Common RELX Problems and Easy Solutions

Your RELX was working perfectly yesterday. Today it’s blinking, not producing vapour, or tasting burnt. Sound familiar?

These issues happen to almost every RELX user at some point. The good news is that most of them have simple fixes you can do yourself in under five minutes. No technical knowledge needed.

This guide covers every common RELX problem UAE users face — with clear, honest solutions for each one. We’ll also explain what’s actually causing the issue so you understand it, not just fix it once and face it again next week.

Quick Reference: RELX Problems and Fixes at a Glance

Problem	Most Likely Cause	Quick Fix
Blinking 3 times	Low battery	Charge the device
Blinking 10+ times	Short-circuit protection triggered	Clean device, dry it out
Blinking but no vapour	Pod not detected properly	Remove and re-seat the pod
Pod leaking	Heat, pressure, or chain vaping	Store upright, replace pod
Spitback (liquid in mouth)	Flooded coil	Gentle draws, clear excess liquid
Burnt taste	Dry coil or chain vaping	Wait between puffs, prime new pods
Not charging	Lint in port or wrong charger	Clean port, use 5V/1A adapter
Weak or no vapour	Blocked airflow or dead pod	Clear airflow holes, check pod

Problem 1: RELX Device Blinking or Flashing Light

This is the most common issue searched by RELX users across the UAE. The blinking light isn’t a fault — it’s the device telling you something specific. You just need to know what each pattern means.

Red or White Light Flashes 3 Times

What it means: Low battery.

This is simply a low battery warning. The device has enough power to detect activation but not enough to produce a proper draw.

Fix:

• Plug in the charging cable immediately
• Use a low-wattage charger — more on this below
• Wait until the charging indicator shows full before using again

This one is straightforward. Three flashes always means charge the device.

Light Flashes 10 Times or Keeps Flashing Continuously

What it means: Short-circuit protection has activated.

This is more serious. The device’s built-in safety circuit has detected a fault — usually caused by e-liquid or moisture getting inside the device near the electrical contacts.

It can also happen when a pod isn’t seated correctly and the metal contacts aren’t making a clean connection.

Fix — Step by Step:

1. Remove the pod immediately
2. Look inside the pod cavity — check for visible liquid or moisture
3. Take a rolled piece of tissue paper and insert it gently into the cavity
4. Rotate it to absorb any liquid around the pin contacts
5. Let the device sit open and upright for 15 to 30 minutes to air out
6. Dry the bottom of the pod with a cotton swab as well
7. Reinsert the pod firmly and test

If the device still flashes 10 times after fully drying, the circuit may have been damaged by liquid ingress. In that case, the device likely needs replacing.

Device Blinks When You Puff But Produces No Vapour

What it means: The device is activating but can’t detect the pod properly.

Fix:

• Remove the pod completely
• Check the metal contacts at the bottom of the pod for residue or corrosion
• Clean both the pod contacts and the device pins with a dry cotton swab
• Re-insert the pod firmly until you hear or feel the click
• If the pod is old, try a new one to rule out a worn-out pod

If this happens with multiple pods, the issue is with the device connection. Clean the device pins more thoroughly.

Problem 2: RELX Pod Leaking

Pod leakage is one of the most frustrating RELX issues — and one of the most common complaints from users across Dubai and the wider UAE.

Why Pods Leak

Three main causes:

Heat: UAE summer temperatures can thin the e-liquid inside the pod. Thinner liquid seeps past the seals more easily. Leaving your device in a hot car is one of the fastest ways to cause a leak.

Air pressure changes: Flying with your RELX? Cabin pressure changes during flights force liquid out through the pod seals. It’s physics, not a defect.

Chain vaping: Drawing too hard or too frequently heats the coil rapidly. This creates pressure inside the pod that pushes liquid past the seals.

Why Leaking Is Serious

A minor leak on the outside of the pod is inconvenient. But if leaked liquid seeps into the internal pressure sensor of the device, it can cause:

• Auto-firing — the device activates without you drawing
• Permanent damage to the sensor
• Short-circuit protection triggering repeatedly

Don’t ignore a leaking pod. Deal with it quickly.

