Sl-6000 Navigation Button Problems, Nav button fails intermittently Options

[periodontist]

The four-way navigation button on the sliding portion of my Zaurus no longer works consistently for any direction except up. I am assuming that the contacts are getting old/corroded.

Has anyone experienced similar? And does anyone have any experience in dismantling that section of the device to clean the contacts (if that is in fact the problem)? Or does anyone have any other troubleshooting tips?

I can live with it for now since the touch screen works, but it is definitely an inconvenience.

[dfisher]

Yep.

I get the same thing from time to time. I'm also having the same problem with the other keys (OK, Cancel). If you keep pressing them on and off for a while the problem seems to correct itself. Seems like it could be a corrosion problem.

I'm concerned about how long I can keep using this unsupported device. If the keys don't get me, eventually the battery is going to die and then I'll be SOL.

Doug

[periodontist]

I'm concerned about how long I can keep using this unsupported device.  If the keys don't get me, eventually the battery is going to die and then I'll be SOL.

If my keys eventually become completely dead, I will use it as an excuse to get a clamshell model Zaurus

I can tell you that I bought my Z used over a year ago and haven't seen any marked decrease in battery life.

[periodontist]

I went ahead and cleaned the contacts on my Z and my buttons work fine now. For anyone deciding to do some light dismantling due to similar problems I would recommend the following procedure (electrical engineers feel free to chime in on the best method for cleaning metallic contacts):

1. Push the sliding portion of your Z open to expose the keyboard. Look at the back side of the same portion. You will see 2 main electrical contacts each one split into 4 sections by some dividing plastic. Try to scrape away any corrosion you might see and see if this fixes your problem (these are the contacts that are engaged when the slider is closed).

2. If that doesn't work, there are 4 small screws on the SIDE (gray area) of the sliding portion. Removing them will allow you to remove the slider (it is held in place by 2 plastic protrusions on each of the 2 platic sliding arms). You should be able to remove it without much physical deformation -- and no permanent damage

3. When the slider is free, you will have access to another set of contacts to clean (presumably the ones that are engaged when the slider is open?). You will also have access to the contacts on the non-slider portion of your Z. Don't bother trying to remove the back plate from the slider (like I did) as there is nothing to clean...all contacts for the buttons are completely enclosed.

Happy Z'ing.

[adf]

Yep.

I get the same thing from time to time.  I'm also having the same problem with the other keys (OK, Cancel).  If you keep pressing them on and off for a while the problem seems to correct itself.  Seems like it could be a corrosion problem.

I'm concerned about how long I can keep using this unsupported device.  If the keys don't get me, eventually the battery is going to die and then I'll be SOL.

Doug

I think it might be possible to build a battery pack of some kind....maybe an ugly thing that sticks out and uses double A's?

[bgsfh]

Just be sure to tighten the four screws on the side of the slider down well.

I cleaned the contacts on my SL 5500 and had three of the screws fall out a few months afterward.