Let's pretend I'm an idiot who lacks the skills to do something as basic as insert a new spring into the back of this remote control after a battery appears to have leaked and dissolved it. Where would such an idiot go to pay someone a fair price for doing something that I assume is quite basic for a non-idiot. Bizarrely, any of the electronic repair stores I've taken it to seem to know only what to do with a phone/tablet. Are there any old school electronic repair shops that will quickly fix this (preferably without mocking me, though that is not a deal breaker)

by Equivalent-Door7729

25 comments

  1. Surely it’d just be easier to buy a new Wii controller? They can’t be that expensive

  2. I think you’d be cheaper and less hassle to buy a new remote

  3. All you need is for the battery to make contact while being held in place. Try to fold some foil to the appropriate thickness and wedge in the battery, if you can pull out enough leftover spring to touch the foil.

    If you can’t, try to wrap some thin metal wire (like the one in wire ties, say) around the leftover coil first and let it hang out where the spring was.

    Replacing the spring will require opening the remote, is that possible without breaking the plastic?

  5. I don’t think this has anything to do with being an idiot mate? Why are you assuming the layman knows how to solder springs onto electricals?

  7. roll up a piece of tin foil and place the shiny side between the battery and the contact.

    Use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar to clean the contacts first – just a little on an earbud.

  8. North end road Fulham there’s an old tv repair shop still going…

    Although as others have said a new or new 3rd party replacement remote will probably be cheaper

  9. You want a repair cafe, or a ball of foil that fits just enough to wedge between the battery and the connector.

  10. You can buy new spring and battery terminals at Ali Express.

  12. A lot of devices have multi power source options. Find something in the house that is plugged in but has a battery slot & repurpose that spring

    Or get a spring from something else you’re likely gonna throw away soon

    You could also go to your local dump and see what you can salvage

  13. That ain’t a toilet mate, take a dump in a decent location atleast

  14. If this was mine I’d have a scrunched up ball of tinfoil shoved in the gap replacing the spring. You probably don’t even need to bother with the spring. Probably don’t even have to leave the house.

  15. Love your question @op 😅 I’d go to a repair cafe, there are plenty across London so search for a local one to you or potentially a good old fashioned tv repair shop

  16. Don’t talk to yourself that way. I think most mobile phone repair shops should be able to fix that. It’s a perfectly reasonable thing to ask how to fix, and I imagine would need some soldering which would require a specialised tool.

  18. You could also stick magnets to the negative side of the battery; just enough to fill the gap

  19. Get a little screwdriver and take the case apart. Chances are it isn’t even soldered in. You just need to measure the old spring clip thingy and buy a replacement that fits.

  20. I see you have a good option with the repair cafe. If Fulham is closer to you, or you can’t make it that day, I can fix it for free too =)

  21. You can your cleaning products from any supermarket or any shop that sells then

  22. Stuff a piece of tin foil in there and put the lid back on.

  23. Cricklewood electronics or london hackspace. They’re the only places I can think of that might be able to help you

  24. I’m not in London but if you can’t find anyone to repair it dm me. If you’re willing to post it to me I’ll repair it and send it back. You just cover return postage.

  25. Im lazy and would order a new remote from eBay that’s the same name/brand. There appears to be enough spring residue that you could probably get a battery in there ok. You still need the cover though.

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