Etap rear derailleur "sleeping"
#1
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2018
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Etap rear derailleur "sleeping"
Hello , I installed etap wifli last month.
I've been having a weird issue. the Rear derailleur seems to "sleep" mid ride, and the only way to get it working again is to shift the front derailleur once (press both shifters).
I also noticed yesterday that it stopped working in the middle of the cassette. (it did it twice)
Also when it stopped I got off the bike and tried the little button on the derailleur , it wasn't working.
Later at home I checked the lights and it was flashing Green so I assume is not a battery issue
Any one had similar issues and solved it ?
PS.I beg you , if you can add to my issue I welcome all comments, but don't make this thread into an argument (Mechanical Vs electronic). Before posting I tried google, and every single thread I found had half of the discussion arguing if mechanical is better. I DO NOT CARE .
I've been having a weird issue. the Rear derailleur seems to "sleep" mid ride, and the only way to get it working again is to shift the front derailleur once (press both shifters).
I also noticed yesterday that it stopped working in the middle of the cassette. (it did it twice)
Also when it stopped I got off the bike and tried the little button on the derailleur , it wasn't working.
Later at home I checked the lights and it was flashing Green so I assume is not a battery issue
Any one had similar issues and solved it ?
PS.I beg you , if you can add to my issue I welcome all comments, but don't make this thread into an argument (Mechanical Vs electronic). Before posting I tried google, and every single thread I found had half of the discussion arguing if mechanical is better. I DO NOT CARE .
#2
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From: Houston, TX
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Assuming you purchased the derailleur from an authorized source, just go right to warranty replacement. If you screw around with this, you will just drive yourself nuts.
#3
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#5
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PS.I beg you , if you can add to my issue I welcome all comments, but don't make this thread into an argument (Mechanical Vs electronic). Before posting I tried google, and every single thread I found had half of the discussion arguing if mechanical is better. I DO NOT CARE .
#7
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 860
Likes: 62
From: Sacramento, CA
Out of curiosity, if you take the FD battery and put it in the RD does the issue persist?
I had a similar issue (only it was the FD) and swapping the batteries resolved the issue. Interestingly enough, if I switched the batteries back it would crop up. It was intermittent though, like 1 out of every 50 shifts.
Ultimately I convinced SRAM to swap the battery and they did so via an authorized retailer (where I also bought the group from) with zero hesitation and it went away.
I had a similar issue (only it was the FD) and swapping the batteries resolved the issue. Interestingly enough, if I switched the batteries back it would crop up. It was intermittent though, like 1 out of every 50 shifts.
Ultimately I convinced SRAM to swap the battery and they did so via an authorized retailer (where I also bought the group from) with zero hesitation and it went away.
#8
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: National Capital Region
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac Pro, Bilenky Coupled Tandem, Calfee Tetra Tandem
Did you ever fix this issue or did you go the warranty route? I just installed my etap wifli and it's doing the same thing where the rear derailleur stops working and only comes back after shifting the front derailleur. It goes to sleep in about 25 seconds, so it's really quick and really annoying.
I tried switching the battery and also repairing.
I tried switching the battery and also repairing.
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 919
Likes: 1
Did you try CTRL-ALT-DEL?
Seriously, it sounds like a software bug or perhaps an option of 25seconds? Hard to imagine this could happen though, we are talking about some very nice and expensive components. I've only heard glowing terms about eTap.
Hello , I installed etap wifli last month.
I've been having a weird issue. the Rear derailleur seems to "sleep" mid ride, and the only way to get it working again is to shift the front derailleur once (press both shifters).
I also noticed yesterday that it stopped working in the middle of the cassette. (it did it twice)
Also when it stopped I got off the bike and tried the little button on the derailleur , it wasn't working.
Later at home I checked the lights and it was flashing Green so I assume is not a battery issue
Any one had similar issues and solved it ?
PS.I beg you , if you can add to my issue I welcome all comments, but don't make this thread into an argument (Mechanical Vs electronic). Before posting I tried google, and every single thread I found had half of the discussion arguing if mechanical is better. I DO NOT CARE .
