Left trackpad's (d-pad) click doesn't respond unless pushed hard beyond the click

[Mozgus]

For almost two years now I've had an issue getting the left D-Pad's click function to register in the UP and RIGHT directions. I haven't used the controller much since then. I have to press them very hard, much harder beyond the point of the click, for it to register it as a press. DOWN and LEFT respond fine. The only solution has been to configure it to NOT need clicks to register the commands. But this obviously leaves things less ideal for games where being able to feel the cross of the dpad is pretty important.

I was just wondering if there was anything I could do to fix this, or if it was a known issue?

[Vepar]

In addition to setting it up to not require click, set haptics to maximum and create a rather large deadzone in the center. That should help in being more precise. Also, i find that sometimes, i perfer touch only input to a standard D-Pad...

Other than that, you could open the controller up and see what's inside. Maybe it only needs cleaning and you can blow it with a can of air, or maybe it's broken contacts or whatever...
Don't open it up if it has warranty though, if it's under warranty, contact steam support.

[Mozgus]

Originally posted by Vepar:

In addition to setting it up to not require click, set haptics to maximum and create a rather large deadzone in the center. That should help in being more precise. Also, i find that sometimes, i perfer touch only input to a standard D-Pad...

Other than that, you could open the controller up and see what's inside. Maybe it only needs cleaning and you can blow it with a can of air, or maybe it's broken contacts or whatever...
Don't open it up if it has warranty though, if it's under warranty, contact steam support.

Steam support said there's nothing they can do and told me to come here. Maybe I'll open it up sometime...

[Vepar]

Originally posted by Mozgus:

Originally posted by Vepar:

In addition to setting it up to not require click, set haptics to maximum and create a rather large deadzone in the center. That should help in being more precise. Also, i find that sometimes, i perfer touch only input to a standard D-Pad...

Other than that, you could open the controller up and see what's inside. Maybe it only needs cleaning and you can blow it with a can of air, or maybe it's broken contacts or whatever...
Don't open it up if it has warranty though, if it's under warranty, contact steam support.

Steam support said there's nothing they can do and told me to come here. Maybe I'll open it up sometime...

Then yes, open it up. If it's not working and it bothers you a lot, then there's no reason not to try.
It's pretty easy to take apart and assemble again too.
Some time ago i yanked the cable with my foot when the controller was plugged in and it smashed to the ground pretty hard. So now one of the haptics is half broken but something was rattling inside being very noisy, and wouldn't turn on. So i opened it up, bent a few connections back into place and now it works great again!
I never bothered to remove the trackpads, but you might have to if it's the trackpad button.

I used this:
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Steam+Controller+Teardown/52578

But there's also a ton of youtube guides on how to do everything to it. You can even mod it if you like while you're at it. Replace the switches or something.

Everything on it is accessible, and nothing is hidden behind any "do not tamper" bullcrap that other hardware sometimes has. So it's easy to take apart and put back together.

[Mozgus]

Thanks for your help so far. The one specific thing I am trying to investigate before I crack it open is simply a reason for the issue. It sounds like the touch pads are actually partly held in place by a kind of adhesive so I would hate to make it worse in some other way by messing with it and losing the right kind of adherence. I'm just hoping to understand why the physical click sensations aren't actually tied to a button press digitally. As far as I am aware, the touch pads dont measure PRESSURE, but only surface contact. Maybe I am wrong. If I could understand a reason why this is happening, I would know what to expect when I get inside.

[Vepar]

Touchpads don't measure pressure, but if you have the "requires click" option enabled, then the trackpad measures the position of your thumb plus the button click. And there's only one button. The same button is used as every trackpad click - only the position changes. So if you aren't getting a response from the button, and have to push it hard to register, that means the button is worn out.

You might not have to unglue the trackpads though, i think that button is on the motherboard, below the trackpads, you just have to remove the trackpads to get to the button. If you unglue the trackpads, i think the only thing under there is the haptics engine. And that has nothing to do with your issue, so no need for it.

But again, consult guides, i'm only going on what i remember when i disasembled mine and from the guide. But if the button is on the PCB, then it shouldn't be hard to fix/replace it.

[Mozgus]

Well it wouldnt be hard to replace if a replacement part could be found. I'm not finding many replacement parts for this besides the analog stick.

Its just weird that the physical click sensation is not actually tied to a signal of a button press.

Oh and now it seems the UP direction is requiring my to press beyond the click too. Haha, wow. This controller still looks absolutely brand new. I take care of my stuff. I cant imagine any dust at all is inside.

Edit: Just realized my torx bits wont fit inside these holes anyway. I wont be opening it any time soon. Never had a device these wouldnt fit into but oh well.

[Vepar]

Well i doubt it's dust, but who knows... Maybe something got loose, i don't know. Hopefully when you do open it up eventually, you'll figure out what the problem is and fix it.

Good luck!