3 New Elite controllers seem ruined, how to fix?

[hobib_ali]

So I have 3 new special editions Microsoft Elite controllers, all on my desk on holders

Unfortunately when I was out a toddler child managed to get all 3 controllers and dribble all over them, literally wet like soaked, when switched on it seemed someone was pressing the buttons like spam pressing, so I know its conductive so the buttons are being pressed

So i took off the front cover housing, and used cotton bud tips to soak up the baby saliva

it was all over the D pad and analogue sticks

I then placed for 2 days on a heated vent, like luke warm air

Now its dry Ive tested all of them, they work other than the D pads, on one of them "down" doesnt work on the other 2 "right" doesnt work, unless I APPLY a lot of pressure on one of them

How to fix, i mean baby saliva is not acid, 3 new elite controllers replaced is like £400

So im thinking because its saliva, its dried up and left residue which now is causing a contact issue? or could it be its fried so some buttons dont work


Any recommendations to a fix?>

 

[hobib_ali]

It’s either bad contacts from residue or you shorted something when switched on whilst wet.

The latter would be game over for the controllers…which is likely the reason.

oh, hopefully its not shorted, cant think that a 6v battery is enough to short somting within

 

[hobib_ali]

Have you put them back together correctly?

well i have not done a teardown yet will do tomorrow, already got a you tube vid to show me how

 

[hobib_ali]

This is not a bad shout - I took an Xbox 360 controller (I think!) apart years ago. When I put it together my hazy memory tells me I had a similar issue with it after. When I opened it up again a pcb, or part of it, had popped up off a plastic lug so it was pushing down as I pushed the d pad. Popped it back in place and all was good. Admittedly I didn’t open it to clean baby slabbers (can’t remember why the hell I opened it - probably curiosity!)

That said, if it is back together correctly, as already said, a drop of isopropyl might well sort it.

its the D pad that doesnt work, all the other buttons work, one of them just spams so thinking its still wet with baby spit

 

[hobib_ali]

This.

Likely impurities in the drool have left a bit of a layer on the contacts.
Iso is always the first thing I try when I have to clean contacts on anything these days, as it does a pretty good job of loosening up gunk and any iso left over just evaporates.

It's also cheap, I've got a 1 litre (or is it 2?) can in the garage I bought about 15 years ago.

i think this is the case

so I bought a can of WD40 contact cleaning spray

its non conductive so I can spray on the effected d pad, hopefully it will breakdown the dried baby drool from the contacts

if that doesnt work then i will teardown and clean properly

if that doesnt work then in the bin or the bay for a tenner for parts or so,

damn the elite controllers are so expensive, so I will buy the core edition.

and I was gonna buy the PS5 elite controller, luckily i didnt for 200 quid otherwise that one would have been damaged too

 

[hobib_ali]

whats he syrup for?

 

[hobib_ali]

Update:

So ive have dismantled all the controllers, taking the front housing off and removing the D-Pad

i then sprayed it with contact spray and cleaned, the 1st controller works now

The other 2 didn't work, even though i removed the baby drool which was still present after 5 days

But if i remove the front housing and removed the D-pad and use my finger to press on the buttons with firm pressure it works, so theres somthing underneath the board thats causing the issue, possibly dry residue from saliva

Now i have to go hardcore and remove the back housing and completely pull it apart, which i fear i wont be able to put back together again