I've been having a weird issue. the Rear derailleur seems to "sleep" mid ride, and the only way to get it working again is to shift the front derailleur once (press both shifters).
I also noticed yesterday that it stopped working in the middle of the cassette. (it did it twice)
Also when it stopped I got off the bike and tried the little button on the derailleur , it wasn't working.
Later at home I checked the lights and it was flashing Green so I assume is not a battery issue
Any one had similar issues and solved it ?
PS.I beg you , if you can add to my issue I welcome all comments, but don't make this thread into an argument (Mechanical Vs electronic). Before posting I tried google, and every single thread I found had half of the discussion arguing if mechanical is better. I DO NOT CARE .
#10
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,977
Likes: 780
Did you ever fix this issue or did you go the warranty route? I just installed my etap wifli and it's doing the same thing where the rear derailleur stops working and only comes back after shifting the front derailleur. It goes to sleep in about 25 seconds, so it's really quick and really annoying.
I tried switching the battery and also repairing.
I tried switching the battery and also repairing.
#11
Junior Member

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 83
Likes: 11
From: Oakland
Bikes: Cervelo R3
I have this problem as well. I got etap in early 2016 and didn’t have the problem but got a Wifli RD this year and it happens to me now. Using the FD seems to clear it as noted but I think it might clear itself after a while, too. I wonder if it could be a feature to protect the RD from too many shifts in too short a period? I don’t think it’s a specific battery problem as I have few batteries and they all seem to do it.
#12
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Hello people , I did receive the notification in the email and here I am 
bad news ...
I actually exchanged it twice , right now it is the third groupset I get on the bike.
the problem persist.
Its either
A. SRAM has defective software
B. something on my bike is causing the derailleur to go into "safemode"
C. all of the groupsets came from amazon.co.uk so maybe the entire batch is defective.
To describe the problem again ...
at the same gear (somewhere in the middle of the cassette) the derailleur would not shift into easier gear,
the only way to eradicate the problem is to shift into harder gear and try again , or change gear in the front .
note that on my garmin if I have the field that shows the gears , it shows that the change did happen even if the derailleur didn't move
but I'm guessing this is irrelevant since it communicates with ANT+ with the head unit , and with something else with the derailleur
switching batteries didn't work
at a race one time out of frustration I unclipped and hit the derailleur with my shoe and it worked but I'm guessing my shoe just hit the button on the side.
Thank god is not happening often enough to regret buying the group set, I'm just hoping a firmware update sometime soon will resolve it completely
also SRAM , if you are reading this **** you
edit:
I have the wifly derailleur as well

bad news ...
I actually exchanged it twice , right now it is the third groupset I get on the bike.
the problem persist.
Its either
A. SRAM has defective software
B. something on my bike is causing the derailleur to go into "safemode"
C. all of the groupsets came from amazon.co.uk so maybe the entire batch is defective.
To describe the problem again ...
at the same gear (somewhere in the middle of the cassette) the derailleur would not shift into easier gear,
the only way to eradicate the problem is to shift into harder gear and try again , or change gear in the front .
note that on my garmin if I have the field that shows the gears , it shows that the change did happen even if the derailleur didn't move
but I'm guessing this is irrelevant since it communicates with ANT+ with the head unit , and with something else with the derailleur
switching batteries didn't work
at a race one time out of frustration I unclipped and hit the derailleur with my shoe and it worked but I'm guessing my shoe just hit the button on the side.
Thank god is not happening often enough to regret buying the group set, I'm just hoping a firmware update sometime soon will resolve it completely
also SRAM , if you are reading this **** you
edit:
I have the wifly derailleur as well
Last edited by cb400bill; 06-21-18 at 04:50 AM. Reason: Please do not bypass the forum censor
#13
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Joined: May 2017
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From: Central Pa.
