FR FieldReady Academy
Defibrillators

ZOLL R BLS PLUS: troubleshooting and error codes

The ServiceForge knowledge base holds 38 documented symptoms for the ZOLL R BLS PLUS, with 111 ranked causes, 0 diagnostic checks with test points and expected values, and 0 error codes. Each symptom below shows its causes and the first check; the rest is one connection away. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Symptoms

Excessive artifact when using paddles as ECG source

Paddles produce high levels of electrical noise when used to obtain ECG signal

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Paddles setting not selected (common)
  2. 2. Inadequate paddle pressure against patient skin (common)
  3. 3. Paddles used without conductive gel (common)
  4. 4. Dirty or corroded paddle surface (common)
  5. 5. Contamination or debris between adult and pediatric plates (occasional)
  6. 6. Damaged paddle cable (occasional)
  7. 7. Paddle use vs ECG electrode choice (occasional)

7 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Energy does not discharge when SHOCK button pressed high voltage

Defibrillator fails to deliver shock therapy despite charge ready indication and button press

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Timeout elapsed in Manual mode since initial charge ready (common)
  2. 2. Device in Sync or Remote Sync mode with no QRS detected (common)
  3. 3. Energy selection changed during charge or after ready (occasional)
  4. 4. Unit not completely charged when SHOCK button pressed (common)
  5. 5. Insufficient SHOCK button pressure or duration (common)
  6. 6. Pads or paddles not making good contact with patient (common)

6 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Noisy ECG, artifact, or wandering baseline patient safety

ECG waveform displays excessive noise, artifact, or baseline drift affecting signal quality

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Suboptimal filter settings (occasional)
  2. 2. Poor patient skin preparation before electrode attachment (common)
  3. 3. Electrode adhesion or placement problem (common)
  4. 4. Electrode or cable movement causing artifact (common)
  5. 5. Patient movement (common)
  6. 6. Radio frequency interference (rare)

6 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

CHECK PADS message displayed during pacing patient safety

Device indicates problem with therapy electrode pads or pacing lead connection

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Therapy electrodes not connected to OneStep cable (common)
  2. 2. Electrode gel dried out (common)
  3. 3. Poor electrode-to-patient contact (common)
  4. 4. Defective OneStep cable (occasional)
  5. 5. Electrosurgical apparatus interfering (rare)

5 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

CHECK PADS or ATTACH PADS message displayed during defibrillation patient safety

Device alerts that therapy electrode pads are not properly connected or not detected

Ranked causes

  1. 1. OneStep cable or hands-free therapy electrodes not properly connected (common)
  2. 2. Poor hands-free electrode contact or excessive patient hair (common)
  3. 3. Defective OneStep cable (occasional)
  4. 4. Cable integrity issue requiring alternative therapy method (occasional)
  5. 5. Electrosurgical apparatus interference (rare)

5 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

No ventricular capture beat after stimulus marker on ECG patient safety

Pacemaker fails to produce electrical capture as evidenced by absence of QRS after stimulus spike

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Patient has no pulse or inadequate perfusion (common)
  2. 2. Pacing output current too low (common)
  3. 3. Poor electrode contact with patient (common)
  4. 4. Suboptimal ECG lead selection (occasional)
  5. 5. Improper therapy electrode placement (occasional)

5 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

AC Charger: Battery indicator alternately illuminating green and yellow

Battery status indicator displays alternating green and yellow lights indicating charging or error state

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Battery not properly installed or battery fault (common)
  2. 2. Fault condition in charging circuit (common)
  3. 3. Defective or low battery pack (common)
  4. 4. Persistent fault after battery replacement (occasional)

4 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

ECG LEAD OFF message displayed patient safety

Device cannot detect proper ECG cable or electrode connection

Ranked causes

  1. 1. ECG cable not connected to patient and instrument (common)
  2. 2. ECG electrodes not making good contact or dried out (common)
  3. 3. Wrong ECG cable type connected or improper switchover (occasional)
  4. 4. Defective ECG cable (occasional)

