Opening up a PS2 Controller Connector

[dillbeme]

I am trying to repair this Sony brand Dualshock 2 Playstation 2 controller. I am wondering how to open up the controller's connector (the part that plugs into the controller port) so that I can test the wires from the circuit board to these pins in the connector. Do you guys have any clues on how to safely open this connector up without damaging the plastic further?

[gravitone]

This is not 1980, where buttons are hardwired to a pin in the controller connector. There is an encoder chip in pad that encodes the button data for serial/parallel transmission. You need to drive it with some external clock signal and then poll the data.

[tpugmire]

Are you just testing for connectivity, just to make sure there's no breaks in the wire? If so, I hook up a long thin piece of metal to one end of my test light and insert it in the end of the connector and hook the other end up to the circuit board. There doesn't seem to be a good way to open any controller plugs. The only one I've had any success with is a SNES plug, and that one, I had to make a tool to open it.

[raylydiard]

i cant even find a new offical controller these days they have a tv with a bulit in ps2.
and a new controller come with that so there still makeing these right?
I have even phone sony and asked about the controllers and sayed they dont stock them no more?

[gravitone]

That's a shame. The dualshock2 is still one of the best pads out there. They still produce and sell the ps2, so it's pretty hard to believe they are no longer selling these seperately.

[tpugmire]

I saw one yesterday at Wal-Mart for $20.00. I almost picked it up, but I'm not buying any gaming stuff until after christmas. I haven't checked any other stores recently, but it seems that they are still out there.

[rimsky82]

If all your testing for is continuity, then you don't need to open the plug. You can probe the ends in the connector just fine without opening it. But, if you have some buttons that don't work and some that do, chances are your problem is in the controller circuit board. Make sure all of the carbon pads are clean and aligned and components test ok.

[raylydiard]

I mean here in the uk shops are shit over here.