Fix for Pod Leakage

1. Remove the pod immediately when you notice leaking
2. Clean the pod connection area thoroughly with a dry cotton swab
3. Use rolled tissue paper to absorb any liquid inside the device cavity
4. Let the device air dry for at least 15 to 20 minutes
5. If the pod is the source of the leak, replace it — don’t reinsert a leaking pod
6. Store replacement pods upright in a cool location, away from heat

Prevention tips for UAE conditions:

• Never leave the device in a parked car
• Store pods in a cool, shaded place — not a windowsill or dashboard
• If flying, remove the pod and store it in a sealed bag during the flight
• Avoid chain vaping — take your time between draws

Problem 3: Spitback — Getting Liquid in Your Mouth

You take a draw and instead of vapour, you get a small burst of hot liquid in your mouth. It’s unpleasant and slightly alarming the first time it happens.

What Causes Spitback

The technical term is “flooding.” When too much liquid saturates the coil at once, the heating element can’t vaporise it all. The excess liquid overheats and spits upward instead of turning into vapour.

Common triggers:

• Drawing too hard and fast — this pulls excess liquid into the coil
• A pod that’s been stored on its side, pooling liquid near the coil
• An old coil that’s degraded and no longer heating evenly

Fix for Spitback

1. Remove the pod from the device
2. Cover the mouthpiece with your finger
3. Gently flick the pod downward 3 to 4 times — this moves excess liquid away from the coil
4. Use a thin rolled piece of tissue inserted into the mouthpiece to absorb any pooled liquid
5. Reinsert the pod and take a very slow, gentle draw to test
6. If spitback continues, the coil is likely flooded beyond recovery — replace the pod

Going forward:

• Always take slow, steady draws — never aggressive pulls
• Store pods upright, not on their side
• If a pod has been lying sideways for a while, let it sit upright for a few minutes before using

Problem 4: Burnt Taste or Dry Hits

A harsh, acrid burnt taste mid-session is one of the most off-putting things a vape device can produce. Here’s what’s actually happening.

What Causes Burnt Taste

Inside every RELX pod is a small coil wrapped in cotton. The cotton absorbs the e-liquid and feeds it to the coil steadily during each draw.

When you vape too quickly in succession, the cotton doesn’t have enough time to re-absorb liquid between draws. The coil then heats dry cotton — and you taste the result. It’s the cotton singeing, not the liquid.

A burnt taste also happens at the very end of a pod’s life. When the liquid runs low, the cotton begins to run dry. This is the clearest sign the pod is empty.

Fix for Burnt Taste

If the pod is fairly new:

1. Stop vaping immediately when you taste it
2. Remove the pod and let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes
3. This allows any remaining liquid to re-saturate the dry cotton
4. Reinsert and take a single slow, gentle draw
5. If the taste is gone, resume normal use — but take longer breaks between draws

If the pod is nearly empty:

• The burnt taste at the end of a pod’s life is normal and means it’s time to replace it
• Don’t try to push a near-empty pod further — it damages the coil permanently

Prevention:

• Always wait 20 to 30 seconds between draws
• On a brand-new pod, wait at least 60 seconds after inserting before your first draw — this is called priming and it prevents the very first draw from being dry

For full guidance on correct usage technique, the RELX Pod Pro setup and usage guide covers priming, draw technique, and first-use steps in detail.

Problem 5: RELX Device Not Charging

You plug in the cable and nothing happens. No LED response. No charging indicator. The device is dead and stays dead.

Cause 1: Lint or Debris in the Charging Port

This is the most common cause — and it’s very common in the UAE where dust and sand particles are everywhere. Over time, fine particles compact inside the USB-C port and block the cable connection.

Fix:

1. Look inside the charging port under good lighting
2. Use a dry toothpick or a soft brush to gently loosen compacted lint
3. Do not use metal tools or apply excessive force
4. Once cleared, try the cable again

This fixes the problem in the majority of cases.