4 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

LOW BATTERY message on display while plugged into AC mains

Device displays low battery warning despite being connected to AC power supply

Ranked causes

  1. 1. AC power not being detected by device (common)
  2. 2. Battery pack not fully charged or defective (common)
  3. 3. AC power interruption or poor connection (occasional)
  4. 4. AC mains power failure or outlet malfunction (occasional)

4 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

No 30J TEST OK message during manual defibrillator self-test

Device does not display successful self-test confirmation when performing 30 joule test

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Energy level not set to 30 joules (common)
  2. 2. OneStep electrode not properly connected during OneStep test (common)
  3. 3. OneStep cable not firmly inserted into test port during test port testing (common)
  4. 4. Insufficient paddle pressure during paddle testing (common)

4 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

No apparent energy delivery to patient high voltage

Device appears to discharge but patient shows no visible physical response to shock

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Patient does not show physical reaction despite energy delivery (common)
  2. 2. Device malfunction requiring self-test (occasional)
  3. 3. Pad contact problem alternating with CHECK PADS message (occasional)
  4. 4. Improper hands-free therapy electrode placement or contact (occasional)

4 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Patient on Standby pacing gets paced intermittently patient safety

Device paces patient sporadically in standby mode instead of consistently at demand rate

Ranked causes

  1. 1. ECG electrode or pacing cable connection problem (common)
  2. 2. ECG cable damaged (occasional)
  3. 3. Patient R-to-R interval varying with pacing rate set close to patient rate (occasional)
  4. 4. Pacemaker rate setting inappropriate (occasional)

4 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

POOR LEAD CONTACT message displayed patient safety

Device detects degraded ECG signal quality from patient connection

Ranked causes

  1. 1. ECG cable not connected to patient and instrument (common)
  2. 2. ECG electrodes not making good contact or dried out (common)
  3. 3. Wrong ECG cable type connected or improper switchover (occasional)
  4. 4. Defective ECG cable (occasional)

4 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Sync marker absent or inconsistent with QRS on display and recorder patient safety

Synchronization marker does not appear or does not align with QRS waveform on monitor and printed record

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Device not in Sync mode (common)
  2. 2. Device in Remote Sync mode (common)
  3. 3. Poor lead selection or electrode placement (common)
  4. 4. Recorder paper width incorrect (occasional)

4 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Unable to SHOCK when in Remote Sync mode high voltage

Device fails to deliver shock in Remote Sync mode despite proper setup and charge

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Remote Sync mode not properly enabled or display issue (common)
  2. 2. Remote device not properly connected or not conforming to specifications (common)
  3. 3. Sync markers not appearing on remote device or not synchronized with R wave (common)
  4. 4. Insufficient SHOCK button pressure or duration (occasional)

4 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Unable to SHOCK when in Sync mode high voltage

Device will not deliver synchronized defibrillation shock despite Sync mode being active

Ranked causes

  1. 1. SYNC mode not properly displayed or QRS sync markers not visible (common)
  2. 2. Sync markers not detected on QRS waveform (common)
  3. 3. Insufficient SHOCK button pressure or duration (occasional)
  4. 4. Suboptimal ECG electrode placement (occasional)

4 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

CHECK RECORDER message displayed

Recorder hardware is not operational or paper loading issue detected

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Recorder out of paper (common)
  2. 2. Recorder door is open (common)
  3. 3. Paper loaded upside down (common)

3 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Light or poor quality printing from recorder

Printed ECG output shows light or faint recording with reduced contrast or clarity

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Incorrect paper type in use (common)
  2. 2. Paper installed grid side facing wrong direction (common)
  3. 3. Recorder print head requires cleaning (common)

3 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Unit does not turn on or unexpectedly shuts off

Device fails to power on or powers off without user action

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Battery pack not properly installed (common)
  2. 2. Unit not plugged into AC power (common)
  3. 3. Battery pack not fully charged or defective (common)

3 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Charge time to 200 J exceeds 10 seconds high voltage

