N64 black screen

skinnygrinnyskinnygrinny
in Gamer's Gauntlet
Got a N64 just worked last week. Today, no go. Flicked once then solid black screen.



Swapped the same power supply, game, jumper pak and av to another n64 I have and it worked. 



Slots dirty? Any ideas? Thanks all. 



Woops suppose to be in help wanted. Oh well. 

Comments

  • Space JockeySpace Jockey
    The insides must have been very dirty to get a solid black screen, I've never seen it happen and I've had at least a dozen N64 consoles come through me. Did you try a different game? Make sure game is clean and console is clean. If you have the security bit open it up and look for any potential damage to the motherboard. I had an NES game that was squeaky clean on the pins but wouldn't work, board ended up having a strange looking burn mark over one area that probably blocked some pathways making the game unplayable.
  • skinnygrinnyskinnygrinny
    I tried 3 games they all work on the other N64 I have.



    I think it might be the jumper pak slot. I pulled out the jumper pak (ice blue n64) to test another n64 I just got and when I put the jumper pak back in the (ice blue) n64 that's when I got the black screen. I wish I would have just left the jumper pak in the (ice blue) n64
  • retrofixesretrofixes
    I have seen this many times when the Jumper slot is dirty or the Jumper pak died.

    When powering on you usually will see a flash then black or dark green screen.



    Cleaning the Jumper Slot would be ideal. Or reinserting the Jumper pak several times.



    A nice slot cleaning tool is this.



    Trim credit card to slot size.

    Trim coffee filter to fit over cut card.

    Dip in rubbing Alcohol.

    Insert into Pak/Game Slot
  • GuntzGuntz
    How can a jumper pak die? All it does is complete the expansion RAM circuit.



    If your display "flicks" once and then a black screen, it means the N64 isn't booting and isn't initializing the video output. The cartridge could be bad or dirty, the cartridge slot could be dirty, the jumper/expansion pak could be dirty or the expansion slot is dirty.
  • retrofixesretrofixes
    Originally posted by: Guntz



    How can a jumper pak die? All it does is complete the expansion RAM circuit.



    If your display "flicks" once and then a black screen, it means the N64 isn't booting and isn't initializing the video output. The cartridge could be bad or dirty, the cartridge slot could be dirty, the jumper/expansion pak could be dirty or the expansion slot is dirty.





    Well perhaps I should say the Pak is "Totalled"

    I've had a few come into the shop. Rare but they do exist. The Pak simply does not work and is clean.

    They're cheap enough that I simply grab a new tested pak and move on.



     
  • skinnygrinnyskinnygrinny
    Originally posted by: retrofixes

     
    Originally posted by: Guntz



    How can a jumper pak die? All it does is complete the expansion RAM circuit.



    If your display "flicks" once and then a black screen, it means the N64 isn't booting and isn't initializing the video output. The cartridge could be bad or dirty, the cartridge slot could be dirty, the jumper/expansion pak could be dirty or the expansion slot is dirty.





    Well perhaps I should say the Pak is "Totalled"

    I've had a few come