Repairing my Kenwood A/V receiver's remote-control sensor

Posted by Tom Moertel Fri, 25 May 2007 21:42:00 GMT

The Kenwood audio-video receiver that forms the core of my home theater system stopped responding to its remote control. As I discovered shortly thereafter, having to leave the couch to fiddle with knobs degrades the “home theater experience.” Clearly, something had to be done.

I knew the receiver was the culprit because the remote control worked fine with other components of my system. I figured the IR sensor had gone bad and did a little Googling for “Kenwood” and “IR sensor” and “problem”. The results revealed that many other Kenwood customers had the same problem.

The cause of the problem, I learned, was that the solder joints which connect the IR sensor’s leads to the display board eventually fail because of thermal expansion. That explanation seemed to account for what I was observing, so I cracked the case in search of visual confirmation.

First, I found the joints where the IR sensor was connected to the circuit board. The vertical red line shows where I found them:

The insides of my Kenwood receiver

Then I examined the joints closely. Sure enough, at least one had completely failed:

Failing solder joints

The problem confirmed, I moved to the solution phase of the project. With my soldering iron, I touched-up the joints:

The repair: re-solder the joints

It wasn’t my best work, but it did the job.

Now my receiver is back on speaking terms with its remote control, and I have returned to the modern world. Life is good

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  1. Steve said 19 days later:

    Neat fix! Reminds me of how I had to fix a circuit board in an old Nissan 1986 300zx, saved me >$350 at the time.

    Interesting site, stumbled upon you by googling for open-source statistics software. I use winxp and linux (ubuntu 7.04) guess I will give R a try… I do have some experience with SAS, not sure if that will help or hinder me though.

    Take care,

    -Steve

  2. Another Steve said 162 days later:

    Holy crap! Thank you! Same machine, same problem, same fix! I am back to my techno happiness…

  3. Chris said 181 days later:

    I have the same problem with my VR-209, tapping the unit on the top helps to temporarily fix the issue, but I will remove the cover and re-solder those joints for a more permanent fix.

  4. Vic said 298 days later:

    That reciever was it a KRF-V7050D? Because my remote is not acting right with my reciever and I was just about to buy a new remote until I came across your fix.

  5. Charles Woernle said 470 days later:

    Tom, Thank you for this posting, which I stumbled upon when I was researching the problem of my remote control no longer working for this receiver (VR-507). These pictures were invaluable to locate the faulty pins. (They sure are small.) Re-soldering them restored full functionality to the receiver and the original remote control. Good job! Charles

  6. Tom Moertel said 470 days later:

    Charles, I’m glad you found my posting helpful. May your VR-507 serve you for many more years. :-)

  7. DW.Schouten said 531 days later:

    Thanks Thanks Thanks a lot !!!

    This is probably the cause of my issues. Will try to fix it this afternoon.

  8. Ivan said 542 days later:

    THAAAAAAAANKS! I’ve got a KRF-V5030D, and the same problem. Removed the cover, and fixed the joints, and it all turned out well. Again, thank you for a nice fix.

  9. Glen said 599 days later:

    Thanks for the excellent article and advise, I just fixed my VR-507 after years of the IR sensor working 5% of the time.

    Cheers!

  10. jay said 603 days later:

    thank you…just fixed mine after years of annoyance. At least the remote works now.

    The subwoofer also is not working right. I get a green light on the subwoofer but no sound either doing the white noise test or playing DVDs. So the receiver is acknowledging the subwoofer…turning it on…but no signal. Anyone had similar problems?

  11. Dave said 610 days later:

    Tom, I’ve been living with no ermote for 7 years until now! Thanks so much! Works like a charm.

  12. Bill said 664 days later:

    Incredible! I’ve been struggling for a year with my remote intermittently working. Now, I apply this fix and it works!! Thank you very much!!

  13. pbouzan said 729 days later:

    Yay! Nice one. My 5030 has exactly the same problem and I’ve been searching for a solution for some time. I am now remote-enabled once more. Thanks again and for your time in posting the solution :)

  14. Filmore said 740 days later:

    This is the best thing I have found on the internet to date. I have had this problem with my receiver for about 7 years and this fix worked like a charm!! Thank you so much!!

