URC MX-950 Opening Case

After having the need to open the case of my own MX-950 (980 is likely the same)I have found some useful threads regarding the matter, most of them referring to twisting the unit to release tabs between the front and back cases. After a bit of interpreting of a number of post, the twisty refers to holding the top and bottom of the unit in separate hands and twisting back and forth through the longitudinal axis. The objective is to release the tabs which are part of the front face from the tab slots in the back cover.
Frankly I did not have a lot of success with this method but it did help me understand the general principle of separating the cases which I thank everyone for.

The method that I used is as follows:

1.With the remote facedown in using a very small flat head watch screwdriver, starting at the bottom (see 1st photo) I push the screwdriver down between the front and back of the case, wedging them apart slightly and then rotating the screwdriver widening the gap slightly until I could see the tabs (approximately 3/8” inch from each edge of the bottom. The next set of tabs are on the sides about ¾” up the sides.

2. I then gently plied the back case upwards with the screwdriver until the tabs released, working my way around each corner. Once you have released three or four tabs you can get your finger between the back and front case applying a little tension pulling the back away from the front while moving along the sides pushing the screwdriver in and slightly rotating it to release the tabs. You will find that the tabs are spaced approximately 1 ¼ inch apart.

I was able to use this method to separate the front and back case without causing any real damage the case half’s. I am attaching some general photos as an example.

With the case open, I can now get on to my primary problem of trying to dry out my unit after it was run through a wash cycle of a front end washing machine, along with a load of clothes (don’t ask!). thankfully this is just one of three MX-950 I have to run my home.

For anyone wondering, when I opened the washer I found the remote with the battery cover and battery separate. My intentions are to try to dry the unit thoroughly before reinsert the battery. To do this I have split the case, pulled out the PCB and Screen out (remove 4 screws in PCB & speaker plug) and placed them on top of a piece of A/V equipment that runs 24/7 that generates a small amount of rising heat (a technique I’ve used to dry out mobile phones). After a couple days of drying I will reassemble the unit, reinsert the battery and pray for the best.

By the way for any of you posting about Sticky Keys after something has been spilled on the remote, once the case is split, the keyboard (which is a rubber pad with all of the keys) can be pulled out in one piece and cleaned (photo attached). Be sure to clean the back of the keyboard as well, as that is where the contact points are. I will use alcohol in a sray bottle to clean everything prior to reassembly.

FOLLOW-UP
Amazingly enough after allowing the PCB and screen to dry for a couple of days this unit fired right up with no problems despite 45 minutes in a front load washing machine...lol. Lucky