At wits end, Help me fix this NES.

[Schiggidyd]

I got this for-parts console online, I am very familiar with fixing NES problems usually.
I've fixed many! But this one, I can't figure out.

All I'm getting is a purple screen, and before any one asks, yes, I did clean my games. They are hand-polished spotless and work in my primary NES.
I have tried re-bending the connector pins, using the Eliminator cleaning cartridge for hours, and even polishing those pins, as well as the connection to the motherboard.

Still nothing but a purple screen. I disabled the lockout, purple screen.

So I figure, alright, the connector should be swapped out. So I tried three total connectors, and none of them worked. All three connectors got the same treatment. Pin-bending and cleaning, which always does the trick. PURPLE SCREEN!

I'm just so frustrated at this point, I've never had a NES I couldn't fix!
It seems like it's pointing to a problem which doesn't involve the connector. Is there any thing on the motherboard I should look for which would cause these purple screens?
Please give me some suggestions!

[wiggyx]

Probably a victim of one too many Dr Papper baths care of grubby little 8-year olds circa 1989.

But seriously, I've have NES and SNES systems take a crap on me. They aren't always 100% fixable in my experience (I've fixed quite a few as well ;) )

[ApolloBoy]

Have you checked out the motherboard for any bad traces?

[CRTGAMER]

Is there any thing on the motherboard I should look for which would cause these purple screens?
Please give me some suggestions!
NES Capacitor Replacement - http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=475289#p475289

[Schiggidyd]

Ah thanks for the tips! I didn't realize a capacitor could cause failed bootups. I always figured they wouldn't turn on at all with a failing capacitor. Now if only I had a soldering gun.

[ApolloBoy]

Ah thanks for the tips! I didn't realize a capacitor could cause failed bootups. I always figured they wouldn't turn on at all with a failing capacitor. Now if only I had a soldering gun.
You need a soldering iron, not a soldering gun. Soldering guns are too big and put out too much heat for electronics.

[Schiggidyd]

So I'm new to this, but did some research and watched videos. I see a pretty bad looking part of the board, and attempted to solder. It seems like the soldering iron I'm using is too weak, it's a 40W, and doesn't seem to transfer enough heat to cleanly melt the solder onto the contacts. I can only melt the solder with direct contact with the iron.

Upgrade the wattage?

[Schiggidyd]

I just soldered for the first time in my life, and actually think I did a decent job. I am proud of myself, I was able to get a picture and play games when the cartridges were inserted at a very specific angle. Sadly, it looks like the sound is busted now!!! I may have ruined it my self, but the fact that I was able to replace the capacitor was a huge deal to me!

[ApolloBoy]

I just soldered for the first time in my life, and actually think I did a decent job. I am proud of myself, I was able to get a picture and play games when the cartridges were inserted at a very specific angle. Sadly, it looks like the sound is busted now!!! I may have ruined it my self, but the fact that I was able to replace the capacitor was a huge deal to me!
There might be some more dead capacitors in the RF/AV box or on the motherboard itself. I've heard of at least one instance where bad audio was fixed by replacing one of the smaller caps on the motherboard, I forgot which one however.

[Schiggidyd]

I'm wondering if I screwed it up myself. I have video working excellently now after pin-bending the connector. I kind of went crazy with the soldering because it was my first time and practically made a mess on the board. It's amazing how I even got it working at all. I also bridged three bad looking connections before replacing the capacitor. I don't know if this was necessary at all, maybe I should cut them off and see if it still works..

It's not a huge deal if I can't fix it fully, this is purely for experience.

Edit: Using an RF adapter, sound works! I must have screwed up one of the connections near the capacitor.
It is now a working console! So damn happy I was able to do that!

[Compute]

Congratulations on your first soldering project! Learning how to solder is all about knowing how to make it "flow," that is, get both sides hot enough to allow the solder to form the intermetallic bond. Once you get a feel for it you'll be unstoppable.

[jb143]

So I'm new to this, but did some research and watched videos. I see a pretty bad looking part of the board, and attempted to solder. It seems like the soldering iron I'm using is too weak, it's a 40W, and doesn't seem to transfer enough heat to cleanly melt the solder onto the contacts. I can only melt the solder with direct contact with the iron.

Upgrade the wattage?

Keep practicing and you'll get better. If you find that soldering is something you end up doing a lot of, then it might be a good idea to upgrade. Otherwise, 40W should be fine for the light soldering work required in occasional board work...as long as you're not using lead free solder. That's going to take a higher wattage iron.

[APE992]

Keep practicing and you'll get better. If you find that soldering is something you end up doing a lot of, then it might be a good idea to upgrade. Otherwise, 40W should be fine for the light soldering work required in occasional board work...as long as you're not using lead free solder. That's going to take a higher wattage iron.

40w is way too high for "light" soldering work. Try 15-20w. If your iron can't pump out enough heat to melt solder and it is rated 20w you've got a bad iron.

40w is probably too little for soldering 10AWG wire for example.

[Schiggidyd]

I think the soldering iron I was using (which is at least 20 years old) worked fine, I was just not patient enough. The next project is fixing a Sega CD, I ordered some fuses, just waiting for those to come before I attempt those repairs to bring the power back. Will let you guys know! Thanks for the help!