Weller WXD2 Firmware update gone bad - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: YadiYada
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2020, 04:03:36 pm
content: The instructions did state not to turn off power while firmware update was in progress but after 30 minutes and still not complete?Issue started some days back when I noticed I was getting error on the right channel WXP120 iron attached. then I noticed that the temperature would not come down to standby (180C) after 10 min as configured but would stay at 360C.I thought maybe a firmware update might correct that. Well everything was going fine until after 30 min when I really got annoyed and powered off the unit which is now bricked of course.Anyone knows how to revive the unit? Do I need to replace the main board?The reseller (Reichelt Germany) points me to Apex but Apex doesn't respond to the phone in Switzerland. I tried to contact Apex Tools Group in Germany through their own website and got a user not found back (I didn't have the option of choosing an email address! WTF).Are these guys still in business?

author: Neshi
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 03, 2020, 08:57:28 am
content: Bootloader is probably still ok. Try to update WXD2 with older firmware if you have one. Code that is responsible for updating firmware checks current version with that at the end of firmware update file and will not start update if they are the same.

author: YadiYada
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2020, 09:57:35 am
content: Thank Neshi but screen is blank so not even executing boot loader I'm afraid.

author: m3vuv
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2020, 10:48:20 am
content: creeks and paddles springs to mind.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2020, 12:14:07 pm
content: Did you do the update with the tools attached?Obviously it's too late but never do a firmware update when you have a fault present, unless you have confirmed it's purely firmware (and even then it can be risky). I always like to restore defaults as well as you never know all the firmware update bugs they missed during the last round of testing.Difficult to offer advice without seeing the internal design or you explaining how the flashing process works, so if you run out of options start taking photos and explain the process. I'm not sure how helpful contacting distributors is going to be, you need to speak to some Weller tech support and see if there is any hardware recovery method first, like insert a memory stick and hold a button etc. Keep in mind you are still likely to have the original fault present and it could block any attempt of recovery so keep the station in the minimum state it needs to be in order to flash.Where you go from here depends if it's covered under any form of warranty. If not hopefully someone here has worked on one.

author: YadiYada
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2020, 07:27:56 pm
content: Ended up speaking with Weller technician who asked me to send both the iron and the main unit so they could check for a potential hardware fault.it's been more than 2 weeks (excrutiating pain not having my tools :-( ). I'm hoping for a fix or a replacement. Either way it will be a costly exercise as it was out of warranty since Movember...Let's see.

author: Rosinn
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 01:58:24 pm
content: Hi how did this end for you? I'm having similar issue...Used a 8gb USB drive and stayed for ever in Bootloading screen, then unplugged and the device is dud.Original issue was the station was not detecting the probes..

author: dc101
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 05:58:05 pm
content: Has anyone taken this apart to see if there is a way to possibly restore the firmware via alternate methods?I didn't have much luck trying to convert the .hex firmware into a binary. I used srec_cat and it didn't seem to think it was in motorola or intel format. Might just separate the sections and manually convert each one to binary.

author: dc101
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2021, 06:50:02 pm
content: Someone posted a photo of the WX1which looks to be the same board in the WXD2.It's definitely a PIC MCU. Looks like it's a PIC32, but hard to tell, the photo is pretty fuzzy. If the ICSP/JTAG pins from the MCU are routed to pads/vias somewhere on the board, you might be able to flash the firmware using a PICkit and MPLABX. It's been a long time since I've use PIC's, I don't recall if they have fuses to prevent re-programming the device or not.

author: YadiYada
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2021, 05:27:01 pm
content: Well they eventually returned both WXP-120 and WXD2 as refreshed. However, I sometimes get an error message at which point I do a "reboot" (power off/on cycle) and I'm ok for another couple of weeks, sometimes months. Not the kind of quality I was expecting from Weller frankly speaking... Especially at that price point.

author: TechnoMage41
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 27, 2022, 03:09:43 pm
content: FYI:I know it's been a while since anyone has posted to this, but this seems to be the best thread for this issue, according to Google.I just had the same thing happen.I tried a firmware update, it hung and after waiting ~30 minutes I cycled power only to find the blank screen issue described here.I just encountered a similar problem updating firmware on my Elegoo Mars 3D printer, and the solution was to use a flash drive of less than 16GB formatted to FAT32.I decided to try this with my Weller WX2 soldering station and it worked. I was able to complete the update to v0.85.I didn't need to flash it to an earlier level, just insert WX2_085.hex on a 4GB flash drive formatted to FAT32. I don't know if it's necessary, but I made sure that the hex file was the only file or folder on the drive. The LED built into the drive started flashing, indicating drive activity for about 20-30seconds, then the WX2 LCD dimmed slightly, indicating a reset, then I got the Weller WX2 splash screen showing firmware v0.85.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2022, 09:11:35 am
content: Thanks for contributing, nice to know it potentially has recovery designed in.Completely forgot about the size, of course this matters for compatibility. Hopefully they documented it somewhere, I keep a bunch of smaller sizes for this very purpose.

author: Hltifi
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 16, 2024, 05:42:11 pm
content: hello guys , i have fallen tio the same firmaware trap and now my WX2 is bricked , does any one has a firmware prior to 0.85 so i can try to update it? it tried with the hex file for the 0.85 but nothing happened .thank you

author: Brian B
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 14, 2025, 04:11:41 pm
content: Thanks SO Much for your help!!This worked perfect for me.I used a 2GB thumb drive formatted to FAT 32 and with only the hex file you said.Powered up with thumb drive in and blank screen and waited 30 seconds and was so surprised to see the screen come back on and work perfect.Wow, I am just totally amazed that Weller does not have this information on their site.This is the ONLY place I have found this help. Thanks so much!