Express - How to Fix Intermittent Switches

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The information in this post is provided to assist in troubleshooting. Perform work at your own risk. ENSURE ANY POWER FROM DEVICES HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED BEFORE SERVICING ANY EQUIPMENT. If you do not feel comfortable performing the work, please contact us or your local service center. Be aware that ETC and its Affiliates are not responsible for any damage or injury caused by service of our products by anyone other than us or our authorized service providers, and such damage is excluded from the product’s warranty.

Issue

Express buttons are not responding or are intermittent and may take multiple presses to register.

Explanation of Issue

When an Express console sits unused, dust and corrosion can build up inside the switch mechanisms and cause key presses not to register. Sometimes just pressing the keys and using the console again is enough to loosen things up and get the keys working again, but if that's not enough you can try the solutions below.

Solution

1) Create a Diagnostic Disk to Test Your Facepanel

Test the Face Panel using the Diagnostic Disk to confirm which switches are bad and later confirm that they have been fixed. Simply removing the disk and rebooting your console should return it to its normal mode of operation.

Use a computer with a floppy drive to copy the face panel diagnostic file (FACE.BIN) to a floppy disk.
Turn off the console, and then insert the disk.
Turn on the console and low the disk to load.
Select the "Face" test and press [Enter].
Test all of the buttons and faders. Wiggling can help find intermittent issues.
1. Press the button several times. This often will break through the corrosion and allow the switch to work correctly.

2) Create a Diagnostic Disk to Test Your Trackpad

If no switches fail the face panel test, a bad Trackpad could be the cause of the data entry or control issues. Run the Trackpad test (TRACKPAD.BIN) following the same steps as the Face Panel diagnostic disk.

Once the Trackpad test has been loaded, press [Track] and [Record] to track and record the input of the Trackpad.
A bad Trackpad will have a false press holding when pressure is removed, and/or it will not track finger motion accurately.
A bad Trackpad should be replaced by an experienced technician, but it can be unplugged internally in an emergency.

3) Clean the Switches with Rubbing Alcohol

If the switch is still intermittent or non-responsive, cleaning the switch with rubbing alcohol is the next step.

Turn off the Express console.
Remove the black plastic keycap using a keycap puller or a thin pry tool.
1. Note: Express keys are slightly larger than standard mechanical keyboard keys. If using a standard keycap puller, you may need to angle it to catch the corners of the keys instead of the sides
Put a generous amount of rubbing alcohol over the exposed white switch surface and then press the switch many times so that the rubbing alcohol gets into the switch and reaches the corroded parts.
Use forced air to clear out the liquid rubbing alcohol. (Eye protection and proper ventilation are recommended)
Turn the console back on and test.