Need advice

[Samantha Foxx]

Hello guy's,

A few days ago while playing Elite Dangerous my engage/disengage button on my Hotas Warthog stopped working.

So I decided to contact Thrustmaster and got a fast reply from them saying this: they will gladly repair my throttle for a price of 125 dollars canadian plus a 25 dollars for shipping and handling. A 150 dollars for one single button is quite expensive no?

If you guys would be in my shoes what would you do?

Thank you

 

[Jaggid Edje]

I'd buy a different brand of HOTAS and never purchase another TM product again.

If I were poor, I'd google how to fix it myself.

 

[Bloodsign]

I'd buy a different brand of HOTAS and never purchase another TM product again.

If I were poor, I'd google how to fix it myself.

And leave them a scathing Google review.

 

[Zieman]

Depends on how long you've had the thing, is it under warranty or has it expired?

 

[Samantha Foxx]

Depends on how long you've had the thing, is it under warranty or has it expired?

Over 5 years so warranty is expired of course

 

[Samantha Foxx]

And leave them a scathing Google review.

Why do you seem so about the trustmaster product?

 

[wetwire]

Good gravy that is nearly a $500 rig. If Thrustmaster wants to repair an out of warranty product for $150 that sure beats replacing it. Granted it is only 1 button seems a bit steep. But if that is the standard repair bill regardless what is wrong it would seem reasonable given the original cost of the HOTAS.
Expensive equipment normally has a costly repair bill.

It might be worth looking into a self help repair to save you the cash, but if the fix is too extensive and you have the money, having thrustmaster repair it for $150 appears to be about the cost of getting a refurbished joystick replacement, the throttle on the other hand is more expensive.

 

[Para Handy]

Open the stick and replace the switch if it is that old. Here is some bod stripping one down:

there are others

 

[Bloodsign]

Why do you seem so about the trustmaster product?

That was maybe a bit harsh on my part, I didn't realize that you had put some serious mileage on it.

 

[Suitret]

I'd buy a different brand of HOTAS and never purchase another TM product again.

If I were poor, I'd google how to fix it myself.

Quite reasonable and sensefull to act this way. Exactly how I thought about it.

 

[Samantha Foxx]

Open the stick and replace the switch if it is that old. Here is some bod stripping one down:

there are others

The link u gave here is a white page.

 

[Samantha Foxx]

Open the stick and replace the switch if it is that old. Here is some bod stripping one down:

there are others

The link u gave here is a white page.

 

[Northpin]

Oh give them a break. He used it for 5 years.
I mean even an enterprise server should be replaced after 5 years

@OP if you were happy with it get another one and use this one for spare parts... just in case

 

[Samantha Foxx]

And maybe more then 5 years not sure. Looking to change it now but lost with all the joysticks out there. And finding one very similar to this warthog hotas might not be possible. Well I'll keep looking

Thanks guys

 

[Samantha Foxx]

Open the stick and replace the switch if it is that old. Here is some bod stripping one down:

there are others

Well my problem is not the stick, my problem is the throttle. The engage disengage switch # 26

 

[Para Handy]

Well my problem is not the stick, my problem is the throttle. The engage disengage switch # 26

Oh, I misunderstood - you mean the autopilot engage/disengage button - sorry.

I remember seeing lots of stuff on the net about replacing the toggle (throw) switches on the throttle - maybe there is one for that button switch. In any event, access to the switch on the throttle would be much easier than stick ones.

Good luck

 

[Samantha Foxx]

Well thanks but so far cant find nothing on net on how to change this numbet 26 button emgage disengage.

Thank you

 

[Para Handy]

Well thanks but so far cant find nothing on net on how to change this numbet 26 button emgage disengage.

Thank you

If you email their support and ask about replacement switch / part number / help they are supposed to be quite good about it. I know that they sent a PDF to a friend giving replacement instructions for the throttle pinky switch (which is a known weakness) and there were instructions kicking about for replacing the throw switches with toggle switches but I can't see those helping you as they are a different type. However, I think the lower row of switches (including your problem) are directly mounted / soldered to a circuit board so it might not be a simple swap-out. That could be why they quote so much and frankly since a new one is $280 on Amazon I know I would just buy new.

I have only used the hog on a friend's sim set-up (plus borrowed it to try on E D for a while some years ago) so I am no expert (although professionally in my original career I repaired many an aircraft control box). So hopefully someone with better knowledge and experience can come along and help. Perhaps if you asked a moderator* to alter the thread title to indicate you are looking for help with a Warthog throttle, that might draw a user to delve into the thread.

(* To do this, click "report" on your own OP and make your request in the subsequent box. We should be able to edit our own thread titles but I think there is an issue with that.)

 

[Morbad]

The price they quote is labor and insurance. If you have any technical aptitude at all, or are willing to learn, you are better off fixing it yourself, as noted.

 

[Samantha Foxx]

Well got a reply from them and I decided to replace the button. For 66 dollars canadian or around 44 Euros. The even show me the step by step procedures with pictures on how to do it. So I should be fine. I just need to buy a little welding kit for the two wired I need to fix.