Sorry if this is in the wrong post, or if I do something wrong! First post here!

So, I recently obtained 3 R/C cars from one of my fathers' friends. 2 are electric and one is nitro. The nitro I brought in to the local hobby shop, they said he left fuel in it and the engine is all seized up.

Now, one of the RC cars was working from the start, and still does. It's slow but it works. The other one was kinda nasty and was missing a Tx. But I took the Rx and Tx from the nitro, cleaned out the motor and now it works!


Onto the electronic problem. Every little while it will just move with no input from the Tx. Sometimes reverse, sometimes forward. Sometimes left, sometimes right. Not just this, but my sisters' ECX Ruckus does the same exact thing..

A little bit of info: The ESC is a Novak Rooster and the Rx is a Traxxas something. I have to take some stuff off to find out what Rx exactly, but if it's needed I will.

The Ruckus is stock.

Also, if anyone knows why, the Ruckus only has a range of 15-20' which is rather annoying!

Both are 27MHz but I've tried one on at a time and they still move by themselves.

Thanks!

You're experiencing glitching. Check to make sure that your frequency crystal is from the correct radio and receiver (same manufacturer and correct bands).

On the electric, if that's a brushed motor, you'll need a small capacitor on the motor to clean the RF around the chassis. Check some old threads on brushed motor capacitors.
It's easy to solder one on.

Finally try a glitch buster capacitor (much bigger) on the receiver. It can help. If your receiver only has 2 channels, just make a y-adapter.

I suggest you get a 2.4GHz radio though if you are sure you like this hobby. Even with PPM FM radio's (including ZPCM) I have from back 15-20yrs ago, it is not clean like my modern 2.4GHz radios.

GL.

I know as a fact that the Ruckus has stock crystals. The other one, the crystals match but they're not from that Rx/Tx.

Well, whoever used it before I did something. The motor is covered in capacitors. 2 or 3 of them. Although I may take them off, or atleast post pics, and put something newer on.

I'll look into it, thanks!

I thought about this, but it's really not cheap.. Although, I did get this truck for free, so I shouldn't feel bad putting some money into it..

Would you have any recommendations for a 2.4Ghz setup? Will it work with my old ESC and motor? If the capacitors don't work I may just do that. Probably with the ruckus first as the range on it now is unusable.

Crystals have to be for that particular radio. Can't cross them with different brand radios. Same freq. and same mgh. Most brushed motors used 3 small caps. No need to replace them. You can usually find cheap 2.4 radios in the classified. Traxxas are the popular ones. Just make sure radio/receivers are compatible.

Well, I'm back.

I've gotten mostly used to the thrown together truck moving by itself some, probably from using the wrong crystals, but the ECX Ruckus is really unusable. The range is literally 10-15ft. The antenna from the rx looks fine, but it could be broken underneath the coating?

Also, if I can get this fixed, I need some recommendations on batteries. Preferably NiMH as I have a charger for them already. And I don't have to worry about of discharging. Also, I have used LiPOs(Quadcopter) so it's not just like I'm terrified of them. I also know they're the better choice if I really decide to pursue this hobby, but for now, NiMH work great for me.

make sure your batteries are charged. Don't know how long they been sitting. Electronics with the Rooster lost its programing, you must have to calibrate. for brushed motors also. Try the attached file on Calibration, it from Novak Rooster manual.

Well that's stupid obvious.. And yet I didn't think of it! I'll try it tomorrow and report back, but I'm also open to more ideas while I wait.

I have recently calibrated the rooster.


EDIT: I'll still try changing the batteries, but I didn't think. The range wasn't great when she first got the truck. It wasn't this bad, but nowhere near what I would expect. And by that I mean like 20-30'.

Also, what if I just get over it and buy a FlySky GT3B w/ RX for $40?


Of course, if there's a cheaper way, my ears are open.