PS3 controller not charging

[Johnny Novgorod]

I did a topic on this about 6 months ago.

Briefly put: one of my PS3 controllers has stopped charging. It's not the cable, because my other controller charges nonetheless, and it's not the battery pack, because I've tried swapping with the other controller and the battery charges fine when I put it inside another controller. I've tried all kinds of reboots and resets (both for the faulty controller and the console). And so on.

At one point I thought I had the problem solved. I bought a headset and plugged it in one of the USB sockets so it would charge (comes with its own cable). On a hunch I decided to try charge my faulty controller (after fully charging the headset), and it worked that one time. I thought "OK, whatever problem it had it has been solved by plugging in a different device with a different cable".

Nope. The controller charged that one time, and that was it. Hasn't charged ever since, no matter what I try. I don't know what to do anymore. It's not the cable, it's not the battery and it's not the console. The controller is about 1 year and 1/2 old, and it's never suffered any damage as far as I know. I don't know what's the source of the problem, and since I seem to have solved it once - temporarily and out of luck - I'd like to hear any savvy opinion on the subject.

Thank y'all and sorry for text length.

 

[Frezzato]

Could it be the port?

Oh, and when you swapped the battery, did you check inside under the controller face? Something weird happens to older controllers. It's as if a secret mouse poured maple syrup inside. It's happened to me and my friend on separate occasions.

At one point the gooey controller stopped charging, so I took it apart and cleaned it. Still no charge after that. I left it aside for several weeks and it decided to start charging again out of the blue.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Could it be the port?

You mean on the controller (not the console)? I thought that, but the thing is there's no way for me to verify that (let alone fix) on my own. I've tried wiggling the cable, holding it in place and all that, but nothing happens.

Oh, and when you swapped the battery, did you check inside under the controller face? Something weird happens to older controllers. It's as if a secret mouse poured maple syrup inside. It's happened to me and my friend on separate occasions.

It's not really that old - 1 year 6 months - but I didn't check. Didn't think I could do that either without fucking it up some more. Do I just unscrew the green plaque?

 

[Frezzato]

Could it be the port?

You mean on the controller (not the console)? I thought that, but the thing is there's no way for me to verify that (let alone fix) on my own. I've tried wiggling the cable, holding it in place and all that, but nothing happens.

Oh, and when you swapped the battery, did you check inside under the controller face? Something weird happens to older controllers. It's as if a secret mouse poured maple syrup inside. It's happened to me and my friend on separate occasions.

It's not really that old - 1 year 6 months - but I didn't check. Didn't think I could do that either without fucking it up some more. Do I just unscrew the green plaque?

Yeah, it's very easy (unfortunately) as you don't need any special tools to disassemble a PS3 controller, just a precision phillips head screwdriver.

It's far easier to take one apart than it is to put one back together. You can tell the older controllers from the new ones because the older ones are slightly heavier, plus the plastic is shinier on the grips. And on the old ones there's an extra, tiny piece that fits between the bumpers and the triggers, shown here:

Spoiler: Tiny piece that's a pain to put back

Can take 30-60 minutes to reassemble.
It's the vertical line that runs between the bumper and trigger.
If you have that then you can feel the gap with your fingernail.

[/spoiler]
If you don't have that, it means you'll save yourself at least half an hour by not having to fiddle with those tiny plastic bits. Just take your time and be careful. Cotton swabs are very useful for cleaning the inside bits. I even use a bit of rubbing alcohol for the more horrifying grime and that bizarre syrupy stuff. I honestly have no idea what that is. Might be goo from a capacitor or something. It's also something I've seen only on older controllers.

 

[Frezzato]

snip

Oops, sorry, I didn't realize you had already taken one apart even though it's one of the first things you mentioned (battery swap). I'm slightly hungover right now.
So yes, place the PS3 controller face down on something. Once you unscrew it there's a single screw under the battery keeping the motherboard down. Don't tug up on it yet as there are wires connected to the rumble motors. you simply unhook each motor frame (white) from the controller body, one at a time, at which point the entire assembly will come out.

*NOTE* Be careful with the triggers as they contain tiny springs. I would do this on a table or bed.