What the W1013 alarm means

The axis encoder backup battery is approaching end of life. Ignore this warning and absolute position will be lost at the next power-off — producing the far more expensive re-zeroing job. This is one of the faults our repair team handles on Kawasaki E / F / C series (AS language) systems — the cause is usually identifiable within the first on-site inspection.

Most common causes

  • Battery aged beyond its service interval
  • Robot stored long-term without power
  • Poor battery contact
  • Cold environment accelerating battery drain
Field note: the first item on this list is what we find most often on real machines. Check it before you go deeper.

Step-by-step field fix

  1. Replace the encoder battery assembly (inside the arm rear panel on most models) at the next convenient stop
  2. Replace batteries for ALL axes at once, including conveyor axes
  3. Never power off the controller until the new battery is installed
  4. After replacement, jog each axis near its scribe mark and confirm zero values
  5. Add battery replacement to the annual PM checklist
Safety first: never bypass safety circuits or force contactors closed. If the alarm involves E-stop chains, brakes or drive power, and you are not a trained robot technician, contact a professional — wrong moves here can cost you a robot or an injury.

Still stuck? Get an engineer on the phone — right now

Tell us the alarm code, the robot model and what was happening when the alarm came up. Our engineers run these diagnostics every day, and remote diagnosis by phone or video call is free.

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Hotline: +86-20-39029800 · WhatsApp: +86-188-1886-2860

Related Encoder & Position alarms

E1029 — Encoder Revolution Count Abnormal (Axis XX) E1030 — Encoder Data Abnormal (Axis XX) E1033 — Encoder Line Error (Axis XX) E1511 — Encoder Battery Voltage Low [Servo] E1516 — Encoder Data Abnormal (Multiple Joints) D1500 — Axis Encoder Read Error
Other brands: we also keep field-fix libraries for Staubli · Epson · Nachi and more — see the complete alarm code hub.

Frequently asked questions

QWhat does the Kawasaki W1013 alarm mean?

The axis encoder backup battery is approaching end of life. Ignore this warning and absolute position will be lost at the next power-off — producing the far more expensive re-zeroing job. In field practice it belongs to the encoder & position family of faults.

QCan I clear a Kawasaki W1013 alarm myself?

Sometimes. Work through the step-by-step checks on this page — the first listed cause is what we find most often in the field. If the alarm returns after two attempts, or the fault involves power, brakes or safety circuits, stop and call a qualified robot service engineer.

QHow fast can a Henghuan engineer help?

On-site response in the Pearl River Delta within 30 minutes to 3 hours, across mainland China in 1-3 business days, and worldwide within 2-5 business days. Remote diagnosis by phone/WhatsApp/video is available immediately.

Written by the Henghuan Robotics repair team from field service experience. Alarm descriptions are our own summary for troubleshooting reference and may vary by controller and software version — when in doubt, check your Kawasaki documentation or contact us. Henghuan is an independent service provider, not affiliated with or endorsed by Kawasaki.