How to fix the remote control problem on Kenwood receivers.

Many Kenwood stereos develop a problem where the remote control stops working, or works only intermittently. The remote is actually working fine, but the remote sensor on the stereo stops working.

Thanks to plazman30 and others, the sure-fire fix for this problem has been discovered! The problem is that the solder connecting the remote sensor to the stereo's circuit board cracks, causing a loose and intermittent connection. The solution is simply to remove the circuit board, re-solder these pins, and put the stereo back together.

  1. Remove the screws that hold the cover on
  2. Remove the cover
  3. Remove the front circuit board from the receiver. There are some wires you will have to disconnect, so keep track.
  4. Determine which pins to re-solder. Simply find the remote sensor on the front of the board, and match them with the pins on the back of the board.
  5. Resolder the offending pins.
  6. Put everything back together!
Note, if you have never soldered before, it is very easy. You need to buy a soldering iron and some solder. There are websites that explain how to solder. Remember that your goal is to fill the cracks in the existing solder to regain the connection. Do NOT solder the pins to each other.

Here is the RC Home Theater Forum message thread that led me to this solution.

And here is plazman30's excellent description of how to fix the VR-507, on which this page is based. I made this page simply because my receiver's IR sensor pins are in a different spot on the board, and this description is meant to enable you to find the pins no matter what model you have.