Bikes: Domane SLR 9 Fuji Gran Fondo 2.3 1978 Mercian
I have the same set up and ride in two states. In NJ I rarely use the FD and no problems. In Pa. lots of shifting again no problems. If the unit is communicating a shift, doesn't that mean the electronics, software, transmission "thinks" it shifted so the command was received by the RD? I would guess some mechanical problem??? Can you duplicate the problem with the back wheel off as shifting up requires overcoming more resistance. In any event keep us posted and agree, although I do love the system, at this price point nothing but "perfect" it acceptable.
#15
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I have the same set up and ride in two states. In NJ I rarely use the FD and no problems. In Pa. lots of shifting again no problems. If the unit is communicating a shift, doesn't that mean the electronics, software, transmission "thinks" it shifted so the command was received by the RD? I would guess some mechanical problem??? Can you duplicate the problem with the back wheel off as shifting up requires overcoming more resistance. In any event keep us posted and agree, although I do love the system, at this price point nothing but "perfect" it acceptable.
Also let me elaborate on the communication bit . Let say I have the gear field on the garmin and it's showing 5/11 , and I shift down but the RD malfunctions and nothing happens , the garmin is now showing 4/11 and the RD didn't move .
If I keep clicking to shift down , at some point the garmin will be showing 1/11 but the derailleur will still be at the middle (5/11) of the cassette. To fix the problem I have to either go back and "pick up" where it left, shift back to 5/11 and try again, or shift the front
derailleur .
ps. despite all these I'm still drooling and waiting for the XX1 etap system
#16
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From: Central Pa.
Bikes: Domane SLR 9 Fuji Gran Fondo 2.3 1978 Mercian
I thought the gear reporting to a Garmin was only available on DI2? Never used this with my 1030.Could that be interfering??? I'll need to set this up on mine and see.
#17
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ETap reports to Garmin, too. In fact, I hadn’t charged batteries in a long time and yesterday, as soon as I turned my Garmin 1030 on, it reported that the rear shifter battery was “critical.” I changed bikes for the ride. 
As as for the sleeping thing, never had that.

As as for the sleeping thing, never had that.
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#18
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Joined: May 2011
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From: Oakland
Bikes: Cervelo R3
My RD “sleeping” issue (see above post) has continued to get worse. On Saturday’s ride it became intolerable. Shifting the FD didn’t always wake it up and sometimes it wouldn't clear for a minute or more I’d say. I was glad I was alone... This is about 1000 miles after I first noticed the problem.
Sunday I tried an experiment. Since there is a built-in sleep function to conserve batteries when not in motion I thought maybe that was related to the problem so when it wouldn’t shift I would hop the rear wheel up and down pretty hard. This actually seemed to work some of the time at least but certainly didn’t fix the problem. I gave up and reinstalled my non-wifli RD along with its chain and cassette. It worked perfectly on today’s ride so I guess the wifli-RD goes back to SRAM...
Sunday I tried an experiment. Since there is a built-in sleep function to conserve batteries when not in motion I thought maybe that was related to the problem so when it wouldn’t shift I would hop the rear wheel up and down pretty hard. This actually seemed to work some of the time at least but certainly didn’t fix the problem. I gave up and reinstalled my non-wifli RD along with its chain and cassette. It worked perfectly on today’s ride so I guess the wifli-RD goes back to SRAM...
#19
Please excuse the brainstorming . . . but could it be that the B-adjustment screw is set with the pulley just a little too close to the cluster? Maybe the contours of the bigger cassette when using the WiFli rd have a spot where the cassette is closer to the pulley than it is at the extremes of the cluster -- but just BARELY too close, so that it sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. The condition described seems to be what would (logically) happen if the rd encountered some resistance when trying to make the shift.
Shifting the fd would change the length of the chain / distance of the pulley from the cassette, thereby freeing the rd. And shifting just the rd would register a shift electronically, but the rd would physically back away from the obstruction. Are all your chainrings, cassette, and chain length within recommended specs?
I don't know if this makes sense -- just trying to help. It's a theory.
Shifting the fd would change the length of the chain / distance of the pulley from the cassette, thereby freeing the rd. And shifting just the rd would register a shift electronically, but the rd would physically back away from the obstruction. Are all your chainrings, cassette, and chain length within recommended specs?
