Repair of water damaged Dynatron car alarm remote

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nate

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Topic # 31761 29-Mar-2009 21:07

Because my life isn't already exciting as it is, I decided to put one of my Dynatron car alarms through the washing machine. They don't wash well, and it's now busted (I did dry it off, put in new batteries but still no luck).

My car alarm installer said call Dynatron, Dynatron don't respond to phone calls or emails, so, does anyone know how to fix a water damaged car alarm remote? At $80 odd for a replacement, I'd prefer to fix if possible.

stevehall

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Reply # 204068 29-Mar-2009 21:38

How badly damaged is it ?

Is it corroded all over inside ?

also when you say it doesnt work, is there any indication of it powering up or lights when trying to arm or disarm vehicle ? or does it just not operated vehicle ?

I can only suggest it is worth giving it a good clean with some PCB cleaning solution or isopropyl alcohol and a scrub down, let it dry and see.

How is the tuning done on it ? a little trimmer capacitor to turn ?

paradoxsm

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Reply # 204069 29-Mar-2009 21:41

It's probably very easy to fix, ensure the batteries have been taken out asap and left out.

You will most probably need new "tactile" switches (for the buttons) and the board will need to be cleaned but if there is not too much track damage or water is not in the SAW (google it) you should be good to go.

both "major" car alarm companies are utterly hopeless to deal with I have found though AVS did reply they were extremely vague forcing me to rip out the micro and read it's brains.

Try a cellphone repair shop like Mutual comms or even I can take a look at it if you send/bring it to me. Will take me 3 days however to gawk at it and post it back either working or with he bad news.

nate

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Reply # 204167 30-Mar-2009 13:15

stevehall: How badly damaged is it ?

Is it corroded all over inside ?

also when you say it doesnt work, is there any indication of it powering up or lights when trying to arm or disarm vehicle ? or does it just not operated vehicle ?

I can only suggest it is worth giving it a good clean with some PCB cleaning solution or isopropyl alcohol and a scrub down, let it dry and see.

How is the tuning done on it ? a little trimmer capacitor to turn ?

I dried it all off, no corrosion, when I push one of the buttons the small LED on the remote lights up but the car doesn't respond. No idea about the tuning sorry.

Adamal

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Reply # 204169 30-Mar-2009 13:32

I have found though AVS did reply they were extremely vague forcing me to rip out the micro and read it's brains.

Who did you speak with there?

And are you meaning you had to take apart the remote and read the model numbers?
Thing about the remotes is that they have lots of different models that get updated. Eg the latest one has a range of 200m line of sight.

paradoxsm

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Reply # 204175 30-Mar-2009 14:04

No nothing like that just a little vague on the email replies.

I used the alarm as a simple base and RX reciver for my own micro and PIC based Transmitter in the end for that old model. the remote had failed due to age.

The new AVS alarm is OK, the alrm siren is a bit weak though so I might decode the databus and make my own screamer.

mjb

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Reply # 204180 30-Mar-2009 14:16

Adamal: Eg the latest one has a range of 200m line of sight.

(sorry, not topic related...)

speaking of which, a friend's keyless entry fob to his car doesn't work at about 80-100m, but if he puts it up to his forehead, it does... don't ask me how he found that out, I don't know, and don't want to know - but why does that affect it?

contentsofsignaturemaysettleduringshipping

Adamal

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Reply # 204198 30-Mar-2009 14:51

Must cross wavelengths with the neruotransmitters that the government secretly implants in our heads as babies?

paradoxsm

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Reply # 204217 30-Mar-2009 15:42

Even with years of RF design behind me, this still puzzles me.

Elbows sometime work too, maybe they operate like a Yagi?

I might try it with the spec analyser.