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Wii U Gamepad Linker Analog Stick Problem

Afterwards chiliad hours of intense Splatoon play, my left analog stick was getting quondam and losing its freshness. It would showtime to do its ain thing in the middle of games, randomly not responding, going down, right, wherever it wanted. This is not a common console problem related to calibration, but a problem with the bodily piece of tech inside. Wii U'due south analog stick is a bit different to what you'd expect, with a circuit board "sensor" reading inputs instead of the joystick itself.

leftboard

I read a LOT about this before doing anything and found many people with the result, with some who had fixed it by replacing the part. I could temporarily fix it past blowing deeply into the stick, but that started to fail me more as the months went on.

Information technology became impossible to play Mario 64, Star Pull a fast one on Zero or Splatoon without getting annoyed. Even while playing Castlevania on the Virtual Panel, my character would sometimes duck randomly and freak me out, with the analog stick kicking in out of nowhere. I finally decided it had to be fixed. Later on ordering a $vii replacement analog stick from eBay, and a $iii Triwing screwdriver, I managed to fix the issue TODAY and I thought information technology was worth doing a petty post almost it while it'due south on my mind.

These were the two guides I referred to, they are very adept step past stride explanations with pictures, merely I'll just add my own experience.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nintendo+Wii+U+GamePad+Analog+Stick+Replacement/12873

http://chester.me/archives/2016/02/wii-u-gamepad-left-analog-stick-replacement/

My tools were

Triwing Screwdriver, tons of places sell them on eBay for a few bucks. Worth having since a lot of Nintendo hardware uses this very specific triangle shape for screws, and Switch probably will likewise.
Phillips #0 Screwdriver, randomly constitute in my toolkit amidst different sizes. It's the smallest i I take. You lot could get this at any hardware store without worrying about ordering online.
Analog stick PCB board from eBay. Mine came in the post today and I was and so excited. I got left and correct in a gear up, just you can buy them separately. It'southward very important yous get the correct side, because left and right are shaped differently. Here'southward a link to the same thing on Amazon. You practise NOT need to modify the rubbery thing on peak, it only slides off and dorsum onto the new one.

I tried to have photos but my telephone photographic camera is just too crap to see minor parts, so it's not worth posting the blurry mess. It'south all in those links anyway. A few notes from my procedure.

The GamePad is held together stupidly well. Afterwards removing the battery plate an insane Ten screws have to be taken out with the Triwing screwdriver. Very pocket-sized and easy to lose if you don't organise them in a safe, easy spot. There's nothing too hard about it, merely make sure the Y shape is slotted in properly. 2 of my screws were in extra hard and I had to utilize a petty scrap of force, not too bad.
Taking off the entire GamePad plastic back is optional, I just left it there leaning against something (with no stress on the wire).
The L and R buttons will almost certainly fall out, but they are very easy to put dorsum in. Literally just slide them on the top and agree them there as you put everything back on. Information technology freaked me out, simply quickly made sense.
This is a swell opportunity to clean out dust from the buttons themselves and the sides. Chances are your GamePad will not look like the perfect white brand new 1 in the ifixit guide. A scrap of clay had accumulated in the slot of my ZR and ZL buttons. It was very piece of cake to clean out and they feel fresh at present. It'due south really cool to see how the ZL and ZR buttons slide in likewise, they can flap upwards and downwardly like a garbage bin on a hinge.
Everything is freakin tiny. The final 2 screws holding the analog stick PCB lath together are piece of cake to lose and come out very speedily after loosening. The wire dangling from the board was also difficult to take out without breaking. I used my finger to edge out ane side, and so on the other side, and wiggled it out as tedious as possible.
Make note of everything you are doing, so yous can put everything back together exactly the same way. In that location's no extra step when putting it back together as long as y'all don't forget to clip everything back on, and tighten every spiral.
I used this experience as an alibi to order a Loftier Capacity battery. At that place are some third party ones looming effectually, only I got the official Nintendo one by calling Nintendo Australia and ordering over the telephone. It costs $35 AU and came within a week with free postage. I experience stupid for not having this sooner. The battery is SIGNIFICANTLY easier to change than the analog stick too, with merely two simple (but small-scale) Phillips screws.

snow Woohoo! After nervously putting the GamePad back together, I switched it on successfully. I used the stick to successfully move the cursor over to select Mario 64, simply that was very basic movement, and playing this would be the truthful test. Information technology worked flawlessly and I felt and then freeeeeee! I had been playing this game without even being able to tip toe, and this new stick made me realise how much I'd "gotten used" to my analog stick beingness shit. Never once again.

The next test at present is Splatoon which I volition play all night. I've washed a few games today already and it's feels amazing to climb walls and utilize fast combat weapons over again. I'g super relieved a cheap replacement function worked, and also happy to accept gotten to know my GamePad more intimately. Hope this can help somebody else with the issue. If your stick own't fresh, change information technology Right AWAY. If anyone has whatsoever questions or experiences I'd dear to hear about them in the comments. Stay fresh and expect after your gear.

Published 2016/11/25 2016/11/25