  15. Jonelli said 748 days later:

    VR-305 I thought it was the remote batteries dying for awhile until I too noticed that sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t and I could not quite figure it out but something just didn’t seem right.

    After searching the web, found this and waited till next time I had to pull the receiver out of the system. Worked like a charm. KENWOOD > I hope you learned! Tom Moertel > Thanks for leaving this on the web for 2 years!

  16. Cas Smith said 752 days later:

    Tom,

    Thank you! My family has been experiencing this problem off and on for years. I’m going to make this my project for tomorrow afternoon. Your site is exactly why I love the internet.

  17. c mel said 798 days later:

    They should have gave a free soldering iron with these kenwoods.

  18. BackToWorking said 859 days later:

    nice thanks for the how to and where to make the mods …. worked liked a charm.

  19. Htech said 862 days later:

    Add another big thank you to your pile – just fixed my 15-year old VR-209 that started acting up a week ago. I was doing a little online shopping for a new receiver when I realized my old VR-209 did everything that a new $600 one would (at least for my setup). That is when I googled and found your excellent site. The pictures are awesome….

  20. AdrianT said 888 days later:

    Big thanks for this – a have a 3050 AV amp and the remote started to be unreliable and then stopped working altogether. We put up with it for agesa year before I looked up on the internet and found this. 1/2 an hour later and the amp is working like a dream (and now locked away from our 16 month old daughter who likes pressing all the buttons and turning the dials…). I can’t believe how bad Kenwoods are for this. My next AV amp will be some other make, that’s for sure.

    BTW anyone wanting to see if the remote control itself is dud/batteries gone – point it at a digital camera and press some of the buttons – you should see the light from the control on the LCD screen of the camera as the camera sensor picks up the infra red light.

    Thanks once again for the description and the pictures – was pretty obvious which pins were to blame once I’d got it open.

  21. george said 896 days later:

    Great fix – worked like a charm

  22. Kobraq said 907 days later:

    Oh my G_d. I have had this reciever since my college days. This stopped working 10years ago and we have been getting up to turn down the volume.

    No good info then…but now the Internet.

    Proud to sit and turn up the volume remotely as well as shut down the tv using the Tivo remote. Hint: code 1206

    Yeah!!!

  23. oldie said 911 days later:

    I can´t believe it! Same Reveiver, same problem since 5 years. After this fix everything works just fine! Thanks from Germany!!

  24. Dan said 922 days later:

    OMG. I have had a VR-209 for a good 10 years with this problem. I’m going home tonight to try this. Thank you!!!

  25. Sam said 960 days later:

    I had the same problem, thanks to your little guide I’m back in full lounge mode again.

    Thanks!

  26. Stefan said 983 days later:

    KRF-V7050D

    Seven years later without remote control… Thank you so much!!!

    Siegen/Germany

  27. Brian said 984 days later:

    VR-209

    I feel sorry for those who spent money to get this problem fixed. Especially those who bought new remotes trying to fix the problem. Thanks for the easy fix.

  28. David R said 988 days later:

    VR-209

    Another satisfied customer. I bought it at a garage sale and had to pay $5 more for them to go find the remote. Of course they didn’t mention it didn’t work. Now I’m getting my $5 worth. Much thanks for the advice.

  29. Ron from Can said 1028 days later:

    I picked up one of the Vr209 at a thrift store… No remote, but a universal seems to work fine… for now

    I wonder how long before I find the original remote at another store or garage sale.. The receiver works great.. but the volume control numbers seem a little retarded in minus DBs

  30. Ron from Can said 1032 days later:

    Hi All,

    If you want to check your IR remote control to see if it is working…

    just hold it a few inches away from an AM radio tuned to a weak station… and start pressing buttons… You will get a whole bunch of buzzing and other noises from the radio as you press each button.

  31. Hans from Canada said 1064 days later:

    Thank you. I bought a Kenwood receiver on eBay. The unit came without a remote. I got a new remote from Kenwood, but of course no response from the receiver. After following the steps on your page, I have a fully working remote!

