Vroom and Zoom toy GLUED! - no match for Papa

問題

It's just a simple activity toy for a toddler, but the "Vroom and Zoom" is well-made by a US company (Melissa and Doug) and includes a varied set of functions that my dear granddaughter truly enjoys. Apparently its mix of sounds and motion and lights captured her interest and it surprised us how much she continues to enjoy her "car" as she has grown.

She and I recently repaired a simpler toy with lights and switches (a bad connection that required resoldering) and she surprised me with her dexterity in removing screws and appreciating the wires and battery - explaining it to others. Clearly she has more than just a little aptitude.

So when her "car" had a problem it was just natural that she would ask (and fully expect) her Papa to fix it.

The problem was a scrolling "scene" that is a vague attempt at GPS-like imagery - but includes dexterity tasks that allows her to try to steer to keep a little car on the road as the motor-driven "map" scrolls along. The scrolling motor had stopped - but all of the other functions continued to operate. Seemed a simple fix was at hand.

修理

I took a look at the mostly plywood case, removed a couple of screws and quickly realized that Melissa and Doug had assured robustness by gluing rather than assembling the case with screws. I contacted them and my observations were confirmed - its glued, there's no way in without violating that plywood case.

Undaunted, I gathered my rotary cutting tool and a thin cutting disk, considered carefully where best to enter the case and chose a rectangular region to cut through the 1/8" plywood case.

As I removed the rear panel fragment I was rewarded with a view of the drive motor for the GPS, a "main board" PCB that clearly has drive transistors and other chips - and one lonely connector dangling lazily near an empty socket labeled J10. There was no question as to the diagnosis now, and as the opening had presumed possible finger access the connectors were re-mated with a click.

Testing confirmed the Vroom and Zoom was back to normal operation, and though my granddaughter was not here to see I did send her a brief video clip to report success.

Now all it needs is a plywood "bandaid" to re-cover the opening - though before doing that I will most definitely explore with her the internals that can be viewed and show her the connector that had become de-mated.

I thought to myself for a moment "I'd like to be able to fix everything that breaks in her life." But then I thought better, I'll make sure that SHE feels enabled to consider repairing things that break in her life." That's probably something that I got infected with when I was little, so I'll pass it along.

アドバイス

With no hint as to *where* to cut that opening I chose a slightly off-center position - thinking it best to get more visibility if needed. That was a good choice but serendipity was in full play as well.