How to Get Your Remote Working Again

Is your remote on the fritz? This article may show a method of possibly bringing it back to life again. This doesn't always work but it is well worth trying especially if your remote is rare, hard to find or expensive. This process can be used over and over again on the same remote.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• New batteries for your remote
• Dull knife or pry blade
• Rear window defogger repair kit
• Qtip swabs/soft cloth
• Isopropyl alcohol

1. 
   With a digetal camera you can see the remote's light

   Put in a new set of batteries before you start this test. Test your remote's signal by pointing the bulb end at a digital camera or digital camera cell phone that's been turned on. Press one of the buttons on the remote. If it's not working you will not see a light. If the remote is working you will see a little light on the end of the remote indicating that it is working. You cannot see this light without the aid of the camera or cell phone. If you see a light here press each one of the buttons to make sure they are all working. If one or more of them doesn't work try the technique described as follows.

2. 

   Remove the batteries and remove any screws (set aside & save) that may be holding the two halves together. Carefully pry the two halves apart. This may seem impossible at first but just keep working at it, eventually they will snap apart.

3. 

   When the two halve separate you will see a circuit board on one side and the push button backs on the other. The push button back is conductive. When you push a button down it presses down against the circuit board making contact thus completing the circuit and lighting up the light which controls whatever you control with it.

4. 

   Using a Qtip or soft cloth wash off both surfaces with isopropyl alcohol, the circuit board and the button board and dry thoroughly. You may have to repeat this process several times in order to get everything clean.

5. 
   Window Defogger repair Kit

   In this defogger repair kit there is a little bottle of conductive paint. Using a teeny brush paint the surface of each button back with a little dab of the paint and let dry thoroughly. The torn end of a paper match from a match book works well as a paint brush.
   CaiKote at Fry's works for this also.
   replacmentremotes.com has a kit for this also.

6. 

   Inspect both surfaces, the circuit board and the button board with a magnifying glass to look for any defects. Look for cracks on the circuit board as an example. Look for skips in the painting process. If you have a crack in the circuit board that may explain why your remote is not working.

7. 
   The light of success

   Snap the two halves together and reinstall any screws that have been taken out. Install the new batteries used earlier, snap their cover on and looking through your digital viewfinder press a button and see if you have a light. If so press all the buttons to confirm that they are indeed all working.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure you use a dull knife to separate the two halves otherwise it is very easy to cut yourself doing this task.
• The Rear Window Defogger Kit can be obtained at any major automotive supply place. I got mine at PepBoys.
• Use ventilation when working with the isopropyl alcohol. Do not use any strong solvents on the button board. It is made from a rubbery material like silicone rubber and it can be easily damaged by a strong solvent.