N64 cartridge not working, HELP!

17daysolderthannes · Post by **17daysolderthannes** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 8:59 pm

I bought a used copy of Automobili Lamborghini off of Amazon (in other words, used N64 game) but I'm having some problems. First off all, the system would not even boot at first, it even took me a few tries to get other games to work after inserting it, meaning the pins probably needed more cleaning (I always clean my games before trying them).

Well, it still didn't work so I used my security bit and opened up the cartridge. The board looked OK but the metal case surrounding the chip had black marks where it contacted the cartridge port. Is the metal case around the chip used for cartridge detection since it contacts the cartridge port on the sides? At any rate, I tried to clean that to no avail so I used an emery board (popsicle looking piece of sand paper for fingernails) and sanded them down slightly until they shined.

When I put the cartridge back together it seemed to work for a second but then the sound suddenly glitched BAD and when I tried to go to a race, it just crashed completely.

Should I try to also sand the pins? could 1 or 2 dirty pins cause sudden sound glitches and crashes going into the race? I got a little bit of rubbing alcohol on the chip by accident but I let it dry, could that cause damage? it wasn't much, just a tiny bit on the back side where the soldered pins stick through, just enough that it seemed to take some varnish off. I was told by an electrical engineer on this forum that he recovered a computer board by SOAKING it in rubbing alcohol, so I imagine a tiny bit on the board shouldn't hurt it, or so I would imagine.

Please offer me any insight or assistance you can, I didn't think N64 games had the reliability issues of NES games, I really don't want to have to try to send it back because I know its going to cost more money than its worth, and I don't want to have to buy another copy either. Also, I don't want to damage my N64 because I've had it since it was new and it's in immaculate condition.

jeroen · Post by **jeroen** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 12:59 am

Well if you really let it dry before turning on no problem. If you didn't........you might have just fried your cart.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 2:52 am

It hadn't worked when you got it, screw it up again and send it back for a replacement. The cart was probably dead anyway. It can happen, the carts are old after all, solder joints might have lost integrity.

May I suggest e-bay? Far cheaper than other sources.

The only other reason for a problem is at the console end. A lot of N64 carts only use a small number of contact pins available to connect to the N64 console; some other games use more - if a connector on the console is faulty, some games may not work on that console but work on another. I had this on one of my N64's - not much you can do about this.

17daysolderthannes · Post by **17daysolderthannes** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:03 pm

I got it to work, I used the emery board on the pins and cleaned the grit/copper off with a q-tip and it worked. Sometimes pins just get junk so deeply embedded the only way to get it off is to sand it with a fine grit sandpaper. It's OK though, as long as you take care of it you only have to do it once. At least I don't have to go through all the bullshirt of returning it now

.

Also, mind you, N64 carts aren't old at all compared to Ataris and Pong systems that still work, Solder will probably outlast the plastic the system is made out of. If an N64 cart slot isn't reading well, it probably either has bent pins that need straightening (difficult, but also unlikely) or just needs a good cleaning. Beyond a cleaning kit I don't know what could be used except for maybe a thin lint-free cloth and a thin butter knife to push it into the slot. That's why I try to keep my games clean so I don't have to mess with the slot.