OK, having a few aches and pains, went to pull out the heating pad of the hallway drawer and ended up jamming the temperature remote control when I accidentally shut the door on it (I know, not very smart of me).

So....a few videos on youtube indicates this Sunbeam heating pad remote and electric cord may be reparable. In order to do so, I need to remove two small screws from the back of the temperature control. Only one problem, both screw heads require a three sided screw driver. I've never seen or used one; can I purchase one at home depot or lowes??

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Is this heating pad very expensive? Why not ditch it and get a new one instead of risking a fire or electrocution hazard by playing with this one?

Around $40 to $50. If I can fix it for a few bucks, I'm ahead of the game. In some cases it is only a loose wire or a bad capacitor. I can't figure out what type of screw driver is required, if anyone knows, please post. Thank you for any help or assistance!

Looks like the Mercedes hood star without the surrounding ring. it should be a phillips screwdriver bit style. I just went through my kit of security bits and do not see anyone like that.So it is unlikely to be a common type security screw.

Other than that it may be a very special production screw. We do not have an electric blanket. Or I would have examined the screw type used before posting.

It’s funny you posted this. I don’t remember the brand but my dad did something similar and completely pulled the cord out of the remote. Before getting a new one I made one attempt to fix it and it was pretty easy, just needed to reattach a couple wires. I had a small screwdriver kit that was for cell phones and it had a bit like that which worked. It was something like this

thank you for posting this; the driver your link shows looks exactly like what is needed.

My bad. Why I thought it was a philips bit is now beyond me.I did not look at the picture. You said it was odd and that I did not find it in my extensive security bits may have thrown me. A philips bit is for four slots of course.

I bought a really nice heating pad on Amazon for $27. It's like twice as big as our old one and has a really long cord.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G2M1LBW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

__________________
Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

I'm going to continue with the repair process although I just relocated a (I believe) corn filled microwaveable heating roll. If you haven't tried one, they work really well especially around your neck area.

here are a few:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=heating+pad+microwave&i=hpc&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Mine is shaped like a neck roll.....no big deal but it really really helps with neck pain....

As long as it's not pop corn
Sounds like something to check out.

__________________
Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

Maybe this:


https://www.mcmaster.com/screwdriver-bits/tri-wing-bits/

yes, the mcmaster website you linked to may be a possibility. Also, I've located several tool kits used to repair apple Iphones, Ipads and the like, priced from around $40 to $70. I've got an old broken down laptop that is also in need of repair so acquiring a special electronic specific tool kit may be a good move.


Between cars, heating pads and computers just call me "the repair guy".

I did it with this kit, $15.

https://www.amazon.com/Syntus-Precision-Screwdriver-Electronics-Cellphone/dp/B071PB4RPV

If you live alone, and suffer with depression sure fix it yourself. wake up in a crib somewhere.

__________________
1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

In the 1960's a friend of mine came up with the typ of screw head in husky man's control box as a joke and called it the "Simpson Head Screw" after struggling with a damaged Phillips head, imagine his surprise decades later when these showed up .

I hope you post the failure point and repair done, photos would be good .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better