Direct TV remote

When the new one arrives, put the old one in an (electric) oven or toaster oven at 100 F. for an hour or two. Better yet, if you can open the clam, use 99% alcohol and a soft toothbrush to clean it.

NOT a gas oven. Too much moisture.

Kill or cure.

Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

As Peter suggested, open it up, clean with 70% alcohol. Try not to rub the black graphite contacts on the rubber membrane too much. The leakage problem is probably on the PCB. The reason you want 70% alcohol instead of 91% is because you need the water to remove some of the non-organic crap that is soluble in water, but not alcohol. Personally, I prefer 409 household cleaner. Whatever works. Just make sure it's dry before you re-assemble the unit and install the batteries.

Videos on how to open and fix the rc73.

There are also a multitude of remote control button repair kits available:

I use these for equipment that costs far more than the typical remote control. I've had better results with the brush on graphite paint type than the stick on buttons.

A used replacement rc73 remote is cheaper on eBay:

Good luck.

Checked and even the new units are cheaper. If I have another one go bad I will look on ebay first.

Will give the alcohol treatment a try. I have some 90 and 99 % as I do some hobby work on the SMD boards. May have to mix some water with them.

I was curious as to the red light as there is a green light that comes on when the buttons are pressed. Do not recall ever seeing the red light.

"Most of the time, the only reason that you see this light is because the remote control and the DVR have somehow unpaired."

Thanks Jeff. Followed all that and the remote started working again. That does explain why the red light was on.