Cause 2: Using the Wrong Charger

This one causes real damage and it’s important to understand.

RELX devices have small, sensitive circuit boards designed for standard low-voltage charging. Using a fast-charge smartphone adapter — even 18W, 65W, or 100W — can push too much voltage through the device’s charging circuit and permanently damage it.

The correct charging spec for RELX devices is 5V/1A (5 watts).

Safe charging sources:

• A laptop USB port
• A standard power bank
• A basic 5W USB wall adapter

Do not use:

• Fast-charge phone adapters
• Car chargers with high-output ports
• Any adapter not clearly rated at 5V/1A

If the device was charged with a high-wattage adapter multiple times, the charging circuit may have been permanently damaged. This is not a software issue — it’s physical hardware damage.

Cause 3: Faulty or Incompatible Cable

Try a different cable before assuming the device is at fault. USB-C cables can develop internal breaks that aren’t visible externally. Try at least two different cables before concluding there’s a device fault.

Charging Troubleshooting Steps

1. Clean the charging port thoroughly
2. Use a verified 5V/1A charger and a known-good cable
3. Plug in and wait 5 minutes — sometimes a fully depleted battery takes a moment to respond
4. If there’s still no response, try a different power source
5. If nothing works after all of the above, the device has an internal fault

Problem 6: No Vapour or Very Weak Draw

The device is charged. The pod is in. But the vapour is almost non-existent. This one has a few possible causes.

Cause 1: Blocked Airflow Holes

RELX devices have small airflow holes on the sides of the body. These are the air intakes that feed the draw-activation sensor. If they’re blocked — by fingers, pocket lint, or debris — the device either won’t activate or produces very weak vapour.

Fix:

• Check where your fingers are when you hold the device
• Make sure you’re not covering the side airflow holes with your grip
• Use a dry cotton swab to clear any debris from around these holes

This is a surprisingly common cause. Many users unknowingly cover the holes with their palm or thumb.

Cause 2: Pod Not Seated Correctly

A pod that hasn’t clicked in fully makes an incomplete connection with the device contacts. The device activates but the coil doesn’t heat properly.

Fix:

• Remove the pod completely
• Check that the rubber seal at the base has been removed — this is a very common oversight
• Re-insert the pod firmly and listen for the click
• Test with a gentle draw

Cause 3: Empty or Dead Pod

Sometimes the pod simply has nothing left. Vapour production tapers off gradually as the pod empties, but occasionally the drop is sudden.

Fix:

• Try a fresh pod
• If vapour is immediately stronger, the old pod was depleted

Cause 4: Device Needs a Restart

Occasionally the device sensor gets into an unresponsive state. Removing the pod, waiting 30 seconds, and reinserting it acts as a soft reset for most RELX models.

The Tissue Trick: A Simple Fix That Works for Multiple Problems

This deserves its own section because it’s genuinely useful for several common issues.

Roll a small piece of tissue paper into a thin tube shape. Use it to:

• Clean the device pins — Insert gently and rotate to absorb residue and moisture from the pod cavity
• Clear the pod mouthpiece — Insert into the mouthpiece to absorb pooled liquid before it causes spitback
• Dry the connection area after a leak — Absorbs liquid much more effectively than a cloth

Do this regularly — once a week minimum — as part of normal maintenance. It takes 30 seconds and prevents most of the moisture-related issues above.

For a full weekly and monthly maintenance routine, the RELX device care and maintenance guide covers everything in one place.

RELX Blinking Light: Complete Reference Guide

Since this is the most searched RELX issue across the UAE, here’s the definitive reference table.

Flash Pattern	Colour	Meaning	Action
3 flashes	Red / White	Low battery	Charge immediately
10 flashes	Red / White	Short-circuit protection	Dry device, clean contacts
Flashes, no vapour	Any	Pod not detected	Re-seat pod, clean contacts
Continuous flash	Red	Severe fault or liquid damage	Dry fully, may need replacement
Flashes while charging	Any	Charging in progress	Normal — wait until complete
No flash at all	—	Dead battery or port fault	Clean port, try different charger

Tips and Tricks: Quick Wins for Everyday RELX Users in the UAE

The Tissue Trick — Roll tissue paper thin, clean the device pins and pod base regularly. Prevents moisture build-up.

