Strange N64 Video Problems
So before I remember my N64 working fine in the past sometimes with slight visual bugs that'd go away, but this time I hooked it up I got no signal at all. I cleaned all my games, the game slot, the jumper pack, the jumper pack slot, not a signal. I knew it was most likely neither the games nor the jumper pack since my gameshark would count down.
After goofing around with it for a while, I found out that if I unplug the AV cable, start the system, wait a few seconds, and plug it back in, I'd get some picture. Here's it on SM64.
And if I waited longer I could get further in the game, up until when I walk in the castle door, which would cut the signal no matter what.
A similar thing happened with Yoshi's Story, where it'd show the title screen until I pressed start, then it'd drop the signal. However I wasn't able to capture it happening today for some reason.
Same thing also happens with the game shark, where it cuts signal if I start the game.
However I could not get a signal from Zelda OoT no matter how much I tried.
What I know:
It's not the AV cables, they work perfect on my SNES
It's most likely not the games, it'd be unlikely for all of my games to break in the same way all at once
It's likely not the jumper pack, as I've read problems with the jumper pack causes games not to boot
It's probably not the cartridge slot, as I don't think it'd cause breaking video with fine gameplay.
I ordered some game bits and they're in the mail right now, when I get them I'll check for things inside. Also it'd be cool if someone can tell me what they think it could be and where to check for it.
After goofing around with it for a while, I found out that if I unplug the AV cable, start the system, wait a few seconds, and plug it back in, I'd get some picture. Here's it on SM64.
And if I waited longer I could get further in the game, up until when I walk in the castle door, which would cut the signal no matter what.
A similar thing happened with Yoshi's Story, where it'd show the title screen until I pressed start, then it'd drop the signal. However I wasn't able to capture it happening today for some reason.
Same thing also happens with the game shark, where it cuts signal if I start the game.
However I could not get a signal from Zelda OoT no matter how much I tried.
What I know:
It's not the AV cables, they work perfect on my SNES
It's most likely not the games, it'd be unlikely for all of my games to break in the same way all at once
It's likely not the jumper pack, as I've read problems with the jumper pack causes games not to boot
It's probably not the cartridge slot, as I don't think it'd cause breaking video with fine gameplay.
I ordered some game bits and they're in the mail right now, when I get them I'll check for things inside. Also it'd be cool if someone can tell me what they think it could be and where to check for it.
Comments
make sure your expantion or jumper pak is oem first party, those cheap ones can cause strange issues.
also i know you dont want to hear this but take it apart. remove the heat sinks, and clean the legs of all the chips really good, be very liberal with the alcohal, same with the expansion slot, use compresed air to blow as much alcohal out as possible. allow to dry for 1 full day. reassemble and try again. (before taking apart the board be sure to examine everything)
but ill bet a 3 dollar svideo cable will allow you to use this system fine if thats all your after. if your looking to resell it most people are going to want comp out.
the yellow areas in this picture are the areas ive cleaned to fix dozens of "junk" n64 consoles.
good luck
Neither of my TVs have an s video port so getting an s video plug wouldn't make too much sense for me.
My jumper pack is OEM.
When my game bits arrive in the mail I'll open it up and clean it really good. Also do you have any tips on what to apply the alcohol to? Will Q tips be fine?
I don't think it's the power supply but I will test it if all else fails, never know. Better safe than sorry.
I'll update when I've tried more.
Also something I noticed when taking it apart is that some screws were missing, which makes me think someone else has been in it before.
Also the cartridge tray was jungle green for some reason, is this common or do you think it was refurbished? https://i.imgur.com/8xip0tp.jpg
I'll just most likely buy a replacement console if I can't get this working, not a huge deal.
So before I remember my N64 working fine in the past sometimes with slight visual bugs that'd go away, but this time I hooked it up I got no signal at all. I cleaned all my games, the game slot, the jumper pack, the jumper pack slot, not a signal. I knew it was most likely neither the games nor the jumper pack since my gameshark would count down.
After goofing around with it for a while, I found out that if I unplug the AV cable, start the system, wait a few seconds, and plug it back in, I'd get some picture. Here's it on SM64.
And if I waited longer I could get further in the game, up until when I walk in the castle door, which would cut the signal no matter what.
A similar thing happened with Yoshi's Story, where it'd show the title screen until I pressed start, then it'd drop the signal. However I wasn't able to capture it happening today for some reason.
Same thing also happens with the game shark, where it cuts signal if I start the game.
However I could not get a signal from Zelda OoT no matter how much I tried.
What I know:
It's not the AV cables, they work perfect on my SNES
It's most likely not the games, it'd be unlikely for all of my games to break in the same way all at once
It's likely not the jumper pack, as I've read problems with the jumper pack causes games not to boot
It's probably not the cartridge slot, as I don't think it'd cause breaking video with fine gameplay.
I ordered some game bits and they're in the mail right now, when I get them I'll check for things inside. Also it'd be cool if someone can tell me what they think it could be and where to check for it.
clean the multi out pins with a qtip and alcohol. if that doesn't fix it it could be the power supply or a bad cap inside.
ive had an n64 with weird video issues. after i cleaned the connections it worked fine for me afterwards.
I tried cleaning them but same results. I will probably hit up my local game store and see if I can test it there with their power supply and jumper, to rule out all other possibilities. If it's still broken, I'll just probably deem it junk and get another.
good idea imo. good luck!
So before I remember my N64 working fine in the past sometimes with slight visual bugs that'd go away, but this time I hooked it up I got no signal at all. I cleaned all my games, the game slot, the jumper pack, the jumper pack slot, not a signal. I knew it was most likely neither the games nor the jumper pack since my gameshark would count down.
After goofing around with it for a while, I found out that if I unplug the AV cable, start the system, wait a few seconds, and plug it back in, I'd get some picture. Here's it on SM64.
And if I waited longer I could get further in the game, up until when I walk in the castle door, which would cut the signal no matter what.
A similar thing happened with Yoshi's Story, where it'd show the title screen until I pressed start, then it'd drop the signal. However I wasn't able to capture it happening today for some reason.
Same thing also happens with the game shark, where it cuts signal if I start the game.
However I could not get a signal from Zelda OoT no matter how much I tried.
What I know:
It's not the AV cables, they work perfect on my SNES
It's most likely not the games, it'd be unlikely for all of my games to break in the same way all at once
It's likely not the jumper pack, as I've read problems with the jumper pack causes games not to boot
It's probably not the cartridge slot, as I don't think it'd cause breaking video with fine gameplay.
I ordered some game bits and they're in the mail right now, when I get them I'll check for things inside. Also it'd be cool if someone can tell me what they think it could be and where to check for it.
A lot of early SNES systems (with modular sound processor and cartridge locking mechanism) have a very similar issue.