Novo 3 Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It

Like all modern pod-based vaping systems, the SMOK Novo 3 is a device that you can generally expect to be completely reliable whenever you want to use it. Perhaps that’s why the printed instruction manual included with the Novo 3 doesn’t offer a great deal of troubleshooting advice that you can use if your Novo 3 isn’t working. You can think of this troubleshooting guide as the replacement for the comprehensive manual that wasn’t included with your device. In it, we’re going to walk you through all of the most common problems with the Novo 3 and explain how to fix them.

Novo 3 Blinking and Not Hitting

If your Novo 3 is blinking or not registering the pod when you try to vape, your device is not hitting. In most cases, the fix for a blinking Novo 3 is fairly simple. Follow these steps to get your device working again.

• If your Novo 3 blinks many times when you try to vape, the device’s battery is dead. Connect the Novo 3 to your computer to charge the battery and disconnect the device when the light turns green.
• If your Novo 3 blinks a few times when you try to vape, the device is either not registering the pod or is detecting a short circuit. Start by removing the pod and checking for a leak under it. If the pod has leaked, dry the device and pod thoroughly with paper towels. If your Novo 3 still isn’t hitting, scroll down to “Novo 3 Leaking” below to troubleshoot the issue further.
• Clean the metal contacts inside the Novo 3 and on the bottom of the pod with a pencil eraser or a cotton swab slightly moistened with rubbing alcohol. Before using the pod again, make sure that there is no alcohol or eraser residue in the device’s chamber.
• Reverse the pod.
• Install a new pod.

Novo 3 Not Charging

When you connect the Novo 3 to the charging cable, the device’s light should immediately turn on. When the light is red, the battery is charging. When the light turns green, the device is fully charged. If the light doesn’t turn on, your Novo 3 isn’t charging. Here’s what you should do.

• Charge the Novo 3 only through your computer. A wall charger may use a higher voltage or amperage than what the Novo 3 is designed for, and that may cause the battery to overheat.
• Use a different charging cable. Replacing the cable will almost always fix a vape that isn’t charging.
• Clean your Novo 3’s charging port with a toothpick. Use the toothpick to gently remove the lint and dust from the port, and then try charging the device again. You can also try using compressed air to clean the port.

Novo 3 Producing No Flavor

Do you find that your Novo 3 produces no flavor or gives you weak hits? It might be time to charge the battery. If the battery is already charged, follow these steps to fix the problem.

• Make sure that the pod isn’t empty. If your Novo 3 is nearly out of e-liquid, it’ll produce smaller clouds with very little flavor.
• Replace the pod. After several days of regular use, e-liquid residue will collect on the pod’s heating element. The residue will impede your device’s ability to produce vapor and will also affect flavor quality.
• Increase the nicotine strength of your e-liquid. If your Novo 3 is producing weak hits, the nicotine strength is probably too low for your needs.
• If you’re filling your Novo 3 with freebase nicotine e-liquid, try switching to nicotine salt. Freebase e-liquid usually comes in very low nicotine strengths that aren’t appropriate for small vaping devices. Because freebase e-liquid is often very thick, it can also cause the Novo 3 pod to clog.

Novo 3 Leaking or Spitting

Have you discovered a leak under your Novo 3 pod? If so, you need to act quickly to remove the e-liquid from the device and prevent damage to the delicate electronic components. Start by removing as much of the e-liquid as possible with a paper towel. If the Novo 3 still doesn’t work, turn the device upside down. Blow through the airflow hole at the bottom of the device while holding a paper towel over the pod chamber. Can you see e-liquid inside the chamber? Remove it and repeat the process until the chamber is dry. If the Novo 3 still doesn’t work, seal it in a plastic bag with a desiccant packet for a day or two.

If your Novo 3 still doesn’t work after you’ve followed the steps above, it’s likely that the device has suffered permanent damage from the leak. If the Novo 3 does work, here’s how to prevent it from leaking in the future.

• Don’t overfill the pod. If the pod is too full, you’ll push e-liquid out of it when you close the rubber stopper.
• Don’t puff so hard. If you puff too firmly, you’ll probably notice that the Nord 3 occasionally spits e-liquid into your mouth. Puff just firmly enough to make the Nord 3 generate vapor.
• Make sure that the stopper is completely closed when you fill the pod.

Novo 3 Tastes Burnt

Is your Novo 3 producing a burnt flavor? Since the Novo 3 is a simple pod system that only operates at one wattage, this is usually an easy problem to fix because there’s no way to set your device to a power level that’s too high. Here’s how to fix a Novo 3 that tastes burnt.

• Check the level of e-liquid in the pod. If the pod is empty, refill it.
• Replace the pod. As you use the Novo 3 pod, residue will collect on the pod’s atomizer coil. After several days of use, the residue will become so thick that your device will begin to produce a burnt flavor. At this point, it’s time for a new pod.
• Use unsweetened e-liquid. Sweetened e-liquid contains sucralose, which doesn’t vaporize cleanly and will cause residue to accumulate on your pod’s atomizer coil very quickly.
• Always let new pods stand for several minutes after filling them. The coil’s cotton wick needs to be completely wet before you begin vaping.
• Don’t chain vape. Always wait a few seconds after each puff to allow the wick to refresh itself.