The SMOK Nord 4 is one of the most capable pod mods on the market. Operating at up to 80 watts and outfitted with a 2,000 mAh internal battery, the Nord 4 works with a wide array of sub-ohm coils and has fully adjustable airflow to give you exactly the type of vaping experience that you want – no matter how picky you might be.
The Nord 4 delivers such a good experience, in fact, that you’re likely to find yourself feeling pretty shocked and confused if the device isn’t working. The Nord 4 is such a user-friendly device with so few adjustments or changes that you can make to it – what could the problem be if your device isn’t working?
Thanks to its simplicity and user-friendly design, the SMOK Nord 4 is actually a fairly easy device to troubleshoot when it isn’t working as it should – and in this guide, we’re going to walk you through it. If you have a SMOK Nord 4 that isn’t hitting, isn’t turning on or isn’t charging, you’ll find the likely fix here.
Check the Screen for an Error Message
If your SMOK Nord 4 isn’t working, begin by examining the screen to see if it’s displaying an error message when you press the fire button. Here’s an overview of the error messages and what they mean.
- Power Lock: This message indicates that the device’s fire button is locked. Press the fire button three times to unlock it.
- PCBA Too Hot: This message indicates that the internal temperature of the SMOK Nord 4 is too high for continued vaping. Move the device to a lower-temperature environment and allow it to cool down completely.
- Time Over: This message indicates that you’re puffing on the SMOK Nord 4 for too long. Maintain a puff length of less than eight seconds to avoid triggering the automatic cutoff.
- Atomizer Short or No Atomizer: These messages indicate that the SMOK Nord 4 has detected a short circuit in the atomizer coil or isn’t detecting the coil at all. Since the Nord 4 works only with specific coils, this probably means that the wrong type of coil is installed or that a leak has occurred. It could also mean that the coil is damaged or defective.
- Ohms Too High or Ohms Too Low: These messages indicate that the resistance of the installed coil isn’t within the range that the SMOK Nord 4 expects. You should troubleshoot these messages in the same way that you’d troubleshoot an “Atomizer Short” or “No Atomizer” message.
- Battery Low or Goodbye: These messages indicate that the battery in the SMOK Nord 4 is too low for continued operation. When the device displays the message “Goodbye,” the battery is so low that the device needs to turn off immediately.
Charge the Battery
If you don’t see an error message on the screen when your SMOK Nord 4 isn’t working, begin the troubleshooting process by charging the battery. When you connect the Nord 4 to your computer, you should see a lightning bolt, a battery icon and a timer on the screen. When the battery indicator reads “100%” and the timer elapses, the battery is fully charged.
If your SMOK Nord 4 isn’t charging, try these three things to fix it.
- Replace the cable. Unreliable USB cables cause most charging issues with vaping devices.
- Use your computer and not a wall adapter to charge the SMOK Nord 4. Wall adapters often don’t work for charging vaping devices because their charging amperages are too high.
- Clean the charging port with a toothpick or other thin non-metal tool.
Turn the SMOK Nord 4 On
If your SMOK Nord 4 is fully charged and still isn’t working, continue your troubleshooting by making sure that the device is turned on and unlocked. Push the button five times to turn the Nord 4 on. Unlock the device by pressing the button three times.
Make Sure You’re Using the Correct Coil and Pod
The SMOK Nord 4 works with two different pods, and each pod works with its own distinct set of coils.
- The SMOK RPM 2 pod works only with SMOK RPM 2 coils.
- The SMOK RPM pod works only with SMOK RPM coils.
The two pods are very similar to one another, so you should make sure that you’re using the right coil for your pod. If the coil is incorrect, the Nord 4 may not work and may not detect the installed coil at all.
If you’re certain that you’re using the right coil, it’s possible that you’re using a version of the SMOK Nord 4 that has a child-resistant pod, and the coil isn’t pushed in all the way. If you have a child-resistant pod, you need to push the locking tab toward the outside of the pod with your fingernail in order to remove the coil. Align the new coil so the flat sides line up with the flat edges at the base of the pod. Push the coil all the way in and move the child lock toward the inside of the pod.
Photo by cottonbro studio: pexels.com
Check for a Leak
If you’re not able to get your SMOK Nord 4 working by following the tips that we’ve provided so far in this article, you should remove the pod and check under it to see if a leak has occurred. If a pod leaks, it’s important to clean it immediately. If e-liquid is stuck in the chamber at the top of the Nord 4, it could prevent the device from operating because it won’t be able to see the connected pod. If the leak isn’t cleaned promptly, the e-liquid could eventually enter the Nord 4’s interior and prevent the device from operating at all.
Use paper towels to dry the chamber at the top of the device if your SMOK Nord 4 leaks. To prevent leaks from happening in the future, make sure that the coil is pushed in fully and properly aligned with the pod. If you experience persistent leaking with the SMOK Nord 4, you may have a defective coil and should replace it.