Most of the time you can fix your TV remote yourself with a simple repair kit and avoid the high cost of a replacement.
Most remotes have electrically conductive paint on the bottom of each rubber button. The more you use each button, the more the paint wears off. The good news: You can buy a repair kit that includes two-part conductive paint. (We used the Chemtronics CW2605 rubber keypad repair kit, at mcmelectronics.com.) The bad news: You have to figure out how to disassemble the remote, and each one is different. But here are some general disassembly tips.
1. Start by removing the screws. They’re usually hidden in the battery compartment under labels and rubber feet. Next, take a digital photo of the remote with the screws near their holes. Be sure you get a clear shot of all the buttons and any slide switches along the side of the remote. Once you pop open the remote, those slide switches may fly out.
To separate the halves, press a butter knife along the seam and look for “give.” Press in at those points and pry the halves apart. Inside you’ll find either individual rubber buttons or a single molded sheet containing all the buttons. If you’ve spilled anything sticky on your remote, dunk the rubber buttons/sheet, plastic case and any hard plastic buttons in a bowl of warm water and dishwashing liquid. Brush off the debris, rinse all the parts with warm water and let them dry.
2. Follow the mixing and application instructions. Repaint each button with a new coat of conductive paint. (Paint all of them as long as you have the case open.) The paint dries in about 24 hours, but it needs a full 72 hours to cure completely. That’s why we had you take digital photos—so you could remember how to reassemble your remote three days later. Don’t rush the curing process or you’ll be repeating the repair in a year or so. Reassemble the remote and you’re ready to surf.