PS3 Controller Repair

In this video I'm fixing and restoring a PS3 Dualshock controller.
These controllers are very sturdy and in most cases a good cleaning and some IPA will solve most of the problems - which is the case in my controller. There was some oxidation on one of the connectors and cleaning it with IPA resolved the problem.
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/ retrotechcorner
/ retrotechcorner

[@Bogdan-BBM]

great fix, although the contacts can be oxidized and if alcohol doesn't fix it you can rub a very fine piece of sandpaper (like 2000) on those contacts that connect the flex to the board, i've done it many times. Don't over clean with the sandpaper because contacts are very fragile and you can remove the tracks (i've done it :P )

[@marceparisi6047]

I was stucked with the trigger buttons assembling part and your explanation at 12:27 helped me a LOT to assemble them properly. Thanks!

[@jdaniels1313]

Great tutorial! Thank you for showing how to remove the white plastic frame and clean the membranes the buttons push against. I did the repair involving cleaning the ribbon cable, with the tape to shim it up a little, and now everything works EXCEPT the start button, and I really think the issue is between the membrane and the Start button. Now I know how to remove and clean the white plastic frame piece, and remove and replace all the parts. From your example, I also now have the confidence to de-solder and re-solder the motors. If the button membrane fix fails, well, I'll take the L and send the controller (authentic Sony PS3 dual shock) into either the trash or the parts bin or Craigslist "free".

[@soulslip]

Exactly the video I was looking for! I have four controllers that stopped powering on and or randomly scroll or click things and it was impossible to use them anymore. I figured cleaning and or a reflow of the board might be in order... thanks, Cheers!

[@Ajaykumar-wt4jy]

Can I remove the motor and just assemble rest parts alone, if I don't want vibration?

[@RetroTechCorner]

Yes, just desolder the wires and you'll be ok.

[@autisticChronicles360]

A lot of games allow you to disable vibration mode if you don't want to feel any. I know PS2 games do that, not sure about PS3 games though..

[@shanestep8685]

strange, there is another model with no white frame. the fix for the random button pressing was to apply some tape to that part you rubbed alcohol on it, to thicken up a seemingly random piece of foam. sounds crazy, but it worked perfectly. this ds3 is a very defective design, all of them (or at least a significant percentage) eventually do the random button press thing.

[@dolessllc]

Awesome! Fixed!

[@beaubowss6813]

would it be possible to put grey ps1 thumbsticks and buttons on this DualShock 3? The sticks and buttons from the white version of the original DualShock controller. I wanted them on a ceramic white DualShock 3 so it looks throwback.

[@threefiveseven]

some dualshock 3s have grey buttons. my blue dualshock 3 does.

[@ivantr1965]

Hello, I have a problem with R3 stick, when I'm clicking it it doesn't work, but camera when I'm sliding ok, without any issues. I want to fix it, but I don't know what to do. Help pls if you know. Thank you:)

[@ThunderMarco911]

Interesting tutorial.
PS3 original controllers are nice but not sturdy enough.
Sony company should be ashamed for using fragile and weak materials.
I hate when PS3 controllers starts to wear out, i mean that's injustice.

[@GrainGrown]

I know, right? Especially the sticks are super fragile, the shafts wear thin and the edges of the hole wear and often crack too.

[@Ajdasiibishvekot]

Hi? Can you help me, I have a problem with my ps3 controller. When in game if I double click X or x + R2 the game opens pause menu.

[@wilfredwayne7139]

Stick drift is impossible for me to fix on mine opened it cleaned everything but wont work.

[@PeterMwense-zx7ko]

Tried fixing mine but once I replace a new analog it keeps moving the opposite direction like if you move left it goes right

[@jesusbaez1791]

Can u fix my controller

[@r9gt349]

I flooded the gamepad and now the buttons don't work. what can be done?

[@RetroTechCorner]

Open it up and clean everything with IPA. make sure the contacts on the ribbon cable are clean and corrosion free

[@r9gt349]

​@@RetroTechCorneronly central buttons are working now

[@xxx_jim_the_reaper_xxx]

I can't put back those shoulder buttons!
What do I do?

[@RetroTechCorner]

Not sure - just wiggle them and they should go in...

[@xxx_jim_the_reaper_xxx]

@@RetroTechCorner
Alright

[@sleezcs]

@@xxx_jim_the_reaper_xxxHow did it go? Thinking about doing this myself

[@mistertoli9312]

I have a problem woth my joystick drift. And all the videos ive seen they have a rubber between the board and the upper thin board. But mine is connecter with metal. How do i fix it is you have any solutions.

[@subjectbigy]

Do you have a link for the thumbsticks?