My first SNES from childhood is dead, please help me fix it!

[Jagasian]

Ok, I have several SNES and SFC consoles, but my very first SNES that I bought when I was a kid by trading in tons of used NES games and hardware to Funcoland way, way back when the SNES was first released... its dead. Here is what I know so far. The red LED comes on when powered up. The fuse is OK, as I opened up my SNES and tested the fuse. When I put a game in the SNES and power it up, no image is displayed and no sound plays.

I would really like to fix this SNES because it was my first. Am I the only one that gets an attachment to a particular console or game because it was my first, as opposed to something I recently bought on Ebay? My "first" units of other things are equally treasured, as they have horrid battle scars inflicted during my childhood. Simply replacing these units would be like replacing a pet with another of the same breed.

[mgriff]

did you ever here on the trick, after you insert the cartridge, pull up on it a little or something of the sort. I can't really explain it

[Jagasian]

did you ever here on the trick, after you insert the cartridge, pull up on it a little or something of the sort. I can't really explain it

Yeah, I have a friend whose SNES can be made to work like that. I will give that a try, as I don't remember trying that with my SNES.

[SkiDragon]

Yeah, it might just need a good cleaning.

[stuffedmonkey]

Yeah - that might work. Clean the hell out of it, and the game you are using. Dirty sneses don't blink like a dirty nintendo does, they just display nothing.

[Jagasian]

I opened up my SNES and cleaned it. I even removed the connector and cleaned the hell out of it, and then I cleaned the part of the connector that is soldered to the circuit board. Then I cleaned everything again. I also used a game that has like-new connectors, and yet I still couldn't get anything more than a black screen. There is a difference between when my SNES is turned on with no cart and when it is turned on with a cart. But still no game playing :(

I won't throw it out. Eventually when I get a few dead SNES's, I will mix and match parts until I figure out which parts are broken. BTW, does anybody sell a replacement/new SNES cart connector? I figure they can get worn out just like the NES connector.

[§ Gideon §]

How meticulously have you troubleshot this? You probably have a continuity tester because you tested the fuse; I would use this over a whole bunch of points and see if anything interesting happens... If you find anything, a specialist like MrKitt (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=39162) might be able to help.

You should also try using the multi-out (or whatever connector you're using) with a working system, provided you haven't already... but that's obvious (or, at least, should be; you never know, I guess) LOL.


BTW, does anybody sell a replacement/new SNES cart connector?
I have never seen this, but...

I figure they can get worn out just like the NES connector.
... it's probably because I've never seen one of these, either. :)

[SuperShark]

Jagasian, I am no SNES expert, in fact, I don't even have this system, but I just had to tell you that you are not alone in sharing that special connection, or intimat bond, with your first game system, particuarly one that you got really young in your childhood. I, for example, have about 20 Sega Genesis systems, of all 4 models (1.0-3), but I share a special bond with the first 2 that I ever got. The first for getting it when I was so young that I can hardly remember it, and the second for who I got it from, when I got it, and what I got with it, my very first Sega CD, a model II! Oh you get such great memories and bonds with those systems, you and I do at least. I wish you the absolute best of luck in fixing your beloved childhood first SuperNintendo. Best of luck Jagasian. Go and fix it! Game ON!

[Bratwurst]

BTW, does anybody sell a replacement/new SNES cart connector? I figure they can get worn out just like the NES connector.

MCM Electronics part # 83-3150 , 10.50 a pop though.

[Jagasian]

BTW, does anybody sell a replacement/new SNES cart connector? I figure they can get worn out just like the NES connector.

MCM Electronics part # 83-3150 , 10.50 a pop though.

I will probably pick up a few, just in case, but has anybody replaced their SNES pin connector? Does it ever help? I also heard you could get replacement rubber pads for NES and SNES controllers from MCM, but I can't find them. Got any part numbers for those?

[Bratwurst]

I will probably pick up a few, just in case, but has anybody replaced their SNES pin connector? Does it ever help? I also heard you could get replacement rubber pads for NES and SNES controllers from MCM, but I can't find them. Got any part numbers for those?

I don't think they have those anymore, I remember seeing them quite a while ago. I don't memorize part numbers myself, I just have a vague recollection of who sells what and go back poking through the search engine when I want to find something.

[MrKitt]

as someone so nicely said that you might wanna use the AV also to check for signal failure from the RF box but if you ask me you either have a busted stabalizer circuit or a badly working 7805 ic chip thats where i would start.

also check so the soundboard is pluged in good cause if its not most games hang directly and you only get a black picture. (not all snes have a separete module some have a built in one)

also about the sound check that all capacitors that are surface mounted are'nt missaligned so they miss the spots like... -[]/ - <-- a pic of a cap that is missaligned :)

[Jagasian]

as someone so nicely said that you might wanna use the AV also to check for signal failure from the RF box but if you ask me you either have a busted stabalizer circuit or a badly working 7805 ic chip thats where i would start.

also check so the soundboard is pluged in good cause if its not most games hang directly and you only get a black picture. (not all snes have a separete module some have a built in one)

also about the sound check that all capacitors that are surface mounted are'nt missaligned so they miss the spots like... -[]/ - <-- a pic of a cap that is missaligned :)

Yeah, my childhood SNES is the original design, with the separate sound board. I never thought that it would be a problem. A few times, I was able to get garbled graphics to display, but they weren't animated, so I am not sure what that means. On a dirty NES, you can get games to run with garbled graphics, but you the garbled mess at least animates. Not the case here.

[MrKitt]

garbage gfx often indicate of a busted sram chips but in this case i double that is the issue as you dont even get sound. try replacing the 7805 with a freshone and bypassing the fuse with a bit of wire

[Slate]

garbage gfx often indicate of a busted sram chips but in this case i double that is the issue as you dont even get sound. try replacing the 7805 with a freshone and bypassing the fuse with a bit of wire

Whoa- before you do that..

Try testing the Fuse both ways. (Positive on one side of the fuse, negative on the other, and vice versa with + & -)

[Jagasian]

garbage gfx often indicate of a busted sram chips but in this case i double that is the issue as you dont even get sound. try replacing the 7805 with a freshone and bypassing the fuse with a bit of wire

Whoa- before you do that..

Try testing the Fuse both ways. (Positive on one side of the fuse, negative on the other, and vice versa with + & -)

The fuse was tested both ways already. No problem with the fuse. I will try the other suggestions when I get some time.

[alec006]

I know this topic is burried but there is a 62 pin snes connector

http://search.ebay.com/snes-connector_W0QQfrppZ50QQfsopZ1QQmaxrecordsreturnedZ 300

Hope you can fix your system.

[Jagasian]

I know this topic is burried but there is a 62 pin snes connector

http://search.ebay.com/snes-connector_W0QQfrppZ50QQfsopZ1QQmaxrecordsreturnedZ 300

Hope you can fix your system.

Yeah, I saw these. I plan on picking up some of them next month. I will tell you all how it goes.