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How to Fix the L/R Control Buttons on a PSP

The PSP game console̵7;s great strength is that it is portable and can travel with you wherever you go. But this also means that dirt and debris can get lodged into the Left and Right control buttons, causing them to stick and function erratically. Fixing the Left and Right control buttons yourself only requires opening the PSP and cleaning off the control buttons and the parts that they are attached to--you do not have to touch anything on the PSP̵7;s circuit board.

Things You'll Need

Towel
Phillips head jeweler's screwdriver
Flat head jeweler's screwdriver
Cotton swabs
Rubbing alcohol
Toothpick
Compressed air

Instructions

- 1
  Put a towel down on your work surface. Eject the disk drive door of the PSP and remove the single disk from inside the drive if one is present. Close the disk drive door. Put the PSP face down on the towel. Remove the battery compartment and the battery and put them both aside. Use the flat head screwdriver to pull off the warranty sticker from inside the battery compartment.
- 2
  Use the Phillips head jeweler's screwdriver to remove the two screws underneath the warranty sticker. Use the Phillips head jeweler's screwdriver to remove the screws from the bottom plate of the PSP at the extreme left and right sides.
- 3
  Turn the PSP over and put it face down on the towel. Grab the faceplate at the left side and pull up while holding the bottom of the PSP down with the right hand. Wiggle the faceplate free of the bottom case and put it down on the work surface.
- 4
  Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol. Wipe the cotton swab around the inside of the left and right control button holes on the faceplate. Put the faceplate aside to dry.
- 5
  Put the edge of the flat head jeweler's screwdriver into a corner of the Left control button and wiggle it loose. Repeat this with the Right control button.
- 6
  Remove the Left and Right control buttons from the springs they are resting on. Carefully remove the springs from inside of the compartment that hold the Left and Right control buttons. Dip another cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and wipe around and under the buttons. Scrape around the rim of the buttons with the toothpick to get any debris that might be stuck on.
- 7
  Rub the springs with another cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Put the buttons and the springs down on the towel to dry. Rub the inside of the button control compartments using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.
- 8
  Blow out the control compartments and the inside of the bottom case with the compressed air.
- 9
  Reattach the springs and the Left and Right control buttons into the two control compartments. Reattach the faceplate to the bottom case. Turn the PSP over and reattach the screws to the bottom plate and inside the battery compartment. Put the battery back in and close the battery compartment. Turn the PSP over and turn it on. Use the Left and Right control buttons to insure that they are no longer sticking.

Sony PSP