FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

The following is an attempt to provide all kinds of information about the Formula T2 from Thrustmaster that doesn't really have to do with upgrading your baby, but which could be useful anyway. If you have any additions or questions, please e-mail me.

Maintainer: Joeri J. Cox - JJCox@dds.nl
Thrustmaster Formula T2 Upgrade Page: http://huizen.dds.nl/~jjcox

Version 1.3 - December 19, 2000

1. The spring of my gas / brake pedal broke, where can I get a new one?
2. How do I replace a pedal spring?
3. What is the maximum resistance of the potentiometers used in the T2?
4. Are the gas and brake pedal using the same axis?
5. Why didn't my T2 come with an adapter?
6. My T2 did come with an adapter, what do I do with it?
6a. My game doesn’t recognise my pedals!
7. How do I set up my T2 in Windows 95?
8. Do I need a Thrustmaster ACM game card?
9. Steering is very erratic, my car jumps all over the place!
10. Braking and / or accelerating is very erratic, what's wrong?
11. How can I test if my T2 is working properly?
12. Why doesn't my T2 have the cool blue aluminium in front?
13. How can I check the manufacturing date of my T2?
14. The pedal set is not 'one' with my feet!
15. My steering unit is wearing out like hell.
16. How do I contact Thrustmaster Tech Support?
17. My T2 is not as good as a more expensive race car controller, what do I do about it?
18. What's the pin layout for the joystick port?
19. How do I set up my T2 in Windows 98?
20. Where can I find the drivers for my Formula T2?

1. The spring of my gas / brake pedal broke, where can I get a new one?

To get new springs for your pedals, send an e-mail to Thrustmaster Tech Support at service@thrustmaster.com. If you live in Europe, send and e-mail to techde@thrustmaster.com instead. Then you'll receive further instructions on how to obtain a new spring. This service used to be free of charge, but since about all T2's are out of warranty by now, you'll probably have to pay. Europeans should expect about 15DM (8US$) for a set of springs.
B.t.w.: e-mails to Thrustmaster don't always reach their destination. If you haven't got a reply from them within a week, send them another e-mail or give Tech Support a call at +1-503-615-3200.

2. How do I replace a pedal spring?

It's a bit of a hassle to replace a pedal spring. First, you'll have to remove the old spring by taking the pedal apart (remove the long screw holding the thing together). Next, put the new spring in position, but without putting strain on it. Replace the long screw without securing it to the max. Now, you'll have to put strain on the new spring by stretching it behind the extending screw in the pedal. This is where the problem lies: the springs are very stiff, especially the one for the brake pedal (this is the thickest of the two). Use a pair of tongs to get the top end of the spring behind the screw. Once you've done this, tighten the long screw that holds the pedal together and you're finished.

3. What is the maximum resistance of the potentiometers used in the T2?

The potentiometers used in the steering console and the pedal set are all the same. They have a maximum resistance of 200 KOhm and a minimum of 0 KOhm.

4. Are the gas and brake pedal using the same axis?

Yes, they are.

5. Why didn't my T2 come with an adapter?

Newer T2's ship without an adapter: they have one 'built-in'. Well, not exactly, but the wiring is just different, so, that it is wired the same way as the older T2's are with the adapter installed. To make sure you have a built-in adapter, look at the bottom of your steering unit for a sticker with a number on it, like 960604. This is the manufacturing date of your unit. If it was manufactured after 961118 (T2) or 961214 (GP1), you have a built-in adapter. If it is not, but still you haven't got an adapter, you can e-mail Thrustmaster at service@thrustmaster.com to get one.

6. My T2 did come with an adapter, what do I do with it?

The T2 that ships with a separate adapter uses the x-axis of joystick A and the x-axis of joystick B. Some games don’t understand joystick B input. These games want input from joystick A x-axis and joystick A y-axis. The adapter fixes just that.

6a. My game doesn’t recognise my pedals!

This is most probably a problem as described above. Try using the adapter.

7. How do I set up my T2 in Windows 95?

The best thing to do to set up your T2 in Windows 95 is getting Thrustmaster's ProPanel (check http://www.thrustmaster.com) utility. Install it and it will appear in the Configuration window in Windows 95. In this utility you can choose (among others) between a T2 with the adapter installed and a T2 without the adapter. If your T2 came *with* and adapter, you'll know if it is used or not. If your T2 came without one, it's probably a newer T2 which is wired as if it's using the adapter, so you'll have to select a T2 *with* the adapter, even when you don't see one. To make sure if your T2 has a built- in adapter, refer to the next question.
After you've selected your Formula T2, you'll need to calibrate it. This is done by selecting properties and then calibrate and following the instructions exactly. After calibrating your T2 should be fully operational.

8. Do I need a Thrustmaster ACM game card?

Maybe so, maybe no. If everything seems to work properly, you probably won't need a game card, though some owners of these cards say they notice a difference. I don't know, I've never tried a game card.
If your unit does work, but very erratic, it's *possible* you need a game card, but it's much more probable you've got other problems that will continue to be problems, even after buying a game card. These other problems are also addressed in this FAQ, so try to solve them first.
If your unit doesn't work at all, it probably won't be solved by buying a game card either.

9. Steering is very erratic, my car jumps all over the place!

The most likely explanation is that the potentiometer in your steering unit has gotten dirty or worn out. If it's dirty, refer to my homepage (http://huizen.dds.nl/~jjcox) to clean it. If cleaning doesn't help, the potentiometer will probably be worn out. You can order a new one from Thrustmaster tech support.

10. Braking and / or accelerating is very erratic, what's wrong?

Did you build a speed limiter on your T2 as described on the T2 Upgrade Page? If yes, did you use a *shielded* cable between the pedal set and the steering unit, like advised? If you didn't use a shielded cable, this is most probably your problem.
If everything used to work fine, but now the pedals act erratic, there are two possible causes. If you have the speed limiter, with not-shielded cable, you probably moved the cable closer to your pc then before, causing distortion, causing the erratic behaviour.
Otherwise your potentiometers may be dirty. Open the pedal set and spray some contact cleaner spray in the two potentiometers, while pressing and releasing the pedals a few times. This should solve the problem. If the problem continues, your potentiometers are probably worn out.
Contact Thrustmaster tech support and ask for new ones. Expect to pay about 8US$ or 15DM for it.

11. How can I test if my T2 is working properly?

If your T2 doesn't work the way you want it to, this can be a hardware problem or a software problem. To make sure the *hardware* is alright, you can use a little utility from Thrustmaster, TMScope. It is available for download in the file section of this T2 Upgrade Page. For 100% reliability of the test, boot your computer in a true DOS environment, so *not* a DOS-box from within Windows 95. Run the utility and test all four buttons, the pedals and the steering wheel. If the readouts on the screen look correct and fluently, your T2 is alright and your problems are most probably software related.

12. Why doesn't my T2 have the cool blue aluminium in front?

There are different versions of the Formula T2. Older ones have a blue aluminium plate, which provides strenght to the unit. The newer ones don't have this plate. This makes them feel a bit more 'plastic', but they function just as well.

13. How can I check the manufacturing date of my T2?

At the bottom of your steering unit is a sticker with a number on it, like 960604. This is the manufacturing date of your unit.

14. The pedal set is not 'one' with my feet!

Get out of your shoes, it makes the experience a lot better and gives you much better control.

15. My steering unit is wearing out like hell.

Be gentle to the unit. Don't yank it around when you can't get around a corner: your car won't steer any better when you try to break your steering wheel (really)! Being gentle and smooth will also give you much more control of the car and get your laptimes down, down, down.

16. How do I contact Thrustmaster Tech Support?

Thrustmaster tech support has an e-mail address, a homepage and even a telephone number. You can e-mail them at service@thrustmaster.com, though e-mails don't allways seem to reach them. If you live in Europe, you should e-mail them at techde@thrustmaster.com instead. You can visit their homepage at http://www.thrustmaster.com, or you can give them a call at +1-503-615-3200. When calling, take into account your country's time difference to California, where tech support is located!

17. My T2 is not as good as a more expensive race car controller, what do I do about it?

Fire up your Internet browser and point it to the Thrustmaster Formula T2 Upgrade Page at http://huizen.dds.nl/~jjcox . Follow the instructions found there and your T2 will fly.

18. What's the pin layout for the joystick port?

Pin: Signal:
01...+5 Volt
02...Button 1
03...1X (X-axis joystick 1)
04...Ground
05...Ground
06...1Y
07...Button 2
08...+5 Volt
09...+5 Volt
10...Button 3
11...2X
12...Ground
13...2Y
14...Button 4
15...+5 Volt

19. How do I set up my T2 in Windows 98?

See the answer to question 7, "How do I set up my T2 in Windows 95?"

20. Where can I find the drivers for my Formula T2?

You can't: they don't exist! You can just setup your T2 in the Control Panel from Windows (see FAQ 7).