A friend is having trouble with his car throttle "sticking" and losing all steering. He is running a Non-Spektrum Novak GTB, Spektrum radio system and a receiver pack. He is using a 1600 mah Trinity spec pack and Novak 17.5 motor.

Could it be the speed control because it's the original non-spektrum? (I highly doubt it). I wonder if a better rec. pack would cure it.

Any ideas?

The NON spektrum shouldn't cause that...(that's all I use w/ a Spektrum system)

Maybe the SPEKTRUM shutting down - and the failsafe not set proper?

is it 4 cell or 6 cell SPEC packs?

I have seen 4 cell packs dip the voltage with the failsafes set wrong cause some issues.

Does it come back after a couple seconds?

A way to check for Spektrum FAILSAFE is to rebind...but when you bind HOLD THE THROTTLE to FULL break, and the STEERING to FULL LEFT - after rebinding it...if it IS the failsafe kicking in - you should see the car STOP (instead of FULL throttle) and TURN LEFT...

don't know if it'll help, but it's something to consider... IF that's what it's doing - have him use a Spektrum CAP in the receiver and see if the problem stops

It's a 4 cell 1600 Trinity Spec pack. It acts like the battery is dead...you know...throttle is stuck but doesn't go real fast and it has no steering.
I think it comes back when shutting off the speed control and turning it back on, but once it took several times to come back on.

I wonder if the receiver pack is any good or wired in correctly because it seems like it should still have steering.
Can you run a cap AND a receiver pack in a spektrum receiver?

does the speed control have lipo cutoff and is it turned on. if so theres your problem voltage is to low on the pack to run speed control.

usually a esc w/ LIPO CUTOFF activated won't shut down the servo

at least my LRP's didn't...

HE's running a rec. pack?

If he is, that's a good chance of where the problem is

unplug THAT before rebinding...

I'll go with the receiver pack. I had a Tekin G11 that did the same thing with the 4 cell Spec packs. Installed a receiver pack and that fixed it. I did have to charge the pack after every practice though.

spektrum also makes a capacitor that plugs into the reciever that might help.

Had same problem. Always on exit of corner it would do it. For me it was bad receivers. I had problem with the old grey receivers. It hasn't done it to me with the newer micro receivers.

I've had the same problem too, found out I just had a damaged wire on the servo. So I snipped out the bad section and crimped on a new plug.

Check everything over: wires, pulgs, solder joints on battery, spot welds on RX pack. Sounds more like ad bad connection more than a BAD CELL or FLAT PACK.

Is there an update for the grey receivers??

It's a 4 cell 1600 Trinity Spec pack. It acts like the battery is dead...you know...throttle is stuck but doesn't go real fast and it has no steering.
I think it comes back when shutting off the speed control and turning it back on, but once it took several times to come back on.

I wonder if the receiver pack is any good or wired in correctly because it seems like it should still have steering.
Can you run a cap AND a receiver pack in a spektrum receiver?

I'm probably stickin my nose into something I shouldn't but, had to speak up about this!

Last year we started running a Rookie Spec pan class at our track and ran into the same problem. Using the 1600 spec packs, What we found was that we lacked enough voltage for the speed control to perform to its optimum performance. We then applied a capsitor ( I chose a Novak one) to aleviate the problem. It's been workin for me ever since. The ESC I was using was a lrp for a 6volt system. The capasitor manipulates the ESC into thinking that there is plenty of voltage coming from the source.

There are plenty of brands out there to choose from...or be a redneck like most and make your own( not mentioning any names):D. either way...its the best option!

Tommy is it an actual spectrum radio or a spectrum system in a different radio futaba, airtronics etc.
The reason I ask is because the older spectrum modules for the M8 radio had a issue with the way the antenna wire in the module was routed. It was initialy routed across the circuit board and it caused the RX to loose signal for some reason and go into failsafe mode. there was a bullitin on Horizon's website explaining this and how to remedy it basicly just rerouting the wire it was quik and easy. I had this issue in my 12th scale road course car whenever it had a static charge IE rolling over and the fix with the module fixed it.

And to the guy who asked about available updates for the SR3001 is yes there is a firmwhare update you just need to send it in to horizon. I had all of my old rX updated before I got the pro versions.

It is the actual Spektrum radio with the old grey receivers.

Thanks for the help guys we will try some things next time he races. I have Spektrum capacitors he can try and he has a SK with same gear, maybe try swapping receivers, etc.

I used the spektrum cap on all my spektrum recievers even when all the guys were saying oh u will be fine. I even use a cap now on my non spektrum radio and it completely got rid of any glitching. Ive seen this done many times.. The problem with spektrum is when it gets a glitch it automatically goes into safe mode and shuts down. With anything below 5 volts as a pack voltage i would run something especially in a spec class where voltage is even lower..

I have seen this happen to a few guys in the last week. We thought it might have been static in the carpet causing them to act funny..but who knows.