I believe this underwater camera's contacts were damaged by ocean salt water. Up & Down buttons work but Left & Right do not. Is there any way to clean/repair them?

 

Try using isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush or similar stiff brush. I would refrain from using any acetone because it is a solvent and may do more harm than good to the contacts.

 

My fear is that salt removes metal. If the metal is gone, no amount of cleaning will fix it. Still, it doesn't hurt to try. Go find an old toothbrush and start brushing.

 

You could try a silver rich paint used to repair rear window defrost tracks. Ive used it sucessfuly on a GPS that had buttons not working.

 

Yes, the salt may have removed metal.

What's the cheapest item which has "silver rich paint" in it for me to try the other advice and where can I order it from? What would I do, where exactly would I apply it over, the top where the thin metal lines are?

This is why top/bottom works but not left/right:

 

There is this kind of stuff...
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/8420-p.html

Yes you would apply it to where the thin metal lines are.

 

That's over $30 out of pocket and the only theing I would need it for is this thread's topic. How about this for $9.50:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0BM05Y3153

Unless local auto parts stores have rear window defrost repair kits for the same price or less.

 

That's over $30 out of pocket and the only theing I would need it for is this thread's topic. How about this for $9.50:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0BM05Y3153

Unless local auto parts stores have rear window defrost repair kits for the same price or less.

To be honest I didn't even notice the price. Yes it is a little expensive for your use. Someone had said something about silver paint and I remembered that stuff being available.

As to the product you show, it may work. The problem might be that the conductive material in the product may not be exposed for your button to bridge the contacts. I did read over the MSDS sheet and the manual a little. It does have a good content of silver in it.

If you have the $10 to try it out, go for it. I'd suggest doing a small test on it before commiting to the repair of your camera.

 

If you can find a relay burnishing tool, that may do the trick. Or a fiberglass "eraser", applied very gently.

 

I got the following advice elsewhere, fyi:

"Microtip pens are for restoring a straight line circuit trace. What you have with the button contacts is an interlocking finger design that is bridged by the push button to complete the circuit. It would be extremely difficult to redraw the button circuit on the board without permanently shorting the contacts. I would be looking for a replacement circuit board. "
Br1078lum

 

I got the following advice elsewhere, fyi:

"Microtip pens are for restoring a straight line circuit trace. What you have with the button contacts is an interlocking finger design that is bridged by the push button to complete the circuit. It would be extremely difficult to redraw the button circuit on the board without permanently shorting the contacts. I would be looking for a replacement circuit board. "
Br1078lum

Yes it would be dificult. However, with a little patience and some masking of areas you could do one set of fingers at a time. Use a small pointy object (tooth pick, needle, etc..) to dab the product in place. Have you tried to clean it yet to see if the copper traces are really damaged?

 

The most cost effective way to do this was to buy a broken camera of the same model with hopes that the part I needed would be working. I did that and fortunately everything worked.

It was time consuming but it worked!