IBM LEXMARK WHEELWRITE 5 TYPEWRITE NOT TYPING

Impossible to answer without make and model.

I don't know of any typewriter that works on batteries, but I did find this.

IBM Personal Wheelwriter 1 Typewriter 6781 Operator's ...

minus zero degrees https://minuszerodegrees.net > manuals > IBM P... PDF right side of the typewriter. If the Line Space lights flash when the typewriter is turned on, the batteries are low. See "Batteries" ...
84 pages

Google

make model manual

and look in the troubleshooting section.

You language button is activated, depress code and hold it down then press the lang button. Usually is the L button.

You may be in the lan guage mode. Try code "L".

DickyO

Probably the key board is bad you can try my tip under WW 1000 or contact Geo. Beters Co.
@ 800-392-8085 for a key board rebuild. Tell them O'Reilly sent you.

DickyO

There are a lot of possibilities. Which lights are flashing? In sequence? Beeps? How many?

These all are codes to the problem.

DickyO

First be sure the printwheel is installed properly, and look for debris in that area. Put some light oil on the silver shaft that the carrier slides on (WD40 is good).

DickyO

the beeping and the lights are error codes, meaning the machine will need repair

You probably have a bad keyboard, see my tip under Wheelwriter 1000.

DickyO

That is the signal that the batteries are dead.

You may have the R. margin there. Space all the way to the right, press R MAR key. You also could have spellcheck on code 1 will turn it off