Sega Saturn - No disc error...sometimes

[Cinder6]

Okay, here's the story. My Saturn was working fine, then I did a region mod. That worked fine...or so it would seem. It works perfectly on some games, but others don't load up at all, in either region. In fact, the system doesn't even recognize there's a disc in there; I get a "No disc" message, and it refuses to even spin up.

I've tried a few different ways to get these games to work, including a Pro Action Replay, to no avail. These games did work before.

The problem showed up when I did the mod, but it also doesn't actually seem related to the mod. Has anyone heard of something like this? Anything I can do about it, or must I get a new Saturn?

Thanks in advance

[ooXxXoo]

Did you completely removed some of the jumpers?...

[InsaneDavid]

Model 1 or 2? Model 1's are horrible at this error creeping up after awhile due to that bent up ribbon cable (two folds) that runs between the CD drive board and the motherboard. If this cable comes loose you can get all kinds of strange messages from incorrect regions, games not loading up, the drive not responding, to the system spinning up and then saying there's no disc there. If it's a Model 2 then check this cable as well, in a Model 2 the cable comes up from the motherboard and curves over back down into the CD drive board.

[Cinder6]

It's a model 1. I'll check that cable now.

EDIT: Tried reconnecting it twice, to no avail. If I push down any harder on the thing while pushing the clip back down, it's going to break. I should stress that it only gives the "Drive empty" message on some games, but it does so consistently.

[shadowfire36]

what chip ???
i had that problem on one of mine
carefully look at the ribbon and make sure it has proper contact ... i had 1 where was the ribbon had a small little piece of plastic on one end that would let it make proper contact ... i just filed it off

[Cinder6]

Clip, not chip. It's the piece of plastic you're talking about. Are you saying you filed it off to get it to work, or it got filed off somehow, and that's why it didn't work? My ribbon is pretty dang snug.

[InsaneDavid]

Actually brushing a cotton swab dipped in alcohol across the connectors on each end of that ribbon may be useful as well. Don't scrub it as you would a cartridge, but do make sure it's clean. There was one particularly dirty Model 1 Saturn that passed through my hands which required that.

[Cinder6]

Tried it to no avail. The cable itself, though, has some black spots on it...