Question Mechanical keyboard keys not working ?

Dec 20, 2024
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Hello, first time poster here!
My mechanical keyboard (Tesoro-G1-US-V2.1 PCB rebranded as 'Fnatic Gear Rush') has been acting up due to a faulty connection or PCB trace. The entire middle of the numpad (/, 8, 5, 2, 0) as well as the right arrow key have stopped working though the LEDs are normal. I know this is a connection issue because the keys used to work if you flex the pcb slightly though that no longer helps.

Hoping somebody knowledgeable about keyboards can nudge me in the right direction as to whats the faulty connection and how to best fix it. I would troubleshoot more myself but the big metal front plate obfuscates the diodes and traces and the back of the keyboard is rather useless only letting you de-solder the key and its LED with almost no traces visible.
 
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

The entire middle of the numpad (/, 8, 5, 2, 0) as well as the right arrow key have stopped working though the LEDs are normal. I know this is a connection issue because the keys used to work if you flex the pcb slightly though that no longer helps.
That would indicate that traces in the board have broken, the flex caused partial electrical connection, or so that's how I'm interpreting the scenario.

Hoping somebody knowledgeable about keyboards can nudge me in the right direction as to whats the faulty connection and how to best fix it.
You could read through this reddit from 6 years ago though I'm assuming that your entire PCB needs a replacement if the traces within the PCB layers are damaged/broken.