Do you have a Yamaha remote control with buttons that have stopped working to you are having to press too hard? Thinking about buying a new remote or sending yours away for service? Try this first it may save you time and cash.

Warning – a small sharp tipped screw driver or flat bladed tool is required to open the remote casing so be very careful to keep hand and fingers away in case it slips. Best place remote on a towel or cloth to stop it slipping and apply pressure gently keeping other hand well away from the tool tip.

Google for remote control stuck buttons and you will find many posts saying how simple it is to fix. Well yes and no. Firstly it’s difficult to separate the top and bottom case to get inside – see the pictures below as a guide.

First remove batteries and the small cross head screw inside the battery compartment. You’ll need a fine screwdriver – a watchmakers works well. Next try to separate the two halves of the case which are held together by small clips. Pushing down into the grove running around the case will ease them part. I found it easier to prise the case apart starting along the left side 2 cm from the top. Press down quite hard using a small flat screwdriver taking care not to slip and damage your hand or the remote! It needs firm pressure along with a twisting motion to lever the top and bottom apart. If your remote has a separate black plastic cover around the top buttons be careful not to prise this apart as it stays attached to the top half.

Notice in the photo two small slots spaced along the side that form part of the clip fixing the case together. Press down at these points. Work along one side pressing down and twisting to separate the two halves. It makes a clicking sound when it separates but should not break the clips. Then turn the remote over and start again along the other side.You may be able to pull the case apart after most of one side has separated. This allows access to the button pads and circuit board for cleaning. My remote had what looked like sticky orange juice spilled on it which stopped the volume and mute buttons from functioning. Looking at the pictures you can see the area covered and it’s amazing many buttons still worked!

The button pads are held in place on the top half by the rubber buttons themselves. I left these in place while cleaning the contact pads with warm water and allowing to dry out using a hair dryer to blow away any fibres from the cotton wool and cloth used. I also cleaned the circuit board using a cotton cloth dipped in warm water. Again let the board dry fully and ensure it’s free of lint / dust before reassembling.

I’ve seen other posts suggesting use of fine sandpaper on the button contacts. I did not need this – a simple clean with water was sufficient. The button’s carbon film contact is very thin and I’m not sure it’s good to use an abrasive as it will rub away easily and increase resistance. I’d also avoid solvent contact cleaners which contain oil that can make the pads sticky and fail. You could try an alcohol cleaner on the buttons if water does not remove whatever’s built up inside. The circuit board has a green varnish insulating the fine PCB tracks which can dissolve in some solvents like acetone so test a small area first. You don’t want to leave a film of varnish over the button contacts!

The top and bottom case simply click back together with firm pressure. Check the battery contacts are aligned through the bottom case so the circuit board lies flat. Also remember to insert the dark plastic filter for the IR LED at the front if it’s fallen out – it slots in place.

You should now have a working remote that needs light touch to operate the buttons!