Problem with Kindle 3 sliding switch - Page 3

jj2me · 11-10-2010, 10:24 AM

Try a spritz from a spray can of electronic contact cleaner.

I don't have the Kindle switch problem, but I've used contact cleaner successfully on stuck rotating rings and power switches many times. It's well worth having a can around the house, as most controls of long-used electronic devices eventually acquire embedded dirt that hinders their operation.

nubreader · 11-10-2010, 09:39 PM

i am facing the same problem for about 2 weeks now (and i've only received my kindle for less than 2 months) last night I decided to email amazon regarding the issue. this morning i woke up to a reply from them, asking me to call them for troubleshooting.

i called in and explained the situation to the representative, he said that since it is more of a hardware issue, there isn't much troubleshooting to be done. and that he'll be arranging a replacement for me.

international order

grrr

Update: there's some problem with my international shipping issue tho. have yet to receive the email after a representative summit a replacement order for me manually (coincidentally system wasn't happy when i called in) ...

taksina · 11-11-2010, 09:38 PM

Please ignore this solution and scroll down three more posts:
----------------------------------------------------

I bit the bullet and applied a spritz of this Philips Contact Cleaner (390CCS) right on it. Great success so far. Now it slides smoothly back and forth again. I hope I haven't ruined my beloved Kindle.

I will keep posted if any horror happens. Thank you guys for sharing the experience and advice. This board rocks!

jj2me · 11-12-2010, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taksina

I will keep posted if any horror happens.

Nothing's going to happen. That's what contact cleaner is made for. Your picture shows why--the major electronics manufacturer Philips sells the spray, and if it were harmful to any of their myriad of electronics products, they wouldn't sell it.

vaderag · 11-12-2010, 10:41 AM

Yep - i have this problem too... annoying, but not a killer.
May try contact cleaner if it starts really getting on my nerves...

duckeedoug · 11-12-2010, 01:53 PM

Maybe I'll contact Philips and ask them if they can put a picture of a Kindle on the can along with the bicycle, car, etc. As a side note jj2me is correct there should be no risk in using contact cleaner which is made by a variety of companies including obviously Philips. I'm not sure however if I will use this avenue for resolving the issue with my switch. I am of the wait and see what happens mentality at this point.

jj2me · 11-12-2010, 03:35 PM

Yeah, looking at the can more closely,
1. It doesn't say electronic contact cleaner,
2. The pictures don't show electronics, but just mechanical joints.

So I'll back off what I said about this particular can of Philips contact cleaner, unless it says somewhere that it's for electronics.

taksina · 11-14-2010, 08:31 AM

I'm happy to report that the best solution for me is a can of air duster. I used the provided straw and sprayed air to each side of the switch (you feel the air coming through the other side each time). After that, smooth as silk. Should do no harm to the switch as well.

Mine looks something like this but not the same brand:

BTW, I have no idea why this type of spray is so expensive? It's sold in Bangkok for the equivalent of $15-$20. After all, it's just air. Won't complain though.

Doug Huffman · 11-14-2010, 04:49 PM

Where does the dirt blasted loose and moved by the air-duster go? Like on my laptop, I'll use a vacuum carefully rather than blast the dirt into the inner workings.

I used to 'clean' nuclear reactor stuff, and then have to prove it objectively clean.

fantasyfan · 03-16-2011, 06:54 PM

I'm finding the same problem with the stiff switch. I'll keep an eye on it and contact Amazon if it doesn't clear up. I ordered mine via International mail since the Kindle wasn't available in Ireland. [it is now}

FF2 · 03-16-2011, 10:34 PM

Like others, mine got pretty stiff for about a week or so, then suddenly loosened up again and has been fine for more than a month or two. Who knows????

bZkindle · 03-17-2011, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taksina

I'm happy to report that the best solution for me is a can of air duster. I used the provided straw and sprayed air to each side of the switch (you feel the air coming through the other side each time). After that, smooth as silk. Should do no harm to the switch as well.

Mine looks something like this but not the same brand:

BTW, I have no idea why this type of spray is so expensive? It's sold in Bangkok for the equivalent of $15-$20. After all, it's just air. Won't complain though.

It is not air. it is usually one of three different solvents:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_duster
BTW, this is what I would recommend for the slider issue as well, as it's likely just buildup of some sort.
do not use WD-40!!

tofubean · 03-17-2011, 07:09 AM

I had the same problem. The switch just seems to be very sticky and stiff during that period of time. I just ignored it since it didn't impede my reading in any way. After a few weeks, the problem disappeared and hasn't reappeared since then.

axsdenied · 03-17-2011, 09:27 AM

My switch has been sticky since I got the Kindle. I did not know better until few days ago when I used someone else's Kindle.

I have found out that if I switch the Kindle on/off using my nail (without putting any pressure on the switch) it works like it should.

By the way the gas in the air duster is much heavier than air... try putting a small amount in a balloon :-)

Paulinafrica · 03-17-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axsdenied

I have found out that if I switch the Kindle on/off using my nail (without putting any pressure on the switch) it works like it should.