  32. Klaus said 1079 days later:

    Thank you for the detailed description, I have repaired my Receiver succesfully

  33. Marty said 1079 days later:

    I finaly fixed it! I quess I lived 8 years with this problem… It just a shame it’s One after I bought a new “second hand”;) reciever I found this link:D But tnx anyway!

  34. Hans said 1080 days later:

    lool, a lot of years i don’t use my receiver, shit ir sensor. today i read your post and repaired it in about a half hour. thank you from germany!

  35. ilija o. said 1108 days later:

    MANNY THANKS from CROATIA!It works again!

  36. Miley Cyrus said 1151 days later:

    I had a similar issues with my Phillips home theater system. However, i had to pay close to $200 to fix it. it seems that this must be a common problem in home theaters.

  37. Gordon said 1157 days later:

    Hey mate, A random search for my remote control woes with my Kenwood KRF-V5550D turned up this!!...Wow. I’ll be giving this a shot! I can’t believe how many different models over the YEARS have this problem! – Planned obsolesence?... Kenwood go and F—K yourselves!

  38. Dan said 1162 days later:

    Hahahah…..I have had the problem for about two years. A more permanent fix will be to open er up and do the required soldering, however the short term fix was to do like someone suggested and tap on the IR sensor, works fine for now. Thanks very much. dan

  39. awesome said 1226 days later:

    You folks rock. I followed this one for my V7030D receiver:

    http://www.moerk.org/kenwood/

    Worked like a charm. Look for the three joints on the left side of the board. Receiver now works with my comcast remote.

  40. Nathan said 1292 days later:

    My V5070D receiver is reborn thanks to your advice. Thank you.

  41. Wakefield said 1296 days later:

    Bam!! Worked great!! My 10 year old VR-209 receiver is responding to a remote again. Thanks for posting this fix and for leaving up for me to find! 12-Dec-2010

  42. Wido said 1297 days later:

    I ran into this post after buying a Logitech remotecontrol as a replacement RC. Turned out that my RC was not broken at all. I repaired the receiver the way you suggest, and now it works flawlessly ! Thanks so much for sharing this. 13-dec-2010

  43. kxelsyd said 1309 days later:

    I have this problem right now…just started two days ago. I knew it had to be the IR receiver, since neither the Comcast nor the original were working. I know what my next project will be on this holiday weekend!

    Thanks a bunch!

  44. deb crater said 1312 days later:

    THANKS! We will try this now that we have so many things running through the receiver. I am sure it will help!

  45. paul37 said 1333 days later:

    Thank you for the detailed fix, my Kenwood VR 309 is working like a charm once again. Even with no prior experience at a circuit board solder (I was apprehensive to say the least) it was very easy to do the repair. An 11 year old receiver working like new.

    Thank you many times over.

  46. DAS said 1336 days later:

    Fixed my Kenwood V6030D 10 minutes ago. Life is good again, Thanks mate….

  47. Jason S said 1369 days later:

    Ditto! Worked on my VR-209 like a champ! Thanks!

  48. Flamer said 1405 days later:

    Thanks, Fixed my KRF-8010D with this, been 5 years fighting with remote working now and then.

  49. PMac said 1415 days later:

    I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am that I stumbled across your site. I too have been without a remote for over 5 years on my Kenwood VR 505. I looked at the three contacts on the circuit board and could barely see them. After I took out a jewelers glass I could clearly see where the solder had separated from the pins. I just got done soldering the three connections and am now enjoying life again.

    Thank you very much for sharing this info.

  50. edwin said 1418 days later:

    bought the krf-v750d secondhanded ,cheap because the remote didnt work. Quick fix, thx alot!

  51. Matthew said 1419 days later:

    This even worked on my pioneer with some adjustments. Thanks!

  52. smt232 said 1493 days later:

    Finally fixed. Thanks!!

  53. mikenkingsville said 1495 days later:

    Wow! Picked up a VR 406 on Craigslist for $50 to use as a beater in my pool house. Remote didn’t work. I googled around, found this post and bingo. # pins were in a different spot on my board, but works fin. Thanks for sharing!