Gentle Puffs Always — RELX is a mouth-to-lung device. Slow, steady draws. Never aggressive pulls. Hard draws cause flooding, spitback, and leaks.

5W Charging Only — Use a laptop, basic power bank, or standard 5V/1A wall adapter. Protect the device’s charging circuit from fast-charge damage.

Prime Every New Pod — After inserting a new pod, wait 60 seconds minimum before drawing. Two minutes is better. This prevents the first draw from being a dry hit.

Store Upright, Store Cool — Device and pods both benefit from upright storage in a cool, shaded space. UAE summer heat is hard on both the battery and the liquid.

Replace Pods at the Right Time — A pod giving burnt taste at the end is empty. Don’t push it. Swap it for a fresh one. It protects your device and your experience.

When the Problem Isn’t the Device — It’s the Pod

Sometimes the issue isn’t how you’re using or maintaining the device. Sometimes it’s the pod itself.

Counterfeit pods are common in the UAE grey market. They can cause:

• Inconsistent vapour even from a new pod
• Unusual taste that doesn’t match what you’d expect
• Leaking that genuine pods don’t experience
• Connection issues where the pod doesn’t seat properly

If you’re experiencing repeated problems across multiple pods — and the device seems fine — the pods may not be genuine. Verify every new pack before opening it. The RELX authenticity guide explains the full verification process using RELX’s official scratch-and-verify system.

Also, make sure you’re using the right pod for your needs. The wrong nicotine strength can make the experience feel off in ways that mimic device problems. The RELX pod nicotine guide helps you confirm you have the right strength for your usage pattern.

FAQ

• My RELX is blinking but I just charged it. Why?
  If it’s blinking 10 times, the issue isn’t the battery — it’s the short-circuit protection. Moisture or liquid has likely reached the internal contacts. Follow the drying process in the flashing section above.
• Why does my RELX taste burnt on a brand-new pod?
  You likely didn’t prime it. A new pod needs at least 60 seconds sitting in the device before you draw. The coil cotton needs time to absorb the liquid. Drawing immediately on a cold, unsaturated coil causes a dry hit.
• Can I fix a RELX that got wet?
  Sometimes. Remove the pod, dry the device thoroughly with tissue paper and cotton swabs, and let it sit for 24 hours before trying again. Don’t charge it while it’s wet. If it still doesn’t function after drying completely, the internal components may have been permanently damaged.
• Why is my new RELX pod producing less vapour than the old one?
  Check that the rubber seal at the base of the new pod has been removed. It’s easy to miss. If the seal is in place, airflow is blocked and vapour production will be almost nothing.
• My RELX won’t charge after I used a fast charger. Is it broken?
  Possibly. High-voltage fast chargers can damage the internal charging circuit of RELX devices permanently. If the device shows no response to charging with a correct 5V/1A adapter and clean port, the circuit board may need professional assessment or the device may need replacing. Always use a low-wattage charger going forward.
• How do I stop my RELX from leaking in UAE summer?
  Store the device and pods in a cool, indoor location — never in a parked car. Avoid chain vaping in hot conditions. Store devices upright. If flying, remove and bag the pod before boarding.
• Why do I keep getting liquid in my mouth?
  This is spitback from a flooded coil. You’re likely drawing too hard or too fast. Switch to slower, gentler draws. Use the tissue method to clear the mouthpiece before each session if it persists. If one particular pod keeps spitting, replace it.

Final Word

Most RELX problems have simple causes and simple fixes. A dirty connection. A fast charger. A hard draw. These are all solvable in minutes.

The key is understanding what the device is telling you — especially with the blinking light signals — so you can respond to issues early rather than letting small problems become big ones.

Use the table at the top of this guide as your quick reference. Bookmark it. The next time your RELX acts up, you’ll know exactly where to look and what to do.