Super Mario Bros. 3 that wont work.. [UPDATE]

Every so often when I'm playing Super Mario 3, AND ONLY Super Mario 3, the video occasionally drops out. This is my 3rd SMB3 cart, and none of which work, all the same problem. All of my other games work fine. Any tips?



UPDATE: I tried plugging the NES directly into the TV, instead of through the Automatic AV Switcher thing I have, and the video didn't drop. I plug it back inro the AV Switcher, and the video started going out again. It's really weird, because it's only Super Mario 3 that does that...

Comments

  • it sounds like you're having the same kind of luck that I do with every copy of Donkey Kong Classics that I pick up. I'm not sure what to tell you, but once the video drops, does the audio remain?

  • Originally posted by: jonnylentilbean



    it sounds like you're having the same kind of luck that I do with every copy of Donkey Kong Classics that I pick up. I'm not sure what to tell you, but once the video drops, does the audio remain?







    No, it goes silent.
  • To narrow it down, have you tried a different TV and/or NES system?
  • Clean the cart with weimans, and the connector too on the inside if it's old. After that if it still does it, try a new power supply possibly.

  • Originally posted by: 3GenGames



    Clean the cart with weimans, and the connector too on the inside if it's old. After that if it still does it, try a new power supply possibly.







    As part of my anti WEIMENS campain Dont Do It! This method can wear down the plating on ceramic over time. Works great on stove tops, destroys circuits. In the electronics industry  we use alchol , there are alternatives but stove top clean can clear you intire plate, if your not careful. This may work but it will dull down your pins over time.
  • Pics or it didn't happen. And man, my flintstones 2 must be rotting away then, lol.

  • Originally posted by: nes_pimp




    Originally posted by: 3GenGames



    Clean the cart with weimans, and the connector too on the inside if it's old. After that if it still does it, try a new power supply possibly.







    As part of my anti WEIMENS campain Dont Do It! This method can wear down the plating on ceramic over time. Works great on stove tops, destroys circuits. In the electronics industry  we use alchol , there are alternatives but stove top clean can clear you intire plate, if your not careful. This may work but it will dull down your pins over time.





    I agree on not using the stove top cleaner.  I use magic erasers, 91% alcohol, and CRC electronic cleaner. This works extremely well in my experience. And while the magic eraser is technically a very, very mild abrasive, it is mostly only noticeable on non-smooth surfaces, and you have to scrub a llloottttt before you get anywhere. 



    Also say no to pencil erasers, I've known them to take off plating too. Magic erasers are much more mild(and effective)

  • Originally posted by: nes_pimp




    Originally posted by: 3GenGames



    Clean the cart with weimans, and the connector too on the inside if it's old. After that if it still does it, try a new power supply possibly.







    As part of my anti WEIMENS campain Dont Do It! This method can wear down the plating on ceramic over time. Works great on stove tops, destroys circuits. In the electronics industry  we use alchol , there are alternatives but stove top clean can clear you intire plate, if your not careful. This may work but it will dull down your pins over time.





    How often are you cleaning your games?



    I clean mine once when I get it, and then after it stops working right, which hasn't happened yet.



    So the one time I clean a game with Weimans appears to be enough for my games.



    So I don't see how you could ruin a game using Weiman's


  • You should only have to clean YOUR games one time. After that you shouldn't need to do it again. Most people are past the point of loaning games and especially renting NES games. These were the main culprits that ruined systems. I personally kept all my games spotless when I was a kid, but man some of the rental games were covered in coke and I still jammed them in my NES to play them which in turn would dirty my games.

  • Originally posted by: Paul




    Originally posted by: nes_pimp




    Originally posted by: 3GenGames



    Clean the cart with weimans, and the connector too on the inside if it's old. After that if it still does it, try a new power supply possibly.







    As part of my anti WEIMENS campain Dont Do It! This method can wear down the plating on ceramic over time. Works great on stove tops, destroys circuits. In the electronics industry  we use alchol , there are alternatives but stove top clean can clear you intire plate, if your not careful. This may work but it will dull down your pins over time.





    How often are you cleaning your games?



    I clean mine once when I get it, and then after it stops working right, which hasn't happened yet.



    So the one time I clean a game with Weimans appears to be enough for my games.



    So I don't see how you could ruin a game using Weiman's

     



    I clean my games once as well and havent had to clean so of them for 10 years.

    About a year ago when I was in college for electronics I told my proffessor that I collect old video games. I asked him what would work best to clean the pins. I figured the guys been building circuits for over 30 years so I wanted his oppion. I asked about 6 different ways that I had heard about. Stove top cleaner was the worst, he told me if I used that enough it would eventually wear down the pins. Another thing you should not use that I have heard of people using is WD40, this will leave the pins  sticky and attract dust over time. I gotta go with the experienced expert, and not use these. Alchol works the best and is the safest.


  • Why would you put WD40 on the pins? Of course that's an all around terrible idea. And okay then, whatever you want to tell yourself to feel better. Still haven't shown me a game that's been worn down from weimans.



    Somebody needs a new video switcher?

