My Thrustmaster T500RS Is Possessed By The Devil?!?

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1k2go

1k2go

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lk2go
I have a T500RS with a F1 wheel and I'm on a PS3 using GT6. Lately it has been getting more and more glitchy. During a typical race it will suddenly go into pause mode without notice or cause. Whats worse is when it acts like I have requested to quit the game. Other times it will phantom shift. I have not updated the firmware for a year or so but I can't imagine that to be the cause. It has been getting progressively worse to the point that it is now unusable. Any advise?
 
LeMansAid
Could it be a power supply or grounding issue? Something that is making it temporarily lose connection?
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I've checked and re-checked every external connection and all seems fine. Haven't taken it apart though.
 
I wondered about grounding as well, because I have a room where my wireless wheel is fine but the wired one has issues similar to yours. The wired wheel is fine in other rooms.
 
This just started, it had been working flawlessly for 2 years up until now. Haven't moved it.
 
Have you checked all your USB connections? Also, have you swapped rims recently? If so, check for bent pins on the wheel connector.
 
JohnBodin
Have you checked all your USB connections? Also, have you swapped rims recently? If so, check for bent pins on the wheel connector.
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When you say "swapped rims" do you mean steering wheel?
I have checked all external connections and everything is secure. I have made no changes to this set-up since I installed the F1 wheel about 2 years ago. It worked great up until I started playing GT6 last week and has gotten progressively worse to the point it is now unusable.
 
1k2go
When you say "swapped rims" do you mean steering wheel?
I have checked all external connections and everything is secure. I have made no changes to this set-up since I installed the F1 wheel about 2 years ago. It worked great up until I started playing GT6 last week and has gotten progressively worse to the point it is now unusable.
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Yes, I meant have you changed the steering wheel -- it sounds like "no" is the answer.

Does your wheel "wobble" or have any play on the shaft? If so, you could need to remove the wheel and tighten the 4 screws on the shaft -- that "wobble" could be allowing your wheel contacts to go intermittent, which may be interpreted as errant button pushes.

Check out this thread for more info on what I mean by a loose wheel:


Link: http://insidesimracing.tv/forums/topic/2669-t500rs-loose-wheelsteering-shaft/?p=59170


That specific post shows the screws you SHOULD check first, the post right above it has a video showing how to get to them, and the first post in the thread details the loose wheel issue.
 
Thanks John, I remember going through all of that when I first got the T500rs a couple years ago. I used red Locktite and they are still tight today.

Update: I re-inspected and cleaned every connection including removing and re-torqing the F1 wheel. I also switched to the other USB connection on the PS3 console. 1st test drive had no glitches! Fingers crossed it stays that way.

Thanks for all the help guys.
 
Update: unfortunately switching to the other USB receiver only had a temporary affect. After another day of GT6 it started to exhibit the same symptoms which indicates to me it might not be my wheel. If it is in fact my PS3 console does this mean it's dead? or is there a fix for a bad USB connection?
 
I'm wondering if you might have oxidation forming on your USB jacks on the PS3 and/or the T500RS USB connector? Might be worth getting a can of contact cleaner spray from Radio Shack, then UNPLUGGING power from the PS3 and the T500RS in order to spray down the contacts. Make sure they're good and dry before plugging power back in, then see if that helps.

Also, if you have swapped controllers a lot over the life of your PS3 (plugged and unplugged controllers, that is), you might have stressed the USB jacks, causing slight cracks in the solder where they connect to the PS3 circuit board. That would account for USB connections that go intermittent . . . no easy fix for that kind of thing, though.
 
Thanks again John, the only time I've unplugged and plugged in those connections was when the system was new, 3 years ago, and last year when I moved. Not a lot of activity. The connections seem a little loose to me, Is that normal? I'll head out to Radio Shack tomorrow.
 
Just loaded GT5 and tried a seasonal event to see if it is any better. Answer: NO, took about a half a lap before it started glitching just like GT6. Head to Radio Shack shortly for some cleaner. Hope thats all it is because it is FUBAR.
 
If you haven't yet, you need to contact Thrustmaster support to at least get that process started. These wheels have a 2 year warranty and even if you are past, they can probably help you out. I know they have done this for people before.
 
JogoAsobi
866-889-5036
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Thank you!

Update: Tried using contact cleaner & compressed air with no affect what so ever. Then I plugged in my old dusty DS3 controller and it work perfectly !?! So that has to narrow it down to the T500RS ?

Calling T/S
 
Called T/S and they sent me instructions for troubleshooting. Hopefully this is just a firmware issue because I'm pretty sure I'm out of warranty. Unfortunately you can only update with Windows PC and I'm on a Mac. A friend of mine can help me tomorrow evening with his PC laptop until then I'm DITW.
 
Purchased on 03/11/2011 from Amazon. 9mo. out of warranty…

Stopping by a friends place tonight to update firmware. Stay tuned...
 
I am 100% sure it has to do with GT6 support of F1 rim.
I have the same issue. No issues with regular rim. No issues in other games.
 
Dhalism
I am 100% sure it has to do with GT6 support of F1 rim.
I have the same issue. No issues with regular rim. No issues in other games.
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Hey Dhalism, from NSXprime?

I'll try it with the regular wheel if the firmware update doesn't work but my glitch also affects GT5 & GT6. Does yours?
 
Dhalism was dead on! Firmware had little to no affect so I changed back to the stock wheel and all my problems went away.
 

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