Can you figure out what's wrong with my n64?

thewise1 · Post by **thewise1** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:25 am

I've got a clear blue plastic n64, however it's like half broken.

It used to hardly work, then I took it apart and clean out the console of dust and such, now it works half the time.

I leave the console unplugged, I took it apart to plan my portable. I was thinking of getting a new n64 since this one is so unstable. Anyway I leave it unplugged then later I test it out every so often to try to figure out what it is that isn't working.

Anyway here's what happens:

I pop in the cords then the game and boot it up. It works the first time, then I test it with a different game, it doesn't work now, I try another game and it still doesn't work. Then I unplug it. Then later I try again with a different game and it works. Then I try another game and it stops again.

I've done this with all my games at one point or another, so I don't think it's the games. I've tried pretty much anything I can think of. Sometimes the game will boot up after the first one but very rarely.

I would love to get this to work normally, I don't want to waste $20 on a new n64 if I could just fix this one. It's hard for me to earn money.

So any ideas on what's wrong with it, or how to fix it?

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 4:43 am

Might be that if you clean the pins in the game cart slot port it helps. Over time the pins can get slightly corroded / gunked up and not make reliable contact, so when you pop in a game it doesn't work on certain pins. Some games only use some of the pins in the cartridge, some use far more.

Wrap a piece of cardboard (not thick) made a similar size to the length of the pins in the cart slot, in a piece of cloth (eg old T shirt or similar) and insert/remove in the slot a few times, to see if that helps to clean up the pins enough.

If the contacts on the traces of your game carts look dull or a bit brown, open them up and use a pencil eraser to rub them clean back to the shiny traces - as with pins, they can get gunked up over time.

Then try your system again.

Twilight Wolf · Post by **Twilight Wolf** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 4:46 am

Our N64 had bizarre problems until I cleaned the cartridges and cartridge slot, so I'd give that a try. Personally, though, I use Windex to clean the cartridge/cartridge slot contacts. Does a good job of de-gunkifying everything and evaporates quickly, so there's no risk of further corrosion.

thewise1 · Post by **thewise1** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:02 pm

Awesome help guys I cleaned the n64 slot and it almost always works, then I figured out that the contacts don't always make contact with the board, go figure. Anyway I got a head start on my portable and wired the cartridge slot and now it's hard to find a time when it doesn't work.

themadhacker · Post by **themadhacker** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:27 am

Twilight Wolf wrote:Our N64 had bizarre problems until I cleaned the cartridges and cartridge slot, so I'd give that a try. Personally, though, I use Windex to clean the cartridge/cartridge slot contacts. Does a good job of de-gunkifying everything and evaporates quickly, so there's no risk of further corrosion.

no! don't use windex! I will make the copper contacts corrode.