My Logitech Driving Force is Dead

[Blake]

I have a Logitech Driving Force (not Pro) wheel which I use to play GP4 on my PC. Yesterday I had a problem where I'd sometimes have to adjust the plug from the pedals to the wheel to get the pedals to respond. After I adjusted it, it worked fine.

Today when I attempt to use the wheel I got no pedal response at all, as if they weren’t plugged it. I tried adjusting it like yesterday, but it didn’t work. In the end I found that if I tilted the wheel the pedals would respond, but I soon as I put it level on my table again they died.

To me it seems like some small bit of wire inside the wheel box may have come loose, but knowing Logitech some other people may have had a similar problem so I’m wondering if there is a relatively common way to solve this problem that I couldn’t find when I searched. Thanks.

 

[opelgt1969]

The first thing I would do is to go to control panel setup for the wheel. Then try messing with the pedals. First try moving the cord around to see if the problem is with the cord. Then if that doesn't work try pressing down on the wheel (where the plug goes in) to see if it's in the wheel. You might take a flashlight and shine into where the cord plugs into the wheel to see if it's loose. If you can't tell then I'd take the bottom plate off the wheel to check for a broken solder joint.

 

[Blake]

The first thing I would do is to go to control panel setup for the wheel. Then try messing with the pedals. First try moving the cord around to see if the problem is with the cord.

This is what I did to come to find that if I tilted the wheel the pedals would respond. Just a little side note, the brake pedal pressure appeared to be at about 25% when the pedals weren’t responding. When I titled the wheel the brake pedal pressure fell back to zero, and both pedals worked as expected.

Then if that doesn't work try pressing down on the wheel (where the plug goes in) to see if it's in the wheel.

The wheel works perfectly fine in a steering function, as well as all the buttons on the wheel itself, so I don’t think there’s a problem there.

You might take a flashlight and shine into where the cord plugs into the wheel to see if it's loose.

The female plug on the wheel where the pedal plug goes in? Yeah, I looked at that (sans flashlight) and everything appeared to be okay, but I’ll admit I never really checked it out prior to this.

If you can't tell then I'd take the bottom plate off the wheel to check for a broken solder joint.

Okay, I’ll check it out. Thanks for your help so far. 👍

 

[Blake]

Opened it up, and there’s nothing immediately obvious that is wrong with it. All the wires seem to go where they’re meant to. Nothing was loose or shaking around, so I dun’t understand why it’s only working when it is on an angle.

 

[MasterGT]

The circuit board inside could have a cold solder joint now, so you might look to see if there is any discolouring on the CB or if any solder joints look broken, cracked or damaged in any way. You could touch up a few with a soldering gun, if you know what you are doing.

If you have a multimeter, you could probe each pedal wire, to see if each is able to carry current. If a wire is broken, it would be difficult to find the break, though, unless there is some obvious damage visible externally.

Cheers,

MasterGT

 

[identti]

Mines pretty much dead too. Wobbles all over the place, the D-Pad falls out, the pedals sometimes don't work, it changes gear of its own accord and the force-feedback broke some time ago.

 

[MasterGT]

Wobbles all over the place

I'm still trying to find a simple, cheap solution to taking up the slack.
I'm pretty sure a slim sheet of plastic would do it, if the "right" one could be found.

Cheers,

MasterGT

 

[opelgt1969]

I'm still trying to find a simple, cheap solution to taking up the slack.
I'm pretty sure a slim sheet of plastic would do it, if the "right" one could be found.

Cheers,

MasterGT

Where on the wheel is this slack (where it mounts to a table or in the wheel shaft) If on table I use some (tool box liner for grip). If in the shaft you might try some vacuum grease as this would take some of the slop out and not wear out. Just don't use too much. The downside of this is that you would have to clean the inside ever now and then as the grease would collect dust. If the slack is between the wheel and the housing you could buy a sheet of teflon(I would use two thin sheets) and cut your own. Two sheets would allow for smooth movement between the two pieces.