Problems with my Afterburner.

PureBlue · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:09 pm Post subject: Problems with my Afterburner.

Before anyone posts "LOL Y DID U GET AFTERBURNER IT SUX GET BLEUSHARK/COBAT FRUX", I bought an Afterburner because I heard it was good, and it was pretty cheap. Anyway, the problem I'm having is that the pad will work for 5 minutes, then every button will die except for the two buttons on the control box. It'll work for another 5 minutes, die again, and just keep going in that cycle. Does anyone know what would cause this problem? I'm guessing it might be a wire on the inside of the pad that's malfunctioning and/or a faulty control box. This is pissing me off, because I just got it on Friday, and it's been acting up since I got it.

Crzyazn · Basic Member Joined: 19 Dec 2007

I'm an afterburner owner.
I've had one for about a year. Im a pretty "heavy" guy so i believe i have dealt out a fair amount of abuse.

The only complaint i have is that the pads have "softened" up from so much use. They've gotten even more sensitive but i fear for their durability

there should be a warranty with the pad............replace it because it is actually not bad at all

PureBlue · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 4:59 pm Post subject:

So nobody has an actual answer as to what the problem might be?

DarkCSE · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 5:54 pm Post subject:

I had that problem on one of my afterburners. It turned out to be the DB-9 connector that connects the pad to the control box.

If you take off the top arrow, you'll notice the connector sits right under it. Hence whenever you smash on the up arrow, you smash on the connector a little. You'll probably need to replace the connector completely and put in a new DB-9 connector.

I'm in the process of doing it myself, so I don't have the wiring color->pin. Unfortunately, my db-9 connector had some melted plastic or something around the wires so I couldn't tell what color went to what pin. If yours doesn't have that, please send me a pic.

ChilliumBromide · Trick Member Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Location: Beaverton, OR

PureBlue · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 6:42 pm Post subject:

Where would I buy a DB-9 connector, just in case I do need a new one? If I know where I could buy a DB-9 connector, I could probably put a new one in.

I'm in the process of trying to get permission from my dad to take the arrow off, because he thinks I'll fry something and that we should just send it back.

ChilliumBromide · Trick Member Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Location: Beaverton, OR

PureBlue · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 8:33 pm Post subject:

Is this the connector thing you are talking about?

And is this the sensor thing?

Sorry, I'm just really inexperienced when it comes to things like this.

ChilliumBromide · Trick Member Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Location: Beaverton, OR

Yes and yes.

One question: where do you typically step on the up arrow? If you hit near the middle or top, it could very well be the connector, but if you're hitting near the bottom most of the time, I think it would be a problem with the control box. The connector seems a bit exposed, but not so exposed that ALL the buttons would tweak out unless it were hit right on.

Also, do you use little screwy things to connect the control box to the pad where it connects? If you don't, try doing so; 'cause it could be that you're just knocking the cord out.

I've never actually worked with an afterburner; just seen pictures, played on one, and know that they're structurally similar to the tx's, which I had a couple of.

If you know anyone else with an Afterburner, try your pad with their CB and their pad with yours, if both work perfectly, just swap, if not, that should tell you which is having the problem.
_________________

I used to be active here lol

PureBlue · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:06 pm Post subject:

I usually hit the middle. If it is the connector, how do I fix it without buying anything?

ChilliumBromide · Trick Member Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Location: Beaverton, OR

DarkCSE · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:03 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately, your connector has that plastic mold around it so you can't see the wires soldered to the pins. Tofu might be right on the connection just coming loose during play, so make sure you have those pieces firmly connected.

For me, it was just straight fail. So I knew it was the connector.

That's really the only point where you'd see every button on the pad fail but the select/start on the control box (since that's post db-9).

PureBlue · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:01 pm Post subject:

My Afterburner is now completely dead, and I've barely used it. I contacted RedOctane, but of course they still have not answered my RMA thing. Anything I can do to bring it back to life?

Laid_back · Basic Member Joined: 31 Dec 2007

I picked up a non-working Afterburner for free awhile ago, and had it working in about 10 minutes.

All I did was bend the pins in the DB-9 connector coming from the control box ever so slightly, so that they would be tighter and make better contact when plugged into the pad.

I've been using it almost daily since then without a problem.

Hope this helps!