Random Stuff

Logitech’s Harmony Remote is a really nice remote. I’ve had mine for a couple years but now the most commonly used buttons are wearing out. Since I have a Tivo the most used buttons are the forward buttons that I use for skipping commercials. These buttons are pretty much unusable now, they will work some of the time but only if you press really hard.

It seems stupid to buy a new Harmony remote every couple of years just because the buttons wore out. So here is how you can fix the buttons. These instructions are for the 676, but should work on most other versions too:

1. Open the remote by removing the four screws at the bottom (two are under the battery compartment.
2. Pry the remote open.
3. Remove the two screws that are holding the circuit board on.
4. Take the button piece out and flip it over too see the backs of the buttons.
5. On my remote the buttons that were broken had some kind of shiny liquid on them. I’m not really sure what this is or where it comes from, all I know is you need to get rid of it.
6. Take a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol and scrub the keys and the contacts on the circuit board.
7. Put the remote back together, it should now be working.

After I performed the above procedure the remote buttons started working perfectly.