Sportster 5 Button Problem

dhartsoc · #1 05-04-2012, 08:55 PM

Gotta say, this really sucks. I have a Sportster 5 that is only 18 months old. The last couple of days sometimes a button will not work, or a short button press leads to a preset change, and even occasionally hearing a beep from the radio when I don't have hands on it. (I don't have audible beeps turned on)

Doesn't sound good, does it? Anyone know if this is a common failure mode for the Sportster 5. Pretty upset by this. Will have to see if I can get by using the remote.

Dana

TSSMario · #2 05-07-2012, 03:44 PM

This is an issue that's more common on the Starmate 5 but it's usually a relatively easy fix. The contact layer behind the buttons will sometimes get stuck on one side which causes one button to trigger when any of the others are pressed. This usually happens on the left side, which explains the first preset triggering. If you remove the four screws on the back of the SP5, (ground yourself to get rid of static charge) and then CAREFULLY pry the radio shell apart a little, you can usually get a bobby pin or tweezer into the plastic/rubber area by that button. a couple nudges should pop it back into place.

If you're not able to fix it, let me know.

dhartsoc · #3 05-14-2012, 10:35 PM

I have to say I am not comfortable with the procedure you suggest to try and remedy the situation, even though I do some minor electronics hacking and rebuild PCs. Can't avoid the feeling I could just as easily make things worse, rather than better.

The #9 button seems to be the troublemaker, on direct entry, pressing 9 often does not register on the display.

Today I never touched a numbered button all day, just turned the radio on or off. Mid-afternoon I hear a beep and a preset has been set in the B0 preset position... I was listening to my B5 preset.

My uneasy gut is telling me this might be a board-level problem... but you would know better than I.

Dana

TSSMario · #4 05-15-2012, 05:40 PM

It very well can be an issue with the main board, but that would usually show as problems with more than one button.

You may want to contact Droo on this one, as I'm sure he can do the fix if it's just the button contact.

sales@tss-radio.com