Snes cartridge that almost never turns on

[captainscott]

Hey, I really love super Nintendo games, so much so that I can't even use the ROMs anymore, I just enjoy the actual console too much.

I recently bought a copy of Super Mario RPG from ebay. When it got here, it did not work right away when I put it in the console. I switched it on and off about fifty times and finally it started working.
Since then, every time I want to play the game I have to obsessively flip the switch over and over until the intro screen shows up, otherwise its just a black screen. Once it starts, it works great. Never glitches, and keeps all my saves. There's never any guarantee that it will work, and every time I try I worry this is the time that it stops forever. I feel like its getting harder, and I was wondering if this is a known problem and if maybe there's an easy fix.

I have tried other games in the console and they work fine, I have also tried the game in a different Snes, same problem. So I'm sure its the game

The only odd thing I've noticed about the game is that on the bottom of the cartridge a metal prong is missing, could that have anything to do with it?

[APE992]

I had a Super Mario RPG cart years ago that would freeze just before the first boss without fail. The extra chip used in these carts seems to make them vulnerable to failure.

[Boltorano]

My copy of the game also only has the metal part on the one side and as far as I know has been that way ever since I got it back in 96' and worked fine last I used it.

[JLukas]

There was a SMRPG in a SNES lot I purchased many years ago and it also had the same freezing problem as APE992 described, except it happening during the intro story. Cleaning the cart contacts didn't make any difference.

Yes, there's only one metal tab.

[captainscott]

If the tab isn't the problem, any idea why it doesn't start?

[APE992]

Probably has to do with the SA-1. Possible that all it needs is to have it's solder joints touched up. NOT WITH A HEATGUN.

Similar problems occur with Sega Titan boards on the slave SH-2.

[captainscott]

So, what's the best way to do that? I've avoided going into the hardware of my games for a long time because I don't want to break them. I can open it, find the chip, but then what would I do with my soldering iron? If that's even what I should use.

[APE992]

So, what's the best way to do that? I've avoided going into the hardware of my games for a long time because I don't want to break them. I can open it, find the chip, but then what would I do with my soldering iron? If that's even what I should use.

100% no offense intended, but given what you said you probably will cause some damage to the cart.

Eyeball this:


Those pins are only about 2-3mm wide and maybe 2mm apart. I've personally done just about everything conceivable to this sort of scale and until about 3 years ago I'd have destroyed this just looking at it.

If you could handle it all you'd really need to do to *just* reflow the solder is to get a 15w soldering iron (preferably adjustable to lower the temp to the absolute lowest necessary) and melt the solder on each of those 128 pins individually. If you're lucky it'll fix what hopefully would be a joint that went bad over the years.

I'd be happy to give a shot for you if you'd like. My policy has always been that if I can't help it costs nothing but return shipping.

[captainscott]

I totally understand what you mean, this is some delicate stuff.

How much do you charge for stuff like this?

[APE992]

I totally understand what you mean, this is some delicate stuff.

How much do you charge for stuff like this?

Realistically it depends on the time involved. Something like this wouldn't take long so no more than $10.

[BetaWolf47]

To captainscott, what have you done to clean the cart? Do you have a tool to open it up?

[captainscott]

I cleaned it with alcohol and a cotton swab, but I've never opened it.

I've never blown on it, but I can't speak for the previous owner.

[BetaWolf47]

Sometimes q-tips and rubbing alcohol isn't enough. You may need to open it and use an eraser on the contacts. The symptoms make it seem like it's persistent dirt or corrosion.

[APE992]

Good news everyone!

I received captainscott's Super Mario RPG cartridge today, gave it a once over and it boots up each and every time. Pop it out, pop it in, flip the switch and she lives. Played it through past the point where my old Super Mario RPG cart would freeze and it kept on going. Seems part of the problem is a solder joint somewhere, I didn't take the time to test each individual point out of the 100 or so that are on these PCBs.

Us: 1
Landfill: 0

[ownerizer]

Good news everyone!

I received captainscott's Super Mario RPG cartridge today, gave it a once over and it boots up each and every time. Pop it out, pop it in, flip the switch and she lives. Played it through past the point where my old Super Mario RPG cart would freeze and it kept on going. Seems part of the problem is a solder joint somewhere, I didn't take the time to test each individual point out of the 100 or so that are on these PCBs.

Us: 1
Landfill: 0

My hero.

[BetaWolf47]

Good news everyone!

I received captainscott's Super Mario RPG cartridge today, gave it a once over and it boots up each and every time. Pop it out, pop it in, flip the switch and she lives. Played it through past the point where my old Super Mario RPG cart would freeze and it kept on going. Seems part of the problem is a solder joint somewhere, I didn't take the time to test each individual point out of the 100 or so that are on these PCBs.

Us: 1
Landfill: 0

Glad to hear that. Super Mario RPG is a great game. I hope you can get the other one working though.

[Zing]

I'm currently playing through this game. I use the phrase literally, as there is essentially no challenge, it's purely linear, and it doesn't seem to matter which characters you use.

It's still a lot of fun, but I will end up completing it in about five play sessions.