Traxxas junk.... broken before even having a go

[300bhp/ton]

Completely unrelated to Christmas, despite posting this on Christmas Day...

 

I snagged a Traxxas Slash Ultimate yesterday, used off someone my partner knows. Doesn't look like it has ever been run, complete with instructions, tools and NiMH battery, only thing missing is the box.

 

 

Had a quiet moment this evening, so charged some AA Eneloops and a LiPo and thought I'd power it up and get it ready to try tomorrow. All works as expected and seemed to be in the LiPo mode and Sport mode. Great.

 

Thought I'd also download the Traxxas Link app as it came with the module. Connected right away, then said it needed a firmware update. No probs I thought. Clicked through the screens and got it going. Completed Stage 1 and looked to complete Stage 2 then said this....

 

Now the transmitted does not light up when you turn it on and it doesn't connect to the Rx. So the whole thing is dead before it has even been driven! 🙂 

 

I tried "resetting" the Tx following these instructions:

 

https://youtu.be/B-qcJUVCc5o?si=6UbPWCGKFd_Fpcml

 

But to no avail as the LED doesn't flash or blink when holding the reset buttons.

 

Is there anything I can do or is the Tx now only fit for the bin?

 

 

[wombat]

In the past ive had problems using rechargable AA batteries in a tx, that where solved by putting in non rechargables

[300bhp/ton]

3 minutes ago, wombat said:

In the past ive had problems using rechargable AA batteries in a tx, that where solved by putting in non rechargables

Thanks, but I can't see it being this. It worked fine moments before and the batteries were fully charged. I'd say clearly the tx firmware update failed and seems to have corrupted the Tx software. I can still connect to the Link device via the app and the link has power, but the Tx for all intensive purposes is dead, despite having power. The app won't scan for updates unless it detects the Tx and Rx on (so it claims), but I suspect the link device is just not seeing the Tx power up as it has no LED light on and does nothing on power on, the link module is a separate device, so probably unaware the tx is no longer working 😞 😞 

 

Anyone had good dealings with Traxxas UK on 2nd hand products?

[Lone-wolf]

As Wombat said its worth trying a set of Alkaline AA batts just to rule it out as rechargeable are only 1.2volt then you rule it out if it still wont connect..........as to Traxxas warranty good luck with that but somehow i dont think they will help, i would say best bet is rip the RX out and use a non Traxxas radio like dumbo with it  

[SimplyChunk]

17 hours ago, 300bhp/ton said:

Is there anything I can do or is the Tx now only fit for the bin?

There was a guy in the wanted section that was looking for a junk Tx for his kid to play with while he drove his cars?

 

 

In all seriousness though mate.  Get yourself on Ali Express and grab a DumboRC DDF-350 for about 35ish quid and a handful of X6F (or X6FG if you'd like a gyro) for about 7-8 quid each and dump that Traxxas garbage out of it 

Edited December 26, 2024 by SimplyChunk

[300bhp/ton]

1 hour ago, SimplyChunk said:

There was a guy in the wanted section that was looking for a junk Tx for his kid to play with while he drove his cars?

 

 

In all seriousness though mate.  Get yourself on Ali Express and grab a DumboRC DDF-350 for about 35ish quid and a handful of X6F (or X6FG if you'd like a gyro) for about 7-8 quid each and dump that Traxxas garbage out of it 

Thanks.  But that doesn’t really help. I already have 2 TX systems. A Core RC one and a Flysky FS6i (I much prefer stick setups) with best part of 20 models already configured. But none of these will make use of the Link app or telemetry that the Traxxas link module has. It is just hugely disappointing that a stupid software clitch has prevented the model being used or even turning a wheel without changing lots of bits. Certainly doesn’t inspire me to pay retail prices for any future Traxxas products. 

[300bhp/ton]

Ps - when I bought the Slash I also got a new in box 1/16th Revo VXL as part of the deal. So I have another TQi Tx I can hopefully bind. But I assume I’m in the same boat that if I fit the LINK module, it’ll want to do a firmware update on the txt before use and likely also fail, knackering another transmitter. 

[SimplyChunk]

28 minutes ago, 300bhp/ton said:

Thanks.  But that doesn’t really help. I already have 2 TX systems. A Core RC one and a Flysky FS6i (I much prefer stick setups) with best part of 20 models already configured. But none of these will make use of the Link app or telemetry that the Traxxas link module has. It is just hugely disappointing that a stupid software clitch has prevented the model being used or even turning a wheel without changing lots of bits. Certainly doesn’t inspire me to pay retail prices for any future Traxxas products. 

No it doesn't you're right on both counts.  I was just trying to get you back up and running as fast as possible.  I'd never pay full retail for any 'basher' grade RC as they're always overpriced to start with.  I have paid retail for something like a Tamiya  but the big fun in those is building them to me and I'd rather build an RC than a static model. I also USED  to pay retail for stuff from the likes of HPI and Hobao.  These days however I'd rather just either get a Tamiya or something decent from the Chinese market if I'm going new or I'm not against maybe buying second hand from the big players in the RC space but to me, to be honest, they're not any more 'fun' to drive than the Chinese models

[Lone-wolf]

Did you try Alkaline batteries in the TX? No i would not try the other Traxxas TX just in case that goes same way, now if it were me i would sell all the Traxxas stuff

[Lone-wolf]

Tagging @Kpowell911 as he has a good knowledge of Traxxas

[Kpowell911]

1 hour ago, Lone-wolf said:

Tagging @Kpowell911 as he has a good knowledge of Traxxas

Ive had maybe 50 or more TQ/TQI Radios, lots of them with the Bluetooth module but Ive never once felt the need to update the firmware as think things like that are pointless gimmicks so cant help Im afraid

Edited December 26, 2024 by Kpowell911

[300bhp/ton]

On 26/12/2024 at 19:56, Kpowell911 said:

Ive had maybe 50 or more TQ/TQI Radios, lots of them with the Bluetooth module but Ive never once felt the need to update the firmware as think things like that are pointless gimmicks so cant help Im afraid

Hi, it wasn't a feeling or idle curiosity to updater the firmware, the app wouldn't let the link module work without updating the firmware.... not much of a choice really. And no hint that it would potentially grenade the Tx.

Edited January 5 by 300bhp/ton