Most RTRs come with cheap electronics . You could of bought a much better radio for a few $ more . I would of gone with a popular radio manufacture like JR , Spektrum , Ko Propo Futaba , and Hitec . They have good radios ranging from entry level to top line with good quality .
i will look into it. i want to have a quality car. so, if when i do upgrade to one of the better radios, do i need to also buy a new electronic speed control (esc)? will an after market radio bind with what i have in my buggy?
i removed the old wires and soldered in new more flexible wires.
this is where i think the wires were damaged. there was a heavy bend in the wires and when i moved them (both + and -) the radio malfunctioned.
not much room in the battery compartment. the original wires felt brittle and were twisted inside when i inspected the case.
i found the battery holder unclips from the radio unit. i kept the plug. i cut the old wires with about 1 inch of original wire. i don't have any replacement plugs and i don't have plug wire removal tools. so i soldered the new wire to the old wire. (with the suspected section removed)
i had to buy a soldering iron. i went to radio shack and picked up this one for ~$23 USD.
here is how the butt splice looked before and after taping. i wanted to use shrink tube but i don't have any handy.
after about a half hour of work i tested the unit. and happy to say the light went on. i don't know for sure if what i did actually fixed the problem. but for now it runs. i started up my car and ran it up and down the street a few times without incident.
i will probably upgrade controller. i just don't trust this one to not let me down.
heading back to race track tomorrow to try out my set up.
-pdx