First, I took the remote apart, checked and cleaned all the contacts, checked the tv/video switch put it back together and it still didn't work. Then I searched this site and found paxet's paper clip trick, tried it and the remote works fine.
Thank you very much.

Thanks for the help guys, I had a weird remote problem that I thought was a TV problem and your suggestions above worked great.

I have a Sony VCR and TV (separate) that I use one Sony brand remote to control. Just yesterday, the TV stopped responding to the remote. I was afraid it was the TV sensor. I even verified that the remote was sending signals out in TV mode via my camcorder. (If you didn't know, most camcorders can "see" the infrared LED flashing on LED remotes, and you will see this in the viewfinder).

Anyway, I shorted the battery leads, and pressed all the buttons while the batteries were out, and presto everything works fine now.

Thanks again
Jason

On my remote only the tv on/off button didn't work but I was also getting weird items on the VCR display. After shorting out lower contacts everything now works fine

Thank you! Thank You! Thanks You! I tried the short with the paperclip and got the remote to work. :)

I also tried the short with my original remote (which stopped working a year and a half ago) and it works now too. :)

Too bad I didn't find this fix earlier or I wouldn't have had to replace the remote in the first place, it costs $50 freaking dollars. The VCR itself only cost $100.

So now I have two remotes that work, which is good incase I accidenrtally break one. Will have a replacement. :)

Though perhaps of no benefit, how does one disassemble (to "clean") this particular device; i.e. actually what I was looking for when I found this easier, and more effective, resolution? RE:...

To all in this thread: THIS IS GREAT! THANKS!

Bridging the battery contacts worked like a charm; as so many others have written.

What's going on? Draining a bad cap, or something?


Rock on,

EXACTLY the same problem! And when I SHORTED the battery terminals, it works!!!
How bizarre.
The bad thing is that this is OBVIOUSLY a manufacturing defect by SONY. What a shame! And that SONY does not care about this! I wish some Law firm would file a class action lawsuit!

Geez, I really need to thank all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've owned a Sony VCR with this remote for 3 years. It never failed to work but it would quit working till you took the batteries out and put them back in. Then you were good for about 30 seconds till it quit working again.

Ask me why I do not buy Sony products anymore. They used to make decent items but after this remote episode I am done with them.

But now with the remote working full time again I may have a useable VCR for awhile.

Thank You

No remote seems to work with my Sony TV unless my inches away from the TV.
I don't think it is the remote since I have 5 remotes.. universal, original TV remote, other SONY devices. All remotes have the same issues... they work if I am really close to the TV.
Any advice ??? Please help me !

No remote seems to work with my Sony TV unless my inches away from the TV.
I don't think it is the remote since I have 5 remotes.. universal, original TV remote, other SONY devices. All remotes have the same issues... they work if I am really close to the TV.
Any advice ??? Please help me !
Your help is very much appreciated.
- Kay

No remote seems to work with my Sony TV unless my inches away from the TV.
I don't think it is the remote since I have 5 remotes.. universal, original TV remote, other SONY devices. All remotes have the same issues... they work if I am really close to the TV.
Any advice ??? Please help me !

Paxet, you've a universally great suggestion that historically works when all else fails! Thank You! You reminded me of working on other electronics that get "jammed" and are mysteriously inop. Sony and all others should have the suggestion in their trouble shoot guides. You are indeed a smart person.
"You done good & got 'er done well, Pardner!"

I have had the same problem with my Sony remote. I have to remove at least one end of a battery from contact and remote will then work again. What is learned from all these posts on the Sony Remote? I, for one, am done with Sony. They addressed the problem by providing a new remote when they must have known that the Remote(s) was defective. Bye, Bye Sony.

Okay, what's the gag. Several have suggested that shorting the bottom battery terminals with a paper clip will solve the problem of the remote control just quitting. Since the upper terminals are already shorted (a single wire is looped to form both terminal connections so as to series connect the two batteries), shorting the bottom terminals puts a dead short across the batteries and, of course, the power input terminals to the remote. I fail to see how this will help. Battery life must be measured in minutes, if not seconds.

What am I missing??

Please remove the batteries first! Shorting the bottom terminals kills the retained charge that is maintaining a "confused" code in memory. When you then re-install the batteries and enter the correct code, all is well!

I tried the paper clip and it worked