My rocket won't launch what could be wrong?

Ignition problems can be frustrating but they usually turn out to be one of just a few things! It's always worth having some spare igniters, you can buy some on our Starters & Igniters page.

1) Your batteries may not have enough power, or not be able to supply enough power. We ship and sell Duracell Procell Intense batteries as these are designed to supply lots of current when needed. You can find these in the Batteries & Chargers page.

2) Check your batteries are secure, it's possible your battery springs may have been compressed if the batteries rattle preventing a good connection. Take out the batteries and stretch out the springs before re-installing.

3) You may have a short circuit on the igniter. Check that your launch controller clips or igniter wires are not touching each other. The Estes igniters can sometimes get the wires squeezed together when you install them in the engine with the plug. Ensure the plug is put in with the wires apart. It's also worth noting that if the clips are touching the blast plate then this will also short out your circuit.

4) Check for lots of residue on the clips. This could prevent a good connection to your igniter. If this is the case clean them with some fine sandpaper or steel wool.

5) If your igniter has burnt when you remove it then you may not have pushed the igniter all the way in to the motor. Make sure igniters are all the way into your motor and with higher power motors follow the instructions carefully.

6) You may have failed to put the safety key into the launch controller correctly, or forgotten to do so. It's rare but it can happen during the business of launch time.

7) You could have been very unlucky with a motor or igniter. Try another motor and igniter to see if your launch controller is OK and this was the case.

8) You could have a faulty launch controller. A multi meter could be connected to the clips to measure the current flowing. It should show a good few whole amps when the launch button is pressed. Any lower would suggest bad batteries, or none at all a bad controller. If in doubt please contact us for assistance if you've got this far on the checklist!

You may wish to buy a upgraded launch controller too if you want to be extra sure of great launches! The Klima launch controller can take two 9v batteries which gives it plenty of juice! If you want to stand a bit further back the Estes Pro launch controller or E launch controller have longer leads. Check out our Launch controllers page for more information.