Hardware Wii Remote won't turn on - no signs of life in it

NoNAND · Apr 10, 2021

I just decided to pick up my wii u and play some games again. But the wii remote doesn't seem to power on at all
The last time that I used it was last month as I recall.
I played with it for about 30 minutes then put it back in the drawer.
However this time around it doesn't seem to work.
And yes by the way I've changed the batteries and tried a dozen of different batteries but at no avail. It still won't budge.

Took it apart cleaned it and put everything back together but still doesn't do anything.
I noticed some slight but only slight discoloration on the power contacts but come on there's far more corroded power pins that work on many devices.

So guys
How do i troubleshoot this issue.
I haven't dropped it in water nor have i dropped it or done anything that would damage the wii remote.

pleasehelpme2 · Apr 10, 2021

Just smack the thing really hard. Always works for me when my remotes stop working.

godreborn · Apr 10, 2021

I've yet to encounter a wiimote that failed, but I did have one that has issues with the ir receiver. I bought a new one. I also had a tron wiimote that I cleaned improperly. it was sticky afterwards. I had to rebuy that also. I'm not sure what to suggest in this case. I've always bought a new copy of the same wiimote when something happened.

wagonhelm · Apr 15, 2021

More than likely corrosion from batteries? One wiimote had zero lights and I removed the battery bridge by releasing a clip on the inside of the backplate and scrubbed the heck outta it with vinegar and bam I had lights.

godreborn said:
I've yet to encounter a wiimote that failed, but I did have one that has issues with the ir receiver. I bought a new one. I also had a tron wiimote that I cleaned improperly. it was sticky afterwards. I had to rebuy that also. I'm not sure what to suggest in this case. I've always bought a new copy of the same wiimote when something happened.

I've brought many Wii motes back from the grave and I've only had one be irreparable, battery corrosion everywhere and ate into the pcb.

NoNAND · Apr 15, 2021

wagonhelm said:
More than likely corrosion from batteries? One wiimote had zero lights and I removed the battery bridge by releasing a clip on the inside of the backplate and scrubbed the heck outta it with vinegar and bam I had lights.

I've brought many Wii motes back from the grave and I've only had one be irreparable, battery corrosion everywhere and ate into the pcb.

How exactly do i remove them?

20100 · Apr 15, 2021

Hi, Open the Wiimote (triwing screwdriver) and you'll see a hole. Slide in a little flat screwdriver and it wiil release the clip. After it will be possible tu pull the bridge and clean it.
Before you open the wiimote, gently heat it with a hair dryer at the top of the wiimote or the little clips that retain the wiimote closed will break.

wagonhelm · Apr 18, 2021

Nintendo Wii Remote Teardown - iFixit

To get the battery bridge out you have to push down a clip on the inside of the wii mote. Like 20100 says it's really easy to break the clip on the top but it still mostly holds together even if you break it. Havn't tried heating up before though.

SP33DY · Apr 24, 2021

Definitely the batteries

zerofalcon · Apr 24, 2021

Something like this happened to me just last week, I just removed the batteries, let the wiimote stay like this for about 5 min, placed batteries again an voila!

NoNAND · Apr 25, 2021

Guys here take a look at the wii remotes terminals are they corroded or not?

I kinda have the feeling it might be something else other than the terminals

NoNAND · Apr 28, 2021

Took out the battery terminals and turns out they aren't corroded at all.

What could be the cause behind all of this then?
Anyone got any idea?

Yes I'm on new fresh batteries

20100 · Jun 1, 2021

There are some small fuses on the wiimote PCB. I resurected a Wiimote bridging one of the fuses that was blown...

V10lator · Jun 4, 2021

You could at least try to clean the contacts from corrosion, esp. when you start with

NoNAND said:
I noticed some slight but only slight discoloration on the power contacts

So grab some sand paper or anything good enough for the job and clean the contacts. You can't loose anything with it, so just try it...

NoNAND · Jun 4, 2021

V10lator said:
You could at least try to clean the contacts from corrosion, esp. when you start with

So grab some sand paper or anything good enough for the job and clean the contacts. You can't loose anything with it, so just try it...

Nvm i broke the contacts already

Mechageo · Mar 17, 2023

wagonhelm said:
More than likely corrosion from batteries? One wiimote had zero lights and I removed the battery bridge by releasing a clip on the inside of the backplate and scrubbed the heck outta it with vinegar and bam I had lights.

I've brought many Wii motes back from the grave and I've only had one be irreparable, battery corrosion everywhere and ate into the pcb.

I want you to know that I fixed a dead Wii Remote just now by taking out the removable bridge and cleaning it.
Just posting this for posterity.

martindrengen · Mar 22, 2023

I have three Wii Remotes with Motion Plus. Two of them are completely dead now. Not an issue with corrosion as the terminals have been sanded and I have confirmed continuity with my multimeter. I opened one yesterday and the cap looked fine. I didn't have a replacement, but it is a Rubycon so it should be decent quality. Both fuses are fine.

I don't know what else to try. Very rarely they flash all four lights once or twice, but most of the time they are totally dead. Batteries are fine

Here is a picture of two of my Wii Remote. The one of the left with the glossy plastic works just fine, but the one with the matte plastic doesn't. Both of my non working remotes have that matte plastic, so I wonder if there is a connection?

Hardware Wii Remote won't turn on - no signs of life in it

Give me back my legions!

Well-Known Member

Welcome to the Machine

Member

Give me back my legions!

Well-Known Member

Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Give me back my legions!

Give me back my legions!

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Give me back my legions!

Member

Member

Similar threads

Popular threads in this forum