PSP 1000 (Phat) buttons seem to be...sticking?

I haven't been able to use it in many months (because I've been using its' battery for my PSP 3000 instead (it was the only thing that solved that issue). BUT when I did try using the 1000 the buttons seemed to be sticking or needed to be pressed very hard for any kind of response. I'm wondering if this is an easy fix or not. I am willing to open her up cuz she's of no use to me now as it is (and I have other PSP's that work) so if I mess up and it becomes a loss I won't mind as much but for the time being I don't even have a battery for the unit. So any tips will be gladly taken but I won't be able to update my status for a few weeks while I await a new battery. I basically made this thread to see what people would say as I don't know too much about the hardware of these individual devices, I only know the software part, I'm a PSP theme creator...not hard modder.

 

Thanks for responding @placebo_yue unfortunately I don't think I have any graphite...and I guess I would have to open her up, wouldn't I?

 

hm I will give it a try, I have pencils yes. (sorry I'm not big on common sense lmao) I don't have a clue about most things, but thanks for explaining I'll give it a shot over the next couple of days (turkey day tomorrow!) It's not hard to open a 1000 PSP, is it? (a couple of screws?)

 

Yes @placebo_yue I was asking, haha. When you say "draw" over the contacts you mean like scribble over the points of contact where the buttons go?

 

Hm @elk1007, buying new button pads does seem like a good idea, are they easy to install? I've seen videos online where the pads literally just pop right off and could very well easily be replaced. I think I'll order some new button pads and do the graphite (pencil) trick @placebo_yue.

 

@elk1007 So I could change the front faceplate, and still have the black buttons (it's a piano black original PSP 1000). They sell that kinda stuff on AliExpress, right? I know they take a long time to deliver, but I recently got 2 genuine:
100% Original Sony 3.6V 1800mah batteries from them and they shipped in protective bubble wrap and in a small little box that seemed pretty well protected. I was very happy when I saw that they were GENUINE and not knockoffs. I will do some shopping on there again and buy a faceplate so when I do clean the buttons/contacts etc, I'll swap out the front bit and have a bright color with black buttons! Making it my most customized PSP, although I have a Darth Vader PSP, that's my main squeeze, haha. Got 238GB's in that particular one, I'm a theme maker (if you check my name online you'll see themes I've made. I'm a big contributor to EndlessParadigm.com and of course, I post on this site as well.

 

@placebo_yue Well, being that this PSP is incapacitated right now with the buttons not working right, all I have are the two (apparent) OFFICIAL Sony PSP 1000 Phat (Original) batteries. I have yet to test it. Should I do a quick test today? Let the battery run all day and set a stopwatch and tell you how much time I get out of it?

 

Well, I'll test it out and see if they are good or not, who knows I might have gotten duped? I'll only know once I test the 2 I received. But thanks for the input @elk1007 I appreciate everyone who's posted on this topic.

 

@placebo_yue Quick question: I have a pretty bad screen on my PSP 1000, with lots of scratches, will replacing the shell replace the screen too? (I have a feeling that it's connected to the shell? No? Am I right? I know the real screen is MUCH harder to replace. Just thought I'd ask before I go ordering anything.

 

@placebo_yue I know the REAL screen is on the inside of the shell, what I'm asking is...isn't there a protective cover over the screen (that's attached to the faceplate)? I think that's where most of my scratches are from. Not directly on the screen (inside) itself. Just want some clarification before I order a new faceplate, I think I'm right just wanted to make sure.