  54. canhme said 1498 days later:

    THANKSSSSSSSSSSS after 10 year with your help a problem GONE

  55. Rancher40x said 1499 days later:

    Great Blog, Got mine fixed after 3 three years. Glad I finally found someone who knew what the real problem is.

    Thanks

  56. Mike Lupton, England, UK said 1504 days later:

    Tom,

    Thanks for the info. The circuit board in my AV Amp is a different orientation to that show in your pictures but the IR Sensor position is that same (relative to the front panel). All 3 pins looked ‘dry’ / cracked. I resoldered all 3 in 5 minutes and it’s working like new again. Thanks very much. Mike

  57. Brian H said 1509 days later:

    Havent done it uet but i have the same issues with my VR 209. Such a great system. Had it since college days. 10 years of remote not working. ive dropped this thing many times. this VR 209 is a damn tank. so are all the surround sound speakers. Best investment i ever made.

  58. Another Tom said 1557 days later:

    Another poster in your debt Tom (which also happens to be my name as well, thus the name above). Thanks much from Arlington, VA!

  59. Another Tom said 1557 days later:

    ...and just for the record, mine is a VR-305, had it about 12 years, I think. Guess it’s been 4-5 years since the remote worked consistently. Thanks again!

  60. Enrico Sabatelli said 1566 days later:

    Thank you so much!!!!!!!

    Now work againg!!!!!!

    Thanks Thanks Thanks

  61. Kris with a K said 1607 days later:

    THANKS! I have a VR517 and it had the same issue.

  62. Kaj said 1612 days later:

    Here’s a thankful poster from the Netherlands. Have a v5030d, started off with infrared working only after a half an hour, and it became worse over time. After searching, ended up on this page. Circuit board layout on the v5030d is a little different, but didn’t take long to find the three solder pins and to see that one of them was cracked. Put some extra solder on the three of them and now it’s working again!!

  63. daveoneill@me.com said 1617 days later:

    OMG, it worked for me too… thanks dude :)

  64. Carriemack said 1620 days later:

    Taught myself to solder and fixed mine too. Couldn’t have done it without the great pictures and description, thank you!

  65. Nick said 1640 days later:

    Best fix ever! The picture was a life saver. Thank you!

  66. Diwi said 1640 days later:

    THANKS for this very useful fix ! No remote for 2 years until now and two universal remote control bought for nothing ! Hallelujah, my KRF-V5030 has just narrowly escaped the trash !

  67. jake friesen said 1645 days later:

    ;)...works like a champ!! i own two soldering irons, but they werent around, so we improvised….. me and my bro took an old flatblade screw driver, heated it up cherry with a propane torch, touched the broke connection for about 2 seconds…..and we got the solder to flow and harden!! works like a dream…thanks so much!!

  68. VR-208 said 1646 days later:

    Thanks AGAIN! This is will be the second time I repair my VR-208. I repaired it a few years ago. I just had to find where the three IR sensors were so that I could solder it again. First repair lasted 2 years. I read something years ago that Kenwood had a lot of problems with theses boards and that they will deny any problems and take it to their grave as it affects a wide range of their amps (hi and low end models).

  69. Chuck Mahaffee said 1647 days later:

    Great pictures and explantion – 12 year old vr-305 has only had intermittent remote function since 2003. Now works like new out of the box. If I can make this solder repair, anyone can! Thanks Tom, you have made a lot of people happy. Kenwood should send you a check!

  70. Geoff said 1680 days later:

    Awesome! I was sure the remote was faulty and was looking for an equivalent remote when I found this. The sensor started working when I poked the terminals. I re-soldered it. I didn’t even have to take the cover off or disconnect the cables as I had previously removed the cover to keep it cool/discourage theft.

  71. Geoff said 1680 days later:

    Kenwood amp remote fault fix

  72. Brad said 1688 days later:

    Thanks for posting how to fix this so clearly. I went at least 5 years without a remote for my Kenwood VR307 and it’s nice to have the option of using the remote again.

    Thanks!

  73. coops said 1702 days later:

    Wow nice fix. I have been pricing out new amps and this saved me about 600 bucks. Awesome

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