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Tiny Welder needed...................
Ok ok so maybe its someone with a tiny Soldering Iron, I dunno.
So I need the collective brain trusts insight on another situation. Can this be done? Here is the backstory. My daily driver is a C230, and I happen to love it. Last week my Key FOB failed. it was a bit beaten and tattered. I am no longer able to LOCK the car with my key. Lock the car = NO Unlock the car = YES Pop the Trunk = YES Panic Button = YES Start the car = YES I bought a new Key FOB casing. I transferred the guts from my old Key to the new While Transferring........ I noticed the button ON THE CIRCUT BOARD to lock the car had broken off and was loose inside the casing. The new casing is perfect and we are back to: Lock the car = NO Unlock the car = YES Pop the Trunk = YES Panic Button = YES Start the car = YES soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo my questions are? 1. Can the button be saved and re-soldered to the circut board? 2. Who can do this type of work? person or profession? Your collective insights have NEVER been wrong so I appreciate all you guys and your insights.... Please comment. BTW.... yes I know I can go and spend 300.00 on a new Key from Mercedes, BUT this new FOB cost me 7.00, which one would YOU pick?   
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06-07-2019, 09:15 AM
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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 55,898
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sorry, couldn't help myself
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Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa  SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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06-07-2019, 09:27 AM
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Model Citizen
Join Date: May 2007
Location: The Voodoo Lounge
Posts: 18,829
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^^ . First thing I thought of.
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06-07-2019, 09:29 AM
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holy schitt !
that is funny! looks like the right man for the job! Hey.... as long as he can make the key work again, i dont care what brand of welder he is using. |
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06-07-2019, 09:30 AM
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Vaccinated and Boosted
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,582
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I suggest finding a Jeweler with a laser welder. This, I believe would do the job very well.
Good luck! Mg
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2013 911 Turbo S 2025 Lexus TX350, 2024 Honda CRV Hybrid 1930 Cadillac V8, 1991 Ford F250, 2023 Chevy Colorado And some garage space.... |
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06-07-2019, 09:48 AM
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Woodlands TX
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It would be very easy to resolder that switch back to the PCB for any decent EE tech or hobbyist. Provided the pads are in decent shape on the board. If the switch is hosed you could find a suitable replacment on digikey for cheap
Not sure who to recommend if you don't have a buddy with a soldering station.
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84 930 07 Exige S |
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06-07-2019, 10:54 AM
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Location: Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
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Soldering on a mini circuit board is tricky because originally it was all done at once. If you can place the button on the spot where it was and it makes contact, you could use a thick version of Super Glue (cyanoacrylate glue) to hold it. I buy mine from Mohawk but if you look around you might find some at a hardware store or hobby shop.
After looking around a bit I see that Gorilla and Loctite have some cyanoacrylate gel on the rack maybe even at the home box store. Use a toothpick to apply and don't let it flow over to the contact points. |
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06-07-2019, 10:59 AM
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Aschen..... thanks. yes the button is good......solid click if pressed.
Lets see if I can get it re-attached before getting out of hand! hahahaha I dont know anyone that has a soldering station. Thats why I came here! So far so good. The idea of re-attachment is real and I am making headway! thats good.... Now its getting the thing to someone that can actually do it! |
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06-07-2019, 11:00 AM
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Woodlands TX
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Techs manually rework surface mount components much smaller that that button routinely. If the pads are still there it can be fixes in 45 seconds by a decent tech. Maybe just search for a local electronics repair shop if you dont have any buddies with skills in the art.
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06-07-2019, 11:05 AM
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Location: Dahlonega , Georgia
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That is a simple repair for anyone with soldering skills . If you have a decent magnifying glass or microscope take a closer look at the pads where the part came off the board. If the pads are there it is a piece of cake . If the pads are torn or partially missing that is a different story . These tiny mass produced boards seem to be prone to cold solder joints . The more you work the buttons the more likely the solder joints are to fracture . Good luck
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06-07-2019, 11:06 AM
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You guys seem to think soldering is a POC. It's not in this case. One would need a needle tip iron and the correct electronic solder (very small dia.) plus liquid flux. Typical flux core solder will make a mess out of this and likely render the board useless defeating the purpose.
I'm just saying that to clarify that there is soldering and then there is precision soldering. |
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06-07-2019, 11:12 AM
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I have a 30 year experienced EE tech reporting to me (as well as several design EEs). I've been to many board stuffing houses. We routinely repair much more difficult things manually. The EE tech could fix it in the dark. Im Ok with an iron and could likely fix it with no issues as well (ME not EE).
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84 930 07 Exige S |
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06-07-2019, 11:19 AM
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Quote:
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06-07-2019, 11:23 AM
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Quote:
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06-07-2019, 11:32 AM
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As I stated " anyone with soldering skills " can do this repair . I have built/ touched up hundreds of PWB's in my previous carreer this would be a one minute repair . I removed and replaced all three button switches on my Porsche key a few months ago. It took longer for the iron to heat up than it took to do the repair . Did it with a $15.00 Weller iron nothing special but a small tip .
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06-07-2019, 12:08 PM
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Location: Woodlands TX
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Agreed, about as easy as a board level repair can be, just gotta find somebody who is not a complete noob to pcb repair.
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84 930 07 Exige S |
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06-07-2019, 12:14 PM
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Location: New Jersey
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I would think any indy computer, PC or phone repair store be able to solder something like that?
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06-07-2019, 12:51 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,612
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That's one of those made in China key fob case things?
Part of the joy of owning a German car is the quality experience of using the key. At least for me it is. I bought two new keys for the E320 and never regretted it. Same for the Cayman. When the key wears out, I get a new one from the dealer. It's part of ownership. |
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06-07-2019, 07:30 PM
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Location: Seattle
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I solder stuff smaller than the hair on your head. Every day, all day.
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06-07-2019, 07:47 PM
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06-08-2019, 02:32 AM
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Pre- H20
