Saturn's laser dead?

[Vagrant]

My Saturn always locksup when reading a CD, sometimes I can even get it to the title screen but it will eventually lock up. The disc is spinning and I've already tried to clean the lens with lighter fluid but it still won't play the discs.
Is it the laser? If so how can I fix it? Or rather how can I know what it's causing it?

[thegardentool]

I had a Saturn that the laser was dirty and wouldn't read the games. It wouldn't lockup but refuse to read the games and go to the menu screen.

What I did to try and fix it was I completely disassembled it. I cleaned everything up with rubbing alochol and Q-Tips as it had a lot of sticky stuff inside of it.

On the back of the drive assembly there is an orange screw that you can turn either clockwise or counter clockwise, which will strengthen or weaken the laser, respectively. Start by turning it all the way that you can clockwise and see if it reads the CDs any better. If it does start turning it counter clockwise just a bit at a time until it no longer reads them then slightly turn it back clockwise to read them again. You don't want to keep it up very high unless you have to because it will affect the lasers life.

It helps if you keep the Saturn's top cover off while adjusting the laser and just hold down on the lever that makes it think the lid is closed. That way you can turn it off, adjust the laser and turn it right back on. And try it out with music and game CDs as sometimes it would play one and not the other.

[InsaneDavid]

Open the system up, there's a ribbon cable that runs from the mainboard to the laser assembly. Carefully unplug and replug this cable in on both ends. The last three Saturn's I've worked on had this cable loose - hadn't seen this problem up until now, but it resolved lockup and loading problems. Something easy to check at least. Don't go randomly turning the laser pot before trying other things first.

[thegardentool]

Open the system up, there's a ribbon cable that runs from the mainboard to the laser assembly. Carefully unplug and replug this cable in on both ends. The last three Saturn's I've worked on had this cable loose - hadn't seen this problem up until now, but it resolved lockup and loading problems. Something easy to check at least. Don't go randomly turning the laser pot before trying other things first.

opps forgot that part. also clean both ends of the ribbon just in case it isnt making good contact either

[Vagrant]

Any kind of schematics to guide me through? Never opened a Saturn before.

[InsaneDavid]

Any kind of schematics to guide me through? Never opened a Saturn before.

You're going to need to know / need to learn some technical stuff to fix video game systems on your own. First we need some details, as in what model of system do you have, Model 1 (access light) or Model 2 (round buttons).

Either way disconnect and flip the system over, remove all the screws at the bottom. Flip it over again and lift the top shell off. Now things are slightly different between models.

Model 1: there should be a small white ribbon cable that runs from the mainboard to the CD drive assembly, it will be folded twice. Unplug, clean the ends of the cable, and then reseat it.

Model 2: the ribbon cable between the mainboard and CD drive will curve up and then down. Unplug, clean the ends, and reseat it.

Reassemble the top shell, when you set it back on top make sure the CD door is open - take your time and don't force anything. Close the CD door, flip over, return the screws.

[Vagrant]

Model 2 I believe, grey round buttons, it's also a European model if that matters.

[Vagrant]

I think cleaning the ribon did the trick, thanks for the help.

[InsaneDavid]

I think cleaning the ribon did the trick, thanks for the help.

No problem at all.

[thegardentool]

Now its time for you to start playing a real classic console that was so incredibly underrated in most parts of the world. :(

[Vagrant]

Now its time for you to start playing a real classic console that was so incredibly underrated in most parts of the world. :(

oh I had one already when I was a kid, plenty of games including classics like Dragon Force or PDSaga, but then I had to sell it bah kid's stupidity