Dreamcast D-pad issue?

[Azoshi]

Back again, woo.

Well, I've noticed while playing a game recently that no matter what controller I use, or no matter what port I use, the right D-pad button always takes a stronger push to register in comparison to any of the other buttons. I don't know what's causing this, or why it's happening. Is it a serious issue? Is there any way to recalibrate or adjust the sensitivity on these controllers?

Apart from that, I first noticed an issue in Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2, where in the 'Paint Shop' menu, which you can adjust the sliders with shoulder buttons was glitched, so it was constantly holding down the left shoulder button slightly.

And yet another issue that I've noticed is that sometimes, maybe one in every three times that I play Sonic Adventure 2, the analog stick will become stuck moving in the right direction and cannot be fixed until the system is reset.

Are these three issues linked? I'm quite concerned that my Dreamcast might be faulty... I really can't afford to replace it at the moment, and I have no skills in soldering.

[krssn]

Open the controller with a phillips screwdriver. Check if you see anything wrong. Clean if necessary. Put everything back together. See if it works...

As far as the buttons go its probably the rubber that needs to be reset. The stick I don't know. Maybe some dust in the square block with the potentiometers?...

Anyways, no soldering should be required. Worst case scenario would be a broken piece of plastic on the stick, or the rubber being worn out on the buttons...

[Azoshi]

Open the controller with a phillips screwdriver. Check if you see anything wrong. Clean if necessary. Put everything back together. See if it works...

As far as the buttons go its probably the rubber that needs to be reset. The stick I don't know. Maybe some dust in the square block with the potentiometers?...

Anyways, no soldering should be required. Worst case scenario would be a broken piece of plastic on the stick, or the rubber being worn out on the buttons...

The thing is, this is a brand new controller, fresh out of the box. I've also had the exact same issue with another older controller that came with the system. All these issues are present with different controllers, and I'm concerned that it might be an issue with the ports, and not the controllers themselves.

[krssn]

In that case don't open the controller... lol

It's obviously a problem on the console's side.

There's a well known problem with the controller ports, but in that case the controller wouldn't work at all. So that's not it.

All I can think of is filthy controller ports. Maybe try cleaning them. Pure alcohol would be good. You can put it on a cotton swab and clean the contacts on the controller port, or you can rub some alcohol on the contacts of the controller connection and move the connection in and out of the controller port a few times. A bit the same like you would do when you clean a SNES or Mega Drive / Genesis cartridge slot...

EDIT Just reread your initial post. Dang, on all 4 controller ports, and with different controllers? That doesn't sound like filthy controller ports either. I'm out of ideas then. Maybe a bad cap or something. Open the console and see if there's bulging caps in there, or things that don't look right. Check for burnt components. Also check the connection cable between the controller port board and the main board and reset it just to be sure...

[Azoshi]

In that case don't open the controller... lol

It's obviously a problem on the console's side.

There's a well known problem with the controller ports, but in that case the controller wouldn't work at all. So that's not it.

All I can think of is filthy controller ports. Maybe try cleaning them. Pure alcohol would be good. You can put it on a cotton swab and clean the contacts on the controller port, or you can rub some alcohol on the contacts of the controller connection and move the connection in and out of the controller port a few times. A bit the same like you would do when you clean a SNES or Mega Drive / Genesis cartridge slot...

EDIT Just reread your initial post. Dang, on all 4 controller ports, and with different controllers? That doesn't sound like filthy controller ports either. I'm out of ideas then. Maybe a bad cap or something. But that's a longshot really...

Yeah, it's a little odd... I've found out that if I use a PAL copy of Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2, the issue of the slider being stuck no longer exists, so I'll dismiss that, and the rare stuck analog stick for SA2 is uncommon enough for me to easily turn a blind eye.

I mean, it's not like I struggle to press the right D-pad, it just doesn't seem to want to register as easily as the others. I can tap the others very lightly and they'll register, but for the right one it needs to be tapped harder. Maybe this is an issue for all Dreamcast's? I mean, it's such a minor issue, I didn't even notice it up until now and I've had the system for a month, hah.

It's completely tolerable though, but it would be nice to know what the issue is.

[krssn]

Maybe it's a known problem with SA2.

I finished the first one but only playtested the second so I can't say...