Microsoft Steering Wheels Overheating – Retrofits Offered
Hang on, haven’t we been here before?
Grey ring of death?
Microsoft continues to be badgered by overheating issues with its gaming hardware, with the latest heating malfunction occurring in Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheels (pictured).
Apparently the problem has been occurring while using the power supply, with wheels overheating and spewing smoke. The problem doesn't manifest when operating under the unit's battery power.
Microsoft claims it has been informed of around 50 such incidents worldwide. Over 230,000 of the wheels have been sold to date. Owners of faulty units should contact Microsoft on 0800 587 1102 to register for a free retrofit, or repair as it's more commonly known.
Should the problem become more widespread, the company could well have yet another PR disaster on its hands - the ‘red ring of death’ issue with the Xbox 360s is set to cost the company up to $1.06 billion.
“There have been no reported incidences of fire, injury or damage resulting from the component failure,” Microsoft assures us, adding that the problem is due to “a component in the Wheel chassis [which] may in rare cases overheat and release smoke when the AC-DC power supply is used to energize the Wheel.”
Apparently the problem has been occurring while using the power supply, with wheels overheating and spewing smoke. The problem doesn't manifest when operating under the unit's battery power.
Microsoft claims it has been informed of around 50 such incidents worldwide. Over 230,000 of the wheels have been sold to date. Owners of faulty units should contact Microsoft on 0800 587 1102 to register for a free retrofit, or repair as it's more commonly known.
Should the problem become more widespread, the company could well have yet another PR disaster on its hands - the ‘red ring of death’ issue with the Xbox 360s is set to cost the company up to $1.06 billion.
“There have been no reported incidences of fire, injury or damage resulting from the component failure,” Microsoft assures us, adding that the problem is due to “a component in the Wheel chassis [which] may in rare cases overheat and release smoke when the AC-DC power supply is used to energize the Wheel.”
Companies:
Microsoft
Read More Like This
Comments
OptimusP 23 Aug 2007 12:39
1/6
How in the name of all that funtions well when climbing the Mount Everest (it's the DS, anything else electronic will freeze itself kaput) can you make a steering wheel overheat...How!
Is this the yankee mentality (bigger=BETTER!!) kicking them in the face? Owh let's put in this huge power brick into it...no idea why but it's BIG!!!
Oeh oeh, i know! The smoke is to give you the extra feeling of driving a American car!
Is this the yankee mentality (bigger=BETTER!!) kicking them in the face? Owh let's put in this huge power brick into it...no idea why but it's BIG!!!
Oeh oeh, i know! The smoke is to give you the extra feeling of driving a American car!
tyrion 23 Aug 2007 13:24
2/6
OptimusP wrote:
How in the name of all that funtions well when climbing the Mount Everest (it's the DS, anything else electronic will freeze itself kaput) can you make a steering wheel overheat...How!
Well according to that test the other day, the PS3 would survive. Of course, you'd need a very long power cable to get to the top of Everest! :-)
more comments below our sponsor's message
majin dboy 23 Aug 2007 15:30
3/6
funny post mr P
zoydwheeler 23 Aug 2007 16:21
4/6
All (home) gaming steering wheels that I've ever tried have been a massive let-down, including this one. So it serves people right for buying them in the first place. (Except if their house burns down, then it doesn't 'serve them right' and I would advise them to get a good lawyer....)
OptimusP 23 Aug 2007 16:42
5/6
tyrion wrote:
OptimusP wrote:
How in the name of all that funtions well when climbing the Mount Everest (it's the DS, anything else electronic will freeze itself kaput) can you make a steering wheel overheat...How!
Well according to that test the other day, the PS3 would survive. Of course, you'd need a very long power cable to get to the top of Everest! :-)
Wait, Sony-hardware is that durable? Good one Sony, they seem to have their hardware bussiness sorted out and in 2008 the fact having the biggest first-party developer-community will sort out the software side...this console generation is getting more interesting by the day.
Also, i'm proposing that every hardware q&a should be conducted on a permanent base on Mt. Everest as high as possible. Heating tests offcourse in the Sahara desert.
tyrion 24 Aug 2007 07:30
6/6
OptimusP wrote:
Wait, Sony-hardware is that durable?
You didn't see the Cooler Van and Sauna endurance test? OK, it's from a PS3 fan site, but if it's true, it's pretty impressive; PS3 running 108 hours at up to 120F and again 108 hours at down to 0F. No glitches to speak of, no problems afterwards.
OptimusP wrote:
Also, i'm proposing that every hardware q&a should be conducted on a permanent base on Mt. Everest as high as possible. Heating tests offcourse in the Sahara desert.
I'd like to see the above tests done on all consumer electronics, let's see which can resist the sauna of death!