Defibrillator takes longer than typical 10 seconds to reach 200 joule charge level

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Low battery condition (common)
  2. 2. Battery not fully charged (common)

2 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Defibrillator will not charge high voltage

Device energy level does not increment on display when charging is initiated

Ranked causes

  1. 1. SHOCK button stuck in ON position (common)
  2. 2. Battery pack depleted or defective (common)

2 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Heart rate display reads 0 despite proper pacing capture on ECG patient safety

Device shows zero beats per minute on display while ECG shows normal pacing capture

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Patient has no pulse or no mechanical capture (common)
  2. 2. Suboptimal ECG lead selection preventing rate calculation (common)

2 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Inconsistent QRS beep or heart rate display patient safety

Device produces irregular or inconsistent QRS detection tone or displays changing heart rate values

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Poor lead selection (common)
  2. 2. Suboptimal electrode placement (common)

2 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Neither Battery nor AC Power indicator illuminated when plugged into AC mains

Both battery and AC power status indicators are dark with device connected to AC power

Ranked causes

  1. 1. AC connection interrupted or power delivery problem (common)
  2. 2. AC mains power failure or outlet malfunction (common)

2 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

No stimulus marker present on ECG trace during pacing patient safety

Pacemaker stimulus artifact (spike) does not appear on ECG recording

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Device not in PACER mode (common)
  2. 2. Pacer rate not set above patient heart rate (common)

2 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

NOISY ECG RETRY ANALYSIS message displayed patient safety

Device detects excessive noise in ECG signal and suspends automatic rhythm analysis

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Improper therapy electrode application or poor adhesion (common)
  2. 2. Patient movement or people touching patient (common)

2 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Poor ECG signal amplitude, calibration pulse normal patient safety

ECG waveform amplitude is reduced while calibration pulse displays normally

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Poor lead selection for current patient condition (common)
  2. 2. Suboptimal electrode placement (common)

2 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

SELECT PADS message displayed patient safety

Device indicates hands-free therapy electrodes must be connected to enable ECG analysis

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Hands-free therapy electrodes not attached while in advisory defibrillation mode (common)
  2. 2. Manual mode requires paddle selection (common)

2 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Alarm tone sounds when unit turned on but alarm feature not enabled

Device emits alarm beep at power-on despite alarm feature being disabled in settings

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Alarm not suspended (common)

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Bedside/Central Station/Telemetry ECG display erratic during pacing

Remote ECG displays become unstable or unreadable when pacemaker is actively pacing

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Patient monitor inputs overloaded by pacing signals (common)

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

CHECK CPR PUCK message displayed

Device displays informational message about CPR puck calibration status

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Default CPR puck calibration values in use (common)

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

CPR Remaining Timer enabled but fails to decrement

CPR countdown timer is activated but does not decrease as expected

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Software or timing error requiring device restart (unknown)

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

DEFIB MAINT. REQ. message displayed caution

Device alerts that maintenance is required after delivering specified number of shocks

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Maintenance interval reached after 5000 shocks at 200 joules (common)

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

No ECG trace or dashed line on display patient safety

ECG waveform does not display on monitor screen, showing only dashed line instead

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Device in Remote Sync mode (common)

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Recorder makes stuttering sound when activated caution

Recorder produces irregular grinding or stuttering noise during operation

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Paper jam in recorder mechanism (common)

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

SET CLOCK message displayed

Device requests time and date configuration

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Time and date not configured or internal battery near end of life (unknown)

2 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Summary Report will not print when Report/Print Chart softkeys activated

Device does not generate or print summary report despite user pressing print commands

Ranked causes

  1. 1. Insufficient time elapsed since triggering event (common)

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

X FAULT XX message displayed

Device displays fault error code requiring user intervention

Ranked causes

  1. 1. System fault detected (unknown)

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Community

0 fixes logged by technicians through their AI, with outcomes, for this model.

ServiceForge knowledge base record. Field-unverified unless technicians confirmed it. A teaching summary of the record, not a service manual. Export 2026-10-14.