Same 'solution' for me as well, although I shall be investigating some form of 'air' cleaner to blow out any crud that may be lodged behind the switch.
Cheers
Paul

11-10-2010, 09:39 PM	#32
nubreader Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Singapore Device: Kindle 3	i am facing the same problem for about 2 weeks now (and i've only received my kindle for less than 2 months) last night I decided to email amazon regarding the issue. this morning i woke up to a reply from them, asking me to call them for troubleshooting. i called in and explained the situation to the representative, he said that since it is more of a hardware issue, there isn't much troubleshooting to be done. and that he'll be arranging a replacement for me. international order grrr Update: there's some problem with my international shipping issue tho. have yet to receive the email after a representative summit a replacement order for me manually (coincidentally system wasn't happy when i called in) ... Last edited by nubreader; 11-11-2010 at 05:44 AM.

11-11-2010, 09:38 PM	#33
taksina Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Bangkok Device: Kindle 3	Please ignore this solution and scroll down three more posts: ---------------------------------------------------- I bit the bullet and applied a spritz of this Philips Contact Cleaner (390CCS) right on it. Great success so far. Now it slides smoothly back and forth again. I hope I haven't ruined my beloved Kindle. I will keep posted if any horror happens. Thank you guys for sharing the experience and advice. This board rocks! Last edited by taksina; 11-14-2010 at 08:34 AM.

11-14-2010, 08:31 AM	#38
taksina Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Bangkok Device: Kindle 3	I'm happy to report that the best solution for me is a can of air duster. I used the provided straw and sprayed air to each side of the switch (you feel the air coming through the other side each time). After that, smooth as silk. Should do no harm to the switch as well. Mine looks something like this but not the same brand: BTW, I have no idea why this type of spray is so expensive? It's sold in Bangkok for the equivalent of $15-$20. After all, it's just air. Won't complain though. Last edited by taksina; 11-14-2010 at 08:37 AM.

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11-10-2010, 10:24 AM	#31
jj2me Guru Posts: 820 Karma: 8820388 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505, -350; Kindle 3 3G, DX, PW 2; various tablets	Try a spritz from a spray can of electronic contact cleaner. I don't have the Kindle switch problem, but I've used contact cleaner successfully on stuck rotating rings and power switches many times. It's well worth having a can around the house, as most controls of long-used electronic devices eventually acquire embedded dirt that hinders their operation.

11-12-2010, 10:41 AM	#35
vaderag Member Posts: 24 Karma: 50 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle	Yep - i have this problem too... annoying, but not a killer. May try contact cleaner if it starts really getting on my nerves...

11-12-2010, 01:53 PM	#36
duckeedoug Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 160 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Sony PRS 505	Maybe I'll contact Philips and ask them if they can put a picture of a Kindle on the can along with the bicycle, car, etc. As a side note jj2me is correct there should be no risk in using contact cleaner which is made by a variety of companies including obviously Philips. I'm not sure however if I will use this avenue for resolving the issue with my switch. I am of the wait and see what happens mentality at this point.

11-12-2010, 03:35 PM	#37
jj2me Guru Posts: 820 Karma: 8820388 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505, -350; Kindle 3 3G, DX, PW 2; various tablets	Yeah, looking at the can more closely, 1. It doesn't say electronic contact cleaner, 2. The pictures don't show electronics, but just mechanical joints. So I'll back off what I said about this particular can of Philips contact cleaner, unless it says somewhere that it's for electronics.

11-14-2010, 04:49 PM	#39
Doug Huffman Banned Posts: 102 Karma: 7860 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Washington Island, across Death's Door, Wisconsin, USA Device: KINDLE 3 WiFi	Where does the dirt blasted loose and moved by the air-duster go? Like on my laptop, I'll use a vacuum carefully rather than blast the dirt into the inner workings. I used to 'clean' nuclear reactor stuff, and then have to prove it objectively clean.

03-16-2011, 06:54 PM	#40
fantasyfan Wizard Posts: 1,376 Karma: 28116892 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Oasis 3, iPad 9th gen. IPhone 11	I'm finding the same problem with the stiff switch. I'll keep an eye on it and contact Amazon if it doesn't clear up. I ordered mine via International mail since the Kindle wasn't available in Ireland. [it is now}

03-16-2011, 10:34 PM	#41
FF2 Wizard Posts: 1,105 Karma: 1025784 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: WiFi Kindle3	Like others, mine got pretty stiff for about a week or so, then suddenly loosened up again and has been fine for more than a month or two. Who knows????

03-17-2011, 07:09 AM	#43
tofubean Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 64 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: K3, iPad, PW	I had the same problem. The switch just seems to be very sticky and stiff during that period of time. I just ignored it since it didn't impede my reading in any way. After a few weeks, the problem disappeared and hasn't reappeared since then.

03-17-2011, 09:27 AM	#44
axsdenied Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: kindle 3	My switch has been sticky since I got the Kindle. I did not know better until few days ago when I used someone else's Kindle. I have found out that if I switch the Kindle on/off using my nail (without putting any pressure on the switch) it works like it should. By the way the gas in the air duster is much heavier than air... try putting a small amount in a balloon :-)