I don't know if this makes sense -- just trying to help. It's a theory.
Last edited by FlashBazbo; 06-26-18 at 03:27 PM.
#20
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Don't brainstorm or try to come up with any other ideas. It's a known issue with some of the RD's. It needs to go back to sram to be replaced. Or waste your time and ruin rides, end up with more aggravation than you ever needed trying to figure it out.
#22
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Skipping the diatribe - this is becoming a fairly well known issue to those of us who work with eTap on a regular or semi-regular basis. Only Fox is a replacement rear derail. Service was out of them for a long time but we just started getting replacements in so they are now back in stock.
Go to a dealer of SRAM and have them warranty it.
Theu won’t admit this is a known issue and will act like this is the first they have heard of it. They will probably tel you to try stuff and then may send new batteries, but keep at it and you’ll end up with a new derail and the problem will be solved.
Go to a dealer of SRAM and have them warranty it.
Theu won’t admit this is a known issue and will act like this is the first they have heard of it. They will probably tel you to try stuff and then may send new batteries, but keep at it and you’ll end up with a new derail and the problem will be solved.
#23
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Skipping the diatribe - this is becoming a fairly well known issue to those of us who work with eTap on a regular or semi-regular basis. Only Fox is a replacement rear derail. Service was out of them for a long time but we just started getting replacements in so they are now back in stock.
Go to a dealer of SRAM and have them warranty it.
Theu won’t admit this is a known issue and will act like this is the first they have heard of it. They will probably tel you to try stuff and then may send new batteries, but keep at it and you’ll end up with a new derail and the problem will be solved.
Go to a dealer of SRAM and have them warranty it.
Theu won’t admit this is a known issue and will act like this is the first they have heard of it. They will probably tel you to try stuff and then may send new batteries, but keep at it and you’ll end up with a new derail and the problem will be solved.
scott s.
.
#24
I eat carbide.


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From: Elgin, IL
Bikes: Lots. Chapter2, Van Dessel, Giant, Trek, etc Dealers for BMC, Chapter2
I can’t tell if you’re kidding or not so I’ll just answer straight up. WiFli only refers to a mid cage rear derailleur. It has nothing to do with wireless or the communication involved with eTap.
EDIT: more specifically it refers to their derailleur’s ability to wrap larger gears than Shimano. It’s a really stupid and non needed marketing term that confuses people when it comes to a wireless group. WiFli has nothing to do with eTap other than the derailleur design and it’s ability to wrap gears. Same as any non electronic derailleur they have in their lineup. Specifically though they only “offer WiFli” on mid cage and longer.
https://www.sram.com/sram/road/technologies/wifli
EDIT: more specifically it refers to their derailleur’s ability to wrap larger gears than Shimano. It’s a really stupid and non needed marketing term that confuses people when it comes to a wireless group. WiFli has nothing to do with eTap other than the derailleur design and it’s ability to wrap gears. Same as any non electronic derailleur they have in their lineup. Specifically though they only “offer WiFli” on mid cage and longer.
https://www.sram.com/sram/road/technologies/wifli
Last edited by Psimet2001; 06-29-18 at 08:17 PM.
#25
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From: Oahu, HI
Bikes: 89 Paramount OS 84 Fuji Touring Series III New! 2013 Focus Izalco Ergoride
I can’t tell if you’re kidding or not so I’ll just answer straight up. WiFli only refers to a mid cage rear derailleur. It has nothing to do with wireless or the communication involved with eTap.
EDIT: more specifically it refers to their derailleur’s ability to wrap larger gears than Shimano. It’s a really stupid and non needed marketing term that confuses people when it comes to a wireless group. WiFli has nothing to do with eTap other than the derailleur design and it’s ability to wrap gears. Same as any non electronic derailleur they have in their lineup. Specifically though they only “offer WiFli” on mid cage and longer.
https://www.sram.com/sram/road/technologies/wifli
scott s.
.




