This is usually due to either the joystick getting knocked off center or a fault in the control module. If the joystick has suffered a hit such as somebody falling onto it while getting in the chair, or running the joysitck under a table or counter-top(happens often), it knocks the alignment off so that the controller thinks that the joystick is activated, and it will prevent the chair from moving until it is back in its proper location. Examine the joystick for signs that it has suffered a trauma such as the rubber boot being torn, dents on the cover, paint from a collision, etc. Invacare is going to charge you about $1,300.00 for a new joystick, or, you can try sending it to a repair shop. I found one here that I used once and it turned out cheaper...by a lot$. Here's the link.
http://www.flightsystems.com/cart_controls/wheelchair_powered_scooter_market_cart_controls.htm
Keep in mind, it may also be the controller. The only sure way to tell is to swap out the joystick with a known good one, and see if it fires up, if not, then it's the controller. Get your wallet out. I don't know of anywhere to go but to Invacare for the controller. You don't say what kind of wheelchair it is, but if it is one that the controller is built into the joystick then the link above should be able to fix it. If the controller is separate and located in the base, then you have to buy a separate controller from Invacare. To tell, the all-in-one controller will have a very thick chord running from it down into the base; about 3/4" diameter. A separate joystick and controller-in-base will have a smaller chord, about pencil-sized running down into the base fronm the joystick, and will lead to the controller in the base. Good luck.
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