Intellivision cartridge problems

[GarrettCRW]

I recently received an Intellivision and some games in separate eBay lots, and after squeezing in room for the system, I've discovered a serious issue-the system almost unilaterally refuses to play the games I have.

With the exception of Burger Time, the best I can get are garbled versions of the title screens, from which it's impossible to start gameplay. With Burger Time, I mostly get a black screen, but occasionally a garbled form of the player select screen will show up, and I can play the game with messed up graphics (thereby proving that the controllers are indeed functional). I've tried cleaning the cartridges to no avail, so noting that I can only perform a basic level repairs (if that), is there anything I can do?

[jferio]

I'd get some blue shower spray (connector cleaner), hit the cart slot itself with it, then work something like another cart in and out of the slot while the stuff dries.

[omega_squid]

Yes, this sounds like it is a cartridge problem rather than a system problem. I would recommend cleaning the contacts of both the system and your games with rubbing alcohol or similar substance.

Dirty cartridges are pretty common, but I am sure that you already know that! :D

[Starwander]

Intellivision cartridges need to be cleaned with a strong de-oxidizing agent to really get them working at their best again. They typically have a thick layer of it, since most of the games are roughly 25+ years old. Cleaning them with alcohol typically isn't enough.

[GarrettCRW]

Intellivision cartridges need to be cleaned with a strong de-oxidizing agent to really get them working at their best again. They typically have a thick layer of it, since most of the games are roughly 25+ years old. Cleaning them with alcohol typically isn't enough.

Any suggestions on which de-oxidizing agent?

[Starwander]

I use the stuff that Classic Games Source sells, but you do have to take apart the cartridges to use it. I know that the folks that sell the Generation NEX NES clone have a spray on type, though I haven't tried it. There are several paste versions for sell on Ebay as well.

[GarrettCRW]

Not to sound like a snot, but is there anything available that doesn't involve waiting for the mail any longer?

[Starwander]

I don't know any products that you can buy from the store off the top of my head, but any type of cleaner that removes oxidization will do the trick.

[Pantechnicon]

Not to sound like a snot, but is there anything available that doesn't involve waiting for the mail any longer?

Get a can of Radio Shack's Precision Electronics Cleaner (Cat. No 64-4345). It cleans away oxidation on cart contacts with a vengeance and comes in a bottle with a built-in brush attachment. Good stuff, I've been using it for years and I've run across very few carts I couldn't resurrect with it. Costs about $7 a can.

[FABombjoy]

I doubt deoxidizing is going to help. It probably has a bad power supply or a logic board issue.

[Pantechnicon]

Ach, you're right. Garrett did already say that he had tried cleaning the carts... :?

Perhaps opening up the console and dusting off the board and applying cleaner to the chip contacts? I would also disconnect the controllers and clean those connections as well. Inty controllers may seem "hardwired", but they're not really. They connect to the main board with a simple plastic connector that you can pop off with your fingers once you've removed the top part of the case.

[GarrettCRW]

OK, so she's opened (kind of).

The shielding (which has got some sort of dirt all over it) is soldiered shut. There's also some (long since hardened) yellow residue on the power supply. Other than that, everything appears normal, but I can't clean much more than the controller contacts without potentially trashing the motherboard (at least without advice).

[Pantechnicon]

I'll try to get around to cracking mine open tonight so we can be simpatico. Check back to the thread after 9:00pm Mountain time.

[GarrettCRW]

I'll try to get around to cracking mine open tonight so we can be simpatico. Check back to the thread after 9:00pm Mountain time.

Actually, I'm in the bender if that's easier.

[Pantechnicon]

It's not, as I seem to have deleted X-Chat from my PC...

Anyway, I assume we're talking about an Intv I or III here, right? They're the same. So, when you talk about a yellowish residue on the power supply, are you talking about the transformer (big metal box) or the board with the big blue capacitors or the heat sink?

Unless you're comfortable desoldering the RF shield, then there aren't going to be a lot of spots for you to clean with...um...I'm also assuming you bought the stuff I recommended from Radio Shack. If you did, then disconnect both controllers from the main board and clean the contact points. I would also lightly scrub the contact points of both ends of that ribbon cable (don't disconnect it) connecting the power supply to the main board.

As for the yellow gunk...I wouldn't fool with it unless you can see somewhere where it's touching any of the pin connectors. Then I would just clean those specific areas off.

You'd get a lot further here if you could remove that RF shield, but I understand if you don't know how to do that.

Let me know what happens. Just because you and I disagree on almost every political topic in OT, this doesn't mean I don't think you deserve a working Intellivision.

[GarrettCRW]

Anyway, I assume we're talking about an Intv I or III here, right? They're the same. So, when you talk about a yellowish residue on the power supply, are you talking about the transformer (big metal box) or the board with the big blue capacitors or the heat sink?

Unless you're comfortable desoldering the RF shield, then there aren't going to be a lot of spots for you to clean with...um...I'm also assuming you bought the stuff I recommended from Radio Shack. If you did, then disconnect both controllers from the main board and clean the contact points. I would also lightly scrub the contact points of both ends of that ribbon cable (don't disconnect it) connecting the power supply to the main board.

As for the yellow gunk...I wouldn't fool with it unless you can see somewhere where it's touching any of the pin connectors. Then I would just clean those specific areas off.

You'd get a lot further here if you could remove that RF shield, but I understand if you don't know how to do that.


The yellow residue is on the transformer itself, and will pretty much never come off, IMO. It just seemed out of the ordinary. The controllers are, as I mentioned, functional, so I've really jjust checked to see that the pins are hunky dory. The new problem, though, is the ribbon connecting the motherboard and the power supply-it appears to be separating. Since I obviously don't have the skill to open up the main board (nor even have a soldiering iron), I can't be sure if this is my issue with the system.

[Pantechnicon]

Yellow residue on the transformer...Mine doesn't have any of this, but I still wouldn't worry about it. I'm guessing it's some sort of insulation.

As long as none of the pins on that ribbon cable have fully separated, you ought to be okay just carefully putting the unit back together. Power it up and see what happens.

I must admit you've got me really curious at this point as to what's going on. If worse comes to worse I'd be willing to take a look at it myself if you wouldn't mind shipping it to Albuquerque for a spell.