Our electric ride-ons give young kids a chance to experience the thrill of driving – steering wheel, acceleration pedal, and all. But new “drivers,” cute as they are, sometimes need help staying on course. That’s why we’ve designed these ride-ons with parental override functionality. It comes in the form of a wireless remote control.
It’s peace of mind — with the push of a button.
Let us steer you through what these remote controls can do and how they work, so you can always steer your little riders back on track.
About parental override remote controls
Parental override remote controls come in the box with our Mako, Safara, Safara Max, and Vega electric ride-ons. Whenever you engage with the included remote control, you will automatically take over movement of those vehicles – and you will continue to be in charge as long as you are engaging with the remote control buttons.
During that time, riders can still play around with the acceleration pedal, steering wheel, switches, and buttons – but none of it will affect vehicle movement. It will just serve as “play.” (They can still activate motor and horn sounds.)
With the remote control, you can change and be in charge of:
- Direction – Move them forward or backward.
- Steering – Turn them left or right.
- Speed – Change to a lower or higher speed.
- Braking – Bring all movement to stop.
When you want to give control of movement back to your kiddo, just release all buttons and they can go back to driving. Jump in again whenever you need to.
Pairing your remote control with your vehicle
Every remote control is preprogrammed to work only with the vehicle it’s been packed with. So, if you have two of the same Jetson ride-ons, you can’t use the remote controls interchangeably for both.
However, to get your remote to communicate to the vehicle, you’ll need to establish the connection. This is called “pairing.” Pairing is necessary:
- Before first use.
- Every time you replace the batteries in the remote control.
- Whenever the signal might disconnect. (Disconnection can happen after extended periods without use, from signal interruption, or when the vehicle and remote are separated by distance.)
Pairing the remote control with your vehicle is easy to do. Here’s how:
- Ensure that your remote control has 2 working AAA batteries installed and that your vehicle is fully charged.
- Stand near the vehicle with your remote control.
- Follow the directions for pairing in your model’s user manual or the chart below:
| Model | Step 1: | Step 2: | Then look for: | Final step: |
| Mako | Press and hold the “M” button until the indicator light on the remote control begins flashing. | While continuing to hold the M button, power on the vehicle. | The indicator light on the remote control to change from flashing to steady illumination. | Release the “M” button on the remote control. |
| Safara & Safara Max | Power on the vehicle. |
Press and hold the “M” button until the indicator light on the remote control begins flashing.
|
The indicator light on the remote control to change from flashing to steady illumination.
|
Release the “M” button on the remote control.
|
| Vega | Power on the vehicle. | Simultaneously press and hold the forward and reverse buttons on the remote control until the indicator lights on the remote control begin flashing. | The indicator lights on the remote control to change from flashing to steady illumination. | Release the buttons on the remote control. |
Using the remote control
Once you’re remote is paired with your vehicle, it’s time to start the adventure.
The remote control does not have its own power button. To make use of it, right from the start of a ride or at any point during it, just start engaging with it. Pushing any of the buttons on the remote control will “wake” the remote control up and activate it.
Important things to know:
- To maintain good connection with the vehicle, stay less than 20 feet from the vehicle while using the remote control.
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To preserve battery power, your remote control will automatically enter sleep mode after 10 seconds without use. Just push one of the buttons to activate it again.
Remote control troubleshooting
If your remote control does not seem to be controlling vehicle movement, one of these things may have occurred:
- The pairing of the remote control with the vehicle may have been lost. Try pairing your remote control with your vehicle again by following the instructions above.
- You may have put too much distance between the remote control and the vehicle. Move closer to the vehicle.
- The batteries in the remote control may need attention. Ensure that the 2 AAA batteries in the remote control are fully installed in the battery compartment, are oriented correctly according to the +/- markings within the compartment, and are still working. Try fixing the battery positioning and, if necessary, replace depleted batteries with new ones.
- The vehicle may need charging. Plug the vehicle in for a full charging session.
- There may be signal interference. If you are using the ride-on or remote control near other electronic or radio devices, move both yourself and the vehicle away from those devices and try using the remote control again. It’s possible some signals are getting crossed.
For more help using your kids’ electric ride-on or its parental override remote control, consult its user manual or reach out to us. We’re here to help — whenever you need it.