Flash Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 What are the risks involved when repairing car remotes? i.e. soldering micro switches e.t.c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1 Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 There is nothing to be afraid of Easy work A small investment, and a good profit This type of repair builds up a good reputation But you always have to think twice before you do something completelocks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted May 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 Thanks for that, I have heard there is a risk of damaging the PCB components by using the wrong equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1 Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 You have to use the right tools for each job Thinking is the key If you will not be sure how to do it, ask in this forum Someone will always help and push you in the right direction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLENGRAVING Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 I soldered on a remote button once it was smallest thing I'd soldered, only half knew what I was doing, turned out fine if I could build confidence it would seem like a good service to offer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1 Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 You build up self-confidence If you do something every day for training, you can train on old TV sets Desolder, solder again And if you are ready manually, start with the simplest jobs for customers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 Not sure old (tube/CRT) tv sets are the best starting point for training (toxic and dangerous if your not careful), best way is to go to a crap merchant and buy up all old unused keys and practice on them. hakeemz 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Muppet Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 Get yourself a bunch of used keys off eBay. Best off trying on the real thing. completelocks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1 Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 I started learning 35 years ago by repairing guitar cables for friends from my rock band Later I took on minor repairs of amplifiers and guitar electronics And that's how I accidentally learned this job GLENGRAVING and hakeemz 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hakeemz Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 27 minutes ago, grahamparker said: Not sure old (tube/CRT) tv sets are the best starting point for training (toxic and dangerous if your not careful), best way is to go to a crap merchant and buy up all old unused keys and practice on them. old tv sets have massive capacitors that can hold charge for long time, in the wrong hands this could be dangerous..i do basic soldering but do not go near tvs and monitors.. any way practicing on non working items will get you limited experience of soldering , as obviously once you have soldered something you want to be able to test it, if the thing was broken in first place then you cant do that (unless you have a fine tip multi meter and know how to use it to test continuity ) simon1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keySolutions Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 When i was first introduced to EEPROM, i wanted to practice desoldering and soldering chips. I went to the thrift store and got an old DVD player. Nobody wants these anymore these days and they go really cheap (<10€). Took off all the 8 pin chips and practiced reading out every EEPROM chip it had. Put everything back together and it all still worked. It had a bunch of small buttons on the front panel, but i didn't bother with those. All in all, it was a great confidence building exercise. simon1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1 Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 3 minutes ago, keySolutions said: When i was first introduced to EEPROM, i wanted to practice desoldering and soldering chips. I went to the thrift store and got an old DVD player. Nobody wants these anymore these days and they go really cheap (<10€). Took off all the 8 pin chips and practiced reading out every EEPROM chip it had. Put everything back together and it all still worked. It had a bunch of small buttons on the front panel, but i didn't bother with those. All in all, it was a great confidence building exercise. And that's what I had in mind There is no better way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirkybob Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 3 hours ago, grahamparker said: Not sure old (tube/CRT) tv sets are the best starting point for training (toxic and dangerous if your not careful), best way is to go to a crap merchant and buy up all old unused keys and practice on them. I agree with Graham, crt tv or monitor can hold in the region of 36,000 volts for some time. also stay well clear of microwaves. I woud practice on old remotes as these are what you will be working on. Older electronic equipmen also is not generally SMT (surface mount technology). you will need a very fine soldering iron and good eyes to work on SMT. which is why I dont do them ( old age and old eyes ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
completelocks Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 I do these. Most of the buttons are really easy with a good soldering iron. I always tell the customer the price of a replacement remote first, as that's what a lot of them want, and think is the only option. I tell them there is a 90% chance I can repair it, but the cost is the same whether it works or not, and they understand that if it doesn't then replacement is the only option. So, they are fully aware of everything. Repairing for a fraction of the cost of a new one, does create a good reputation as someone above said. simon1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1 Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 I often replace the new shell with repair And there is good money Often, customers do not have a spare key and it's another income I always explain to them that this type of repair is not possible while you wait Most customers want to make a spare key It is less risky if I know that the customer has a second key in case something goes wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted May 2, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 5 hours ago, simon1 said: I often replace the new shell with repair And there is good money Often, customers do not have a spare key and it's another income I always explain to them that this type of repair is not possible while you wait Most customers want to make a spare key It is less risky if I know that the customer has a second key in case something goes wrong Thanks for all the info, I have successfully solded a few buttons back onto the P.C.B. but have been told it is a very risky procedure. If customer has a spare it's not so bad, but to cock up the only working key is not a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Muppet Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 They’re not bringing it for repair if it’s working though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
completelocks Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 1 hour ago, Count Muppet said: They’re not bringing it for repair if it’s working though? Yeah all the time.. "excuse me, can you repair my fully functional remote please" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted May 3, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2019 22 hours ago, Count Muppet said: They’re not bringing it for repair if it’s working though? What I hear is it used to start the car, now it doesn't, it.s your fault....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Muppet Posted May 3, 2019 Report Share Posted May 3, 2019 I see your point i do encourage them to buy a spare first in case there is any problems, but I mainly do that to get extra money in the till. Once I put the element of risk in their heads, it’s usually an easy sale for a spare non remote key. simon1 and exp121260 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1 Posted May 3, 2019 Report Share Posted May 3, 2019 5 hours ago, Flash said: What I hear is it used to start the car, now it doesn't, it.s your fault....... Before you take the key for repair, check it Transponder does it work? Does the remot send a signal or not? I try to minimize the risk Of course, after the repair I check again if everything works. And I check again in the presence of the customer I've never had any problems exp121260 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keySolutions Posted May 4, 2019 Report Share Posted May 4, 2019 Simon, what do you charge for recplacing a button ? And how much for a shell ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted May 4, 2019 Report Share Posted May 4, 2019 The first and in my opinion the most important piece of advice is not to use a soldering iron! Repairing remote's is a large part of our business and we only use soldering irons when it is necessary to put new solder on a board, when changing a rechargeable battery for example. Other than that I never use a soldering iron or solder. There is already solder on the board and a soldering iron can easily damage the board or nearby components. I use a Hot Air Re-working tool. This too must be used with great caution for fear of blowing micro components off the board. I personally, would only repair keys if I also had the ability to replace and diagnostically program new ones..just in case! Another tip is to be absolutely sure that the replacement case you have is the right one. Don't get caught out with cases that don't fit or have a different fit inside although they look the same on the outside. Not ideal if you have destroyed the customers key, then found out you don't have the correct case. Most are no brainers but you can still be caught out. Final tip! Don't be too cheap. Personally, I don't think most customers will mind paying up to a third of the price of a replacement for a key that is returned to them looking and working like new. You just saved them a fortune! One price for new case, blade and battery. A higher price if replacing components like switches on the board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the locksmith Posted May 4, 2019 Report Share Posted May 4, 2019 I use the older version of this https://www.pdr-rework.com/c3-chipmate no air to blow parts around and no soldering irons to burn things. Did cost s*&t loads though. Simes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted May 4, 2019 Report Share Posted May 4, 2019 2 minutes ago, Dave the locksmith said: I use the older version of this https://www.pdr-rework.com/c3-chipmate no air to blow parts around and no soldering irons to burn things. Did cost s*&t loads though. Looks smart. How much would one of those set you back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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