Poor Wavewird, battery leak disaster. Will it work again?

Hello everyone,

I turn to you for professional advice on my problem. The other day I discovered that the batteries in my Wavebird had leaked. My heart was broken but the Internet told me to try with lemon or vinegar to clean the spill.

I tried with lemon and a q-tip, and the result is this:


As you can see, is not great.

Other options I'm thinking of are:
A) Try with vinegar (but I think that by now the contacts are clean of crystals, it's just that the metal itself is corroded)
B) A + buy a Nintendo screwdriver and open the controller and clean even more carefully the metal contacts
C) Get a new Wavebird

I don't necessarily mind the aesthetics of it, but I'm afraid to put a pair of rechargeable batteries in there... can the rusty contacts create a "short-circuit" with the new batteries?

Thanks for your advice!

-youtoo

PS: First post, just wanted to say that I found out about assemblergames a couple of months ago, and it has already provided many hours of enjoyment. Thank you for that.

 

I always open then up and clean it with steel wool when I run into these bateries leaks

 

Put some batteries in, it'll probably work fine.

 

Isopropyl 99%. Works for everything.
I've fixed a liquid damaged Macbook Pro by soaking the board in isopropyl. Literally soaked the board, rubbed on the affected areas, and then it booted and ran with no issues. I'm sure a controller with corrosion would react similarly.

 

^This!!

 

Yeah steel wool is good. If not, use a very high grade (3000 grit) sand paper and sand it down. Then, really rub in some oil (sewing oil will do) to prevent rusting.

 

Cool!! Thanks for the info.

So I'll check eBay for one of those Nintendo screwdrivers, I'll buy a alcohol 99% Isopropyl pint and some steel wool.

Where do I get sewing oil from?

EDIT: This for a dollar? http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-2-Pcs-T...ccessories&hash=item1e668ab568#ht_3124wt_1057

 

x

 

I got that screwdriver also

Uh, you can get sewing oil from an arts and crafts shop. If not, maybe ask someone you know with a sewing machine.
If not, try eBay http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SINGER-2...ollectables&hash=item3a6fd15da5#ht_2426wt_905

 

Well, I just ordered the screwdriver, I'll buy the rest when I get it and then I'll get working on it

 

I have a bunch of those Y screwdrivers, I would give you for free, but the shipping from Brazil its to expensive.

 

Thanks Padoca85, but no worries, it's difficult to beat $1 including shipping

Btw, do you know about this game? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=arfRc-7jRgM

 

Yeah, I'd also use steel wool and just rub the rust off.

Also, if possible, open it up and check the PCB before putting in new batteries, just in case some electrolyte went there too.

 

PCB?

 

The controller mainboard.

 

If you have a dremel with a small tip, it works great for cleaning stuff off like this.

 

Can't those terminals just be replaced?

 

Yes. Not sure what the part number would be and if an exact replacement is easily found but I'm sure I'm not the only one with a Wavebird that has a dead radio.

 

Becareful with those black metal screw drivers, they strip screws oh so easily. Two turns and they rounded my Wii Screws. I believe a torx 6 screw can turn wavebird screws.

 

you could probably use a soldering iron and some desoldering braid to get em good too