts on the pack and on the bike's battery mount. Clean with a dry cloth. Check the mount is tight on the frame (loose mounts are common on E6000 rack mounts) and the lock clicks. Follow the cable from the mount to the drive unit and look for chafing. Refit and power on. Wiggle the pack while the bike is on.
If OK: Bike powers on and does not reboot when wiggled: it was contact. Ride and watch for E020/E022 to return.
If not: Powers on but reboots when wiggled: mount contacts or cable, a dealer can replace the mount (BM-E6000/E6010/E8010/E8020) or the cable. Does not power on at all with a pack that shows LEDs: go to step 6.
Look at the contacts on the pack and on the bike's battery mount. Clean with a dry cloth. Check the mount is tight on the frame (loose mounts are common on E6000 rack mounts) and the lock clicks. Follow the cable from the mount to the drive unit and look for chafing. Refit and power on. Wiggle the pack while the bike is on.
If OK: Bike powers on and does not reboot when wiggled: it was contact. Ride and watch for E020/E022 to return.
If not: Powers on but reboots when wiggled: mount contacts or cable, a dealer can replace the mount (BM-E6000/E6010/E8010/E8020) or the cable. Does not power on at all with a pack that shows LEDs: go to step 6.
6. Power on from the pack vs from the display
On BT-E6000/E6010/E8010/E8020 you can power the system on from the button on the pack. Fit the pack and press its button. Then try the display button.
If OK: Pack button turns the system on, display button does not: display or its cable is the fault. Pack button and display both turn it on now: contact problem solved.
If not: Neither wakes the system while the pack shows LEDs off the bike: mount, cable or drive unit power input. Go to step 7 for a swap test.
On BT-E6000/E6010/E8010/E8020 you can power the system on from the button on the pack. Fit the pack and press its button. Then try the display button.
If OK: Pack button turns the system on, display button does not: display or its cable is the fault. Pack button and display both turn it on now: contact problem solved.
If not: Neither wakes the system while the pack shows LEDs off the bike: mount, cable or drive unit power input. Go to step 7 for a swap test.
7. Swap test and E021 check
Try a known-good Shimano battery of the same series on your bike, and yours on another bike. If you see E021, confirm in E-TUBE that the drive unit firmware supports your pack (BT-E8035/E8036 need drive unit firmware from 2019 or later; BT-E6001 needs current firmware on E6100 units).
If OK: Your bike works with another battery: your battery is the fault (verdicts). Your battery works elsewhere: bike side.
If not: E021 with the original battery after a firmware update: a dealer update of the drive unit fixes it. Both bikes fail with your pack: BMS communication has failed.
Try a known-good Shimano battery of the same series on your bike, and yours on another bike. If you see E021, confirm in E-TUBE that the drive unit firmware supports your pack (BT-E8035/E8036 need drive unit firmware from 2019 or later; BT-E6001 needs current firmware on E6100 units).
If OK: Your bike works with another battery: your battery is the fault (verdicts). Your battery works elsewhere: bike side.
If not: E021 with the original battery after a firmware update: a dealer update of the drive unit fixes it. Both bikes fail with your pack: BMS communication has failed.
8. E-TUBE battery health and cycles
Connect the E-TUBE Project app or let a dealer connect E-TUBE PC. Under the battery, read the charge count and, on current firmware, the battery health. Shimano shows a warning when the pack is below its service threshold. Also read the error log.
If OK: Health good, no logged battery errors, but the pack still misbehaves: recheck contacts and the charger. Health low with a high cycle count: worn cells, see verdicts.
If not: E-TUBE cannot see the battery while the bike is on: the BMS is not communicating. Replacement pack.
Connect the E-TUBE Project app or let a dealer connect E-TUBE PC. Under the battery, read the charge count and, on current firmware, the battery health. Shimano shows a warning when the pack is below its service threshold. Also read the error log.
If OK: Health good, no logged battery errors, but the pack still misbehaves: recheck contacts and the charger. Health low with a high cycle count: worn cells, see verdicts.
If not: E-TUBE cannot see the battery while the bike is on: the BMS is not communicating. Replacement pack.
What you now know for sure
- Charger or adapter fault: Charger LED dead on a good socket, or blinking with every battery you try. → Replace the charger with the correct Shimano model. Check the adapter is the right one for your pack.
- Temperature or deep-discharge, recovered: No LEDs at first, but charging started after warming up and waiting; pack reached full. → Run the health test flow. Store at 2 to 3 LEDs and top up every 3 months; Shimano packs self-discharge faster than most.
- Contact, mount or cable (E020/E022, W013/E010 with reboots): Bike reboots or drops assist when the pack is wiggled, or the code clears after cleaning and tightening the mount. → Clean and tighten. If it returns, a dealer replaces the mount or the EW-SD cable; both are cheap parts.
- Wrong or unsupported battery (E021): Appears after fitting a different pack or after a firmware update, and E-TUBE says the pack is not supported. → Dealer firmware update on the drive unit, or use the pack series the bike was sold with.
- BMS fault or cells worn (E023, error blink pattern, E-TUBE health low): BMS reports an abnormality that survives a contact clean and a 2-hour charger wait, or E-TUBE shows health below its threshold. → Shimano does not re-cell packs. Replacement pack (check warranty: 2 years, some markets 3), or a third-party re-cell service that keeps the Shimano BMS; E-TUBE will still show the old cycle count.
- Bike side: Pack shows LEDs and works on another bike; a known-good pack does not wake your bike. → Mount, cable, display or drive unit. Follow the Shimano display/drive flow.
Manuals and video
Videos found on YouTube and checked automatically; they are other people's work, not ours.
- Canyon eMTB - Shimano Steps EP8 - how to turn on when the switch button battery is flat UPS Trader
- Having Trouble With Your Di2 Battery Charging? Junction A Battery Test #cycling #roadbike #shimano Cali's World
Frequently asked
Is W013 a battery error on Shimano STEPS?
No. W013 means the torque sensor did not initialise, usually because there was weight on a pedal at power-on. Turn the bike off, keep your feet off the pedals, turn it on again. It only relates to the battery when it comes with random reboots, which points to a loose battery contact browning out the system.
Which Shimano codes are real battery codes?
E020, E021, E022 and E023. E020 and E022 are communication errors and usually contacts or the cable; E021 means the drive unit does not support that battery (firmware or wrong series); E023 is a fault logged by the battery's own BMS.
How do I check Shimano battery health?
In the E-TUBE Project app (phone, via Bluetooth on compatible displays) or E-TUBE PC at a dealer. Look for the charge count and, on recent firmware, a battery health indicator. Combine it with a range test: the app number alone can hide a single weak cell group.
Still stuck? Take a photo of the display and show it to a local e-bike workshop. Bring the bike's system name (e.g. Bosch Performance Line CX) and the exact code; that saves diagnostic time and money.