Ive had very similar problems. And the support really sucks. Here are some of the
emails Ive sent and support has replyed to:
Subject: Petal Set Not Working After Being Replaced for the Third Time!!! And H Shifter Just Broke As Well.
Message: Hello,
My third pedal set after 3 days is still exhibiting the same problem as the 2 pedal sets previously replaced. This time its only happened after 3 days of usage. It does not really stand to reason that there is a problem with the pedals at this point. What they all have in common is the wheel. I don\'t want to receive a new pedal set just to have the same problem occur after 3 days again. I think it is a problem with the wheel itself as all three pedals exhibit the same behavior. I\'m really getting tired of this as I have not been able to use the product that I bought from you after I received it. On top of all of this my H-pattern shifter has snapped off. Can you please at this point replace both the pedal and the wheel so I can rule out the wheel as the source of the problem. Please help me out with this because I am extremely frustrated at this point. I have spent a lot of money with your company and I know your product is supposed to be top notch. It is well spoken of nearly everywhere. This is just not been my experience and I really look forward to getting on with enjoying the product that I paid for over a year ago. If you need a video, I can give you one of the the shifter and pedal problem.
Their Reply:
"Hi,
Thank you very much for your message. I am sorry that you experienced problems with our product and I hope we can solve it soon. First I need to know what kind of problem occurs. Is it always the same problem and what exactly isn't working? A video would be very helpful, also I need a photo of the H-shifter to arrange a replacement".
My Reply:
Hello Daniel,
Here is the description of the petal problems as explained to Armin and some of our correspondence. And also the link to the video of the problem:
http://www.mediafire.com/?k735ux17wt6txr8
Message sent
May 22nd 2010:
My Petal Set is not working. The brake never reaches full pressure and is erratic. Whenever I depress the throttle the brakes also kick in, so I never reach full acceleration. This also happens with the clutch. When I unplug and replug the petal set from the wheel it helps a little. Then over the course of a few minutes it happens again. This happens in all the sims I own. Forza 3, Iracing, GTR 2, Race On, etc. I also have problems with the wheel. I get force feedback dropouts a couple of minutes after playing various sims. Also after playing for a while the wheel will sometimes turn to the left or right (I can't remember which)and stop responding until I restart it. Needless to say the wheel and petal as it is useless to me at the moment. The Model I have is the 911 Turbo S Wheel and petal set.
Armin's Reply:
Hi,
Thank’s to your detailed description/video I am already sure that you will need a replacement. To speed things up we will send you a new set without waiting for any return right now. Please fill out the following support form and copy&paste your problem description + the serial number of the pedals (you can find it on the base). Also mention that I suggested to send you a new pedal set (important!!). Then you will then receive no further questions of our office ;-) Thank you!
I case you want to upgrade to the ClubSport pedals please also write down that I offered a refund of the full retail price of the standard pedals.
About the wheel. Could you open it please? Right now I do think that it is just a problem with a fan and this would be quite easy to exchange. Of course you will not void warranty in any way. If you agree, I could send you a short manual how to open it the fastest way. Thank you!
EU:
http://www.fanatec.de/webshop/new_eu/return_form.php?language=en&session=true
US:
http://www.fanatec.de/webshop/new_usa/return_form.php?session=true
Please keep in mind that if we don't ask you for a return of the defective product, it MAY NOT be sold and there is no longer any support or warranty for the defective product which will be exchanged! In this case the customer is supposed to destroy and/or to dispose the product.
Best regards,
Armin Habermann
(Fanatec Support Team)
My Reply:
Hello Armin,
I am now having the same problems with my new pedal set. At first it worked perfectly and gradually the gas and break is showing the same behaviour as before. This is really disconcerting as I would just like to get on with simracing and I once again can not use my petals. I have also read about other people on your forum going through 3 to 4 defective petal sets. Please I just want a set that works.
Daniels Reply:
Hello,
Thank you very much for your message. Because its your third pedal set we need to know if the wheel isn’t damaged. Do you have any other pedals from the G25 or G27? If the wheel is fine, we can offer you a big refund on a upgrade to the clubsport pedals.
Best regards,
Daniel Schwarz
(Fanatec Support Team)
My Reply:
Hello Daniel,
No unfortunately no other pedals. But, I am sure its the wheel because its very unlikely that three different petals would show the exact same problem in the exact same way within the exact same timeframe. What they all have in common is the wheel. So I would really like to have it as well as the petals replaced at this point.
Daniels Reply:
Hello,
Thank you very much for your message. Please make a photo of the H Shifter. If you have really no chance of getting another pedals, maybe a friend or a neighbor, we need to send the pedals to Steve. He will check the pedals and if they got a failure we offer you a upgrade to club sport pedals for only 100$.
Best regards,
Daniel Schwarz
(Fanatec Support Team)
My Reply:
Hello Daniel,
I sent you a video of the H Shifter with the pedal videos, maybe you didn't see it. Do you still need a photo of it to ? Also, please understand, I bought my wheel and pedal set January of last year and I have not really been able to use them since then. I've been very patient with your company, with all the replacements that have not worked. At this point I just want to use the product I spent so much money on. Every time the pedals become defective, you guys offer me the club sport pedals at a discount, and I reply I don't not have the money for that at this time. I just want a working wheel and standard pedal set. I do not have any friends with pedals that I can borrow, and it's going to take a long time to send you the defective pedals. What no one seems to want to accept is that it is most likely the wheel that's the problem. I would REALLY appreciate it at this point if you could replace the wheel, pedals and my H shifter so that I can get on with using the product I paid for over a year ago and have not been able to use reliably since. I don't want to waste any more time. I'm very tired of this ! Please just send me a completely new WORKING product !
NO Reply For A Week....
My Reply:
Hello,
I've not received a reply to the email I sent thursday the week after last. Was it received ? I feel like Im being ignored at this point.
BTW, did more research and it seems this standard pedal problem is quite wide spread. And your support department reaction to this very wide spread problem seem to be standardized.Emails requesting help and support go unanswered and people are swindled into paying for the more expensive Club Sport Petals. Nice racket you guy got there.
The standard petals are fundamental flawed and you guy know this. The Potentiometers seem to be at the root of the problem as illustrated here:
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=152074 and here:
http://www.911wheel.de/?q=node/4045 and here:
http://insidesimracing.tv/forums/viewtopic.php?f=108&t=3229 .
Your company is knowingly selling people a defective product and that is just plain wrong. I dont have the technical know how the fix the problem my self and dont have the money to the buy the club sports so where does that leave me ? Will you guy keep sending me flawed, broken standard pedals that fail after 3 day to a week until my warranty is up at the end of the year ? Will you screw me like that ?
Ive been very patient for a year dealing with this so please do the honorable thing and properly take care of your customers.