You just unboxed a brand new RELX. You snap in the pod, ready for that first smooth puff… and nothing happens. Or the light starts blinking weirdly. Or the pod leaks right in your hand.
Annoying, right? Your first thought is probably: “Did I get a faulty one? Do I need to return this?”
Take a breath — you probably don’t. This happens to a huge number of new vape owners, and almost every time, the fix takes less than 10 minutes at home.
Below, every common RELX problem is broken down into simple, in-order steps. Try the first fix. If it doesn’t work, move to the next one. No guessing.
🚨 1. Blinking Lights: What Each One Actually Means
Your RELX talks to you through its LED light. Once you know the code, it stops feeling scary.
| Light Pattern | What It Means | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red blinks (~10 times) | Battery is critically low | Charge with a slow 5V/1A wall adapter |
| Red blinks when inserting a pod | Pod isn’t making full contact | Clean the gold pins with a dry cotton swab |
| 2 white + 2 red blinks | Short-circuit safety reset (often from fast chargers) | Unplug, switch to a normal charger, wait 15 minutes |
| Fast, irregular, non-stop blinking | Possible liquid on the internal circuit | Remove pod, dry the slot fully, let it air out 30 min |
If the erratic blinking continues even after a full clean and dry-out, that’s one of the few times it’s worth contacting the retailer directly.
💨 2. No Vapor at All (Dead Draw)
The light turns on. You draw. Nothing comes out. Here’s the order to troubleshoot in:
- Charge it fully first. Many new devices ship half-charged from storage. Give it 20–30 minutes on the charger before testing again.
- Clean the connection pins. A thin, invisible film of condensation can block the electrical signal completely. Wipe the pins inside the device and the base of the pod with a dry cotton swab.
- Check if the pins are physically stuck. Gently press them with a toothpick — they should spring back up. If they’re stiff, clean around them with a single drop of isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab, then let it dry fully.
- Check your power mode (Infinity 2 / Infinity 2 Plus owners). Eco Mode is deliberately less sensitive to light draws. If your puffs feel too gentle to trigger it, tap the power button to switch to Smooth or Boost Mode.
- Try a different pod. If a fresh pod works fine, the first one was faulty — not your device.
⚡ 3. Battery Won’t Charge, Dies Fast, or Buzzes Randomly
Won’t charge? Before blaming the battery, try:
- A different USB-C cable
- A different wall adapter
- Clearing lint from the charging port with a dry wooden toothpick (never metal)
Buzzing or blinking mid-vape for no reason? That’s likely SmartPace — a built-in feature that gently nudges you after around 15 puffs in 15 minutes. It’s a wellness reminder, not an error.
Battery draining fast in the first day or two? Totally normal. New batteries need one or two full charge-and-drain cycles to calibrate accurately.
💧 4. Leaking Pods: Not All Leaks Are the Same
The color of the liquid actually tells you what’s going on:
- Pale yellow liquid → Raw, unvaporized e-liquid escaping through the seals. Usually caused by pressure changes or a loose pod fit.
- Dark brown liquid → Just condensation. Vapor that cooled and rolled back down the chimney. Looks worse than it is — completely normal.
To fix either type:
- Roll a small piece of tissue and gently absorb liquid pooled in the mouthpiece chimney.
- Wipe the pod base and device slot completely dry.
- Never blow into the pod — it pushes even more liquid out through the seals.
Prevent future leaks:
- Always store your device upright, mouthpiece up
- Keep it out of hot cars and direct sun
- If it still leaks often, the RELX Pod Pro uses a maze-style internal design built specifically to trap condensation before it reaches the airflow path.
🤢 5. Spitback: Hot Liquid Hitting Your Tongue
This is different from leaking — it happens mid-puff. A hard, fast draw pulls in more liquid than the coil can vaporize instantly, so droplets get flung upward instead.
Fix: Switch to slow, gentle, steady draws instead of sharp pulls. If a pod is already spitting, wrap it in tissue and flick it downward a few times to clear the excess.
🔥 6. Burnt or Harsh Taste From a Brand New Pod
Don’t panic — this is rarely a defect. Check these in order:
- Air pocket on the coil. Tap the pod firmly on a flat surface a few times to shift trapped air away from the coil.
- Low liquid level. Check the clear view window. Below the lowest line? Time to replace it.
- Chain vaping. Puffing back-to-back doesn’t give the wick time to re-soak. Wait 15–30 seconds between puffs.
- Pod quality. Cheap or fake pods taste worse from the start. The RELX Pod Pro 2 uses upgraded wicking material that soaks up liquid faster, reducing dry hits.
🔧 Still Want an Upgrade? Here’s What Fits Best
If you’ve tried everything and the device itself is just old or damaged, here’s where to look:
- Style + reliability: RELX Artisan — premium leather-style finish, consistent vapor output.
- Full control: RELX Infinity 2 — switch between Eco, Smooth, and Boost modes.
- All-day battery: RELX Infinity 2 Plus — bigger battery, faster charging.
- Heavy users: RELX Pod Pro 2, 18mg, 2000 Puffs — fewer pod changes, more consistent flavor.
✅ Daily Habits That Prevent Most Problems
- Keep it out of direct sunlight and hot cars
- Wipe the connection pins with a dry swab once a week
- Skip fast chargers — stick to a standard 5V/1A adapter
- Always store the device upright
- Let a new pod rest a few minutes before the first puff
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my brand new RELX not charging at all?
Try a different USB-C cable and wall adapter first — a faulty cable is one of the most overlooked causes. Then check the charging port for lint and clear it with a dry wooden toothpick. If it still won’t charge, leave it connected for a full 30 minutes untouched.
What does it mean if my RELX blinks two white and two red lights?
This points to a short-circuit safety reset, usually triggered by a fast charger. Unplug the device, switch to a slow standard wall adapter, and let it sit disconnected for about 15 minutes before trying again.
How do I know when my pod is actually empty?
Check the liquid level through the pod’s clear view window. Below the lowest line, along with weaker flavor and thinner vapor, means it’s time to replace it.
Can I refill an empty RELX pod with my own e-liquid?
No. These pods are sealed, closed systems. Prying one open breaks the internal seal, which usually causes heavy leaking into the device and can damage the battery permanently.
Why does my device vibrate and blink even though nothing seems wrong?
That’s likely SmartPace, a built-in usage reminder that activates after around 15 puffs in 15 minutes. It’s a gentle nudge, not an error.
My device worked fine yesterday but suddenly stopped today. What changed?
Usually one of three things: the battery dropped low enough to cut off, the pod developed a small leak or connection issue, or moisture built up inside from UAE’s strong air conditioning. Start with a full charge, then clean the connection pins — that solves most sudden issues.
Final Thoughts
A brand new RELX should feel smooth from the very first puff, and most of the time, it will. If you do hit a blinking light, no vapor, spitback, a burnt taste, or a leak, it almost never means the device is broken. Work through the fixes in order, build a few simple daily habits, and you’ll avoid nearly all of these problems going forward.