  • Originally posted by: 3GenGames



    Why would you put WD40 on the pins? Of course that's an all around terrible idea. And okay then, whatever you want to tell yourself to feel better. Still haven't shown me a game that's been worn down from weimans.



    Somebody needs a new video switcher?





    You seem upset. Im not tryn to make you look dumb, Im just try'n to help people buy sharing knowledge Ive gain. And I would never use weimans becuase I dont want to where down the pins ( thats why pix dont exist). If my dentist tells me not to clean my teeth with something, I wont do it. If a doctor of electronics tells me not to clean my games with something I wont do that either.
  • I'm upset you're making people use a lesser way of cleaning their games. Weimans is the correct way, weather you like it or not. I've cleaned well over 300 games and have done both, at one point in time I used alcohol too, but I tried weimans and I'll tell you what I learned is a fact: it's better. Here's a pic, not of alcohol, because that can't even compete with weimans. You'd might as well use water in place of alcohol, lol.



    Right:Weimans. Left: Pencil Eraser. Middle pin shows how it looked before.



    http://3gengames.webs.com/Images/Random/P1010478.JPG
  • Alcohol may disintegrate the actual silicon on the PCB-- but that's if your soaking it in the stuff. Same with Weimans or any type of cleaner. It won't hurt it if you use it in moderation.



    I personally use a quick dry electronic cleaner with 800 grit gray paper (or softer... for the harder to clean contacts.)
  • Since you guys are arguing about Weiman's, I figured I'd put in my input, too.



    I clean my games with alcohol, and if they still don't work, I use weimans. I took apart a game once, and I could see the black spots from oxidation, I used some Weiman's Stove top cleaner, and it was gone. So, I think weiman's works, but I use alcohol first.
  • i think there should be a weiman vs what other cleaning products to clean those nes games!!



    It would be interested to see who would win

  • Originally posted by: NoahtheFox



    Since you guys are arguing about Weiman's, I figured I'd put in my input, too.



    I clean my games with alcohol, and if they still don't work, I use weimans. I took apart a game once, and I could see the black spots from oxidation, I used some Weiman's Stove top cleaner, and it was gone. So, I think weiman's works, but I use alcohol first.



    ^ That seems very logical... I mean, Weiman's is stronger than alcohol, so why not use it on stuff that needs more heavy duty cleaning?



    IMO, I think a good order to strongest to weakest would be:

     

    *Weimans

    *Pencil eraser

    *Electronic cleaner or Alcohol (About the same)

    *Windex

    *Umm... water? lol



    I also think that other than using it in moderation, mix and match as mentioned. If it don't need too much cleaning, use the weaker stuff. If it needs something heavy duty, then use that.



    In the end, I don't think there's any right or wrong way, just whatever suits you the best.


  • Still no proof at all that Weimans removes a lot of gold, can you show some proof of your claim? Pics or it didn't happen, for real. I don't really notice much change to the gold, some games I've cleaned a couple times and they're fine. They have their gold perfectly ion place. I don't use a whole bottle on it though or polish it, although I do use a lot of elbow grease. Can you provide some proof of it being bad to convince us once and for all without just screaming your heads off with nothing to back up your claim in any way?
  • I'm going to buy some cooktop cleaner and give it a whirl on some cheap games. I want to know what's in it, so I'll probably do either some experimenting or questioning too. One thing that I've noticed from reading a bit on the cooktop cleaners is that there seems to be claims of "protect your cooktop" which makes me think that the cooktop cleaners leave something behind. At the least, I'd want to clean the contacts again after using the cooktop cleaner to get rid of anything that might be left behind. I'll also check to see if it does anything to the PCB.



    anyway, magic erasers are just melamine foam. They're pretty chemically inert. Their biggest sin would be that it's an ever so mild abrasive. However, I think you'd have to scrub forever and ever to remove the gold plating. I've rubbed on the contacts quite a bit with one and was never able to make a dent in the gold.



    edit: also, now that I've already submitted this... I feel kind of bad. haven't we kind of gone off track? Perhaps we should have a new thread for this. 

  • Originally posted by: nonameo



    edit: also, now that I've already submitted this... I feel kind of bad. haven't we kind of gone off track? Perhaps we should have a new thread for this. 

    No crap you've gone off track, but my problem is solved now, so... Do as you like.




  • erasers? as an artist i can tell you that you can get a gum eraser, its soft and malleable and you can use it by pressing on the surface instead of rubbing
  • I've never used anything except Brasso. It makes the pins look like new. Now I'm gonna get some of my extra copies of 10 Yard Fight and experiment.

  • Originally posted by: NoahtheFox



    UPDATE: I tried plugging the NES directly into the TV, instead of through the Automatic AV Switcher thing I have, and the video didn't drop. I plug it back inro the AV Switcher, and the video started going out again. It's really weird, because it's only Super Mario 3 that does that...

    Phantom issues suck, but I'm glad you finally isolated your issue! =)


  • Spit on it and just cram it in.....I find this works on everything.

  • Originally posted by: GameBoyScotty



    Spit on it and just cram it in.....I find this works on everything.



    Sometimes ya gotta flip'r over first
Sign In or Register to comment.