Broken/Bent 3.5mm jack on the Handbrake, weird readings now.
Luke Dowding
Member
Hi all, I recently bent my 3.5mm jack coming from the bottom of the handbrake when moving my rig.
I bought an overpriced replacement cable from eBay plugged it in and had some weirdness, when shifting or just tapping the handbrake it would register the handbrake doing stuff.
Seemed like a dodgy connection so I took it apart and made sure the inside of the jack port connections were poking out to make a nice connection with the jack.
Plugged it back in and no more weird connection but now the handbrake only registers from say: 83% - 85% when moving the thing fully forward and back, instead of 0% - 100%.
Does anyone have any ideas about what I can do? I don't know if it's the cable, the port is just screwed or something else.
I've contacted support but it's insanely slow.
Comments
Add: the port is completly screwed, the amount of wiggle I have in the port is the reason its not working.
I had the same issue. I simply replaced the socket.
I have the same issue with the hand brake signal going wild. I have been meaning to create a thread with a video. I can not find a 3.5 to RJ12 replacement to test.. I was thinking to see if Fanatec can send me one however maybe like Gary said it could be better to replace the port.
I don't know..
You did this yourself? how? with what parts?
It's literally a two minute job, It's just a standard stereo 3.5mm panel mount socket - I used this one, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/382528329854
Legend Gary! I will give it a go, thanks.
Did you solder the Fanatec wires to these metal parts? or a more temporary solution?
I guess the other thing is figuring out which pin related to what, as they connect to different parts of the 3.5mm jack.
Yup it needs soldered. :-) BTW - the three parts are tip, ring and sleeve, you already have a connected socket so know which wire goes to each. Realise this stuff may not be obvious to everyone, google TRS socket if this is all new to you.
Thanks Gary, yeh a bit new to working with this 3.5mm jack connection.
I just ordered a soldering iron I was meaning to buy anyway for car stuff. I'm not afraid of this kind of stuff I've done wiring on cars and things so I think I can do it. was thinking of soldering to the new port and using some crimp connections on the Fanatec wire so I could unplug it if I need to send it back for repairs.
Thanks for you help.
Just solder the exiting wires to the terminals on the replacement socket - no need to mess with other connectors. If you are just getting into this stuff and plan on doing more get a cheap multimeter too. You'll find it handy even if just for checking continuity - i.e. you can use it to see which terminal relates to tip ring and sleeve, for example.
ok, I do have a multimeter already :D
Good. Do you know how to use it? ;-) Because that is the solution for your earlier question about figuring out which pin connects to what. :-)
Not really :D But i have done a continuity test with it a few times. So I hope I'm ok.
Gary, one question for you. I'm in the same situation and was just about to go about replacing the 3.5mm socket when I noticed that on the cable side there are 4 wires (you can see them inside the rj11 jack) and inside the handbrake there are only 3 coming off the back of the socket. Any idea why that is and which wire is actually just a duplicate?
Pretty sure there are only three. From memory the wiring is green to tip, red to ring and white to sleeve. Once you strip back the black heat shrink you'll see the coloured wires.
Had the same problem after bumping the plug with my knee. Can you solve this by removing the plug and socket and simply connecting the wiring directly ?