Posted by Every once in a while, I get a used Xbox One controller that has a unique problem. Most I have been able to fix, but a couple remain a mystery. The most perplexing one is a controller that shuts off when it vibrates. The only thing I found unusual is that the magnets on the triggers were covered with metal filings. I have no idea where the filings came from. The only thing I have left to try is replacing the trigger motors, assuming that they are damaged and causing a voltage draw that is shutting the controller off. Recently I had a controller with an intermittent up button issue on the D-pad. When you push up on the D-pad it would make contact but then lose contact. It is supposed to maintain contact when you press down on the directional buttons.
I had never seen this problem before, so I did a little research and found that liquid can get under the D-pad membrane and cause the buttons to malfunction. The membrane is the white circular button pad on the circuit board. I have a lot of old circuit boards for 1708 model controllers but had never tried a membrane transplant. The membrane is attached with strong adhesive, so I used a heat gun to warm up the membrane on a scrap circuit board. I was surprised at how easy it came off with just a little heat. I used the same technique on the bad D-pad membrane, and it also come off without any trouble. Under the membrane I found debris, which was clearly the cause of the contact issue. I cleaned the circuit board with isopropyl alcohol and carefully applied the doner membrane. I reassembled the controller, and the D-pad worked perfectly again.
On another controller, I noticed that the down button retainer was out of place on one of the thumb sticks. I’ve seen these small gray plastic clips with damage in the past. Normally I would replace the whole thumb stick assembly, but this was on a newer model 1914 controller. I decided to see if I could replace the loose clip because other than that, the thumb stick calibration was perfect. I quickly discovered that the clip is installed during the manufacturing process making replacement difficult without removing the thumb stick from the circuit board. There are 3 tiny tabs on the clip that hold it in place. The tabs were damaged on the old clip, so I took one off of an old thumb stick assembly. My only option was to widen the upper aluminum housing by 2.5 mm on each side so the 2 lower tabs could be pressed in and slid down. I used a rotary tool to widen the opening and cleaned out the debris. After a little effort the 2 lower tabs popped into place and slid down. I filed a bit of material off the upper tab and that too snapped into place. So yes, a thumb stick retaining clip can be replaced with a new one while it is attached to the circuit board.