T3 Front Panel won't retract!

**irdrive** · 12-21-2007, 02:04 AM

My front panel won't retract. The button on the right side doesn't close the front panel. Also, pushing the power button shuts down the computer! Both problem started at the same time, so I'm thinking there must be something going on with the buttons and the bottom unit.
I've tried removing the front panel USB device from the control panel, and reinstalling the DFU driver.

Anybody has this problem?

**ga_zander** · 01-16-2008, 08:53 AM

I have the same problem and it turned out to be my ribbon cable from the front panel to the pcb behind it. The cable is difficult to source here are the places i found it, http://www.digitalww.com/store/prodd...asp?prod=RC001
http://www.alancomputech.com/ffc-40p-100mm.html
the one from digitalww is the best match, its 87mm long while the other is 100mm long the one installed in the t3 s 80mm long and 20mm wide with 40 pins. I figured it out by testing a cable that came with my 1.8 inch zif drive to usb converter.

**irdrive** · 01-16-2008, 07:54 PM

Ahhhhh, I don't want to have to open up the unit again!!!!

So, ga_zander, you had a same problem with the front panel, which got fixed by replacing the ribbon cable?

After about 2 weeks with the front panel in opened position, after few cycles of rebooting, I pushed the power button and the front panel suddenly retracted back. However, the round touch panel is not responding, and the mode button doesn't work. So it maybe the ribbon cable not delivering the signal smoothly.

Did you have these problems as well?

**ga_zander** · 01-20-2008, 06:10 PM

yep, you can get a new cable from the mp3 car store, the cable is pretty crappy and its a common problem with these unit im trying to source a better cable for the job, the original one is too thin for retracting back and forth.

**irdrive** · 01-31-2008, 05:15 PM

So did you actually replace the ribbon cable? If so with which one?

Did you also have a problem where the IR receiver wasn't responding well to the remote's signal? Because the IR receiver is on the front plate which means it's signal has to go through that ribbon cable. My remote used to work fine but one day, I have to put the remote like an inch from the IR receiver to respond.

If you switched the ribbon cable, did it also fix this remote control problem?

**ga_zander** · 01-31-2008, 09:25 PM

I didn't use the remote that much so i don't have an answer, but your right it does go through the front panel via the ribbon cable, also try replacing your remote battery. I got mine off ebay and its stronger than the original.

http://cgi.ebay.com/FFC-FPC-flat-rib...QQcmdZViewItem

**irdrive** · 02-09-2008, 02:33 PM

Ok, thanks for the link.

**irdrive** · 08-27-2008, 01:32 AM

I've finally got around to taking the unit out, completely disassembling the lower unit, and replacing the two flat ribbon cables to the front faceplate. That completely fixed the retracting problem, as well as the unresponsive buttons and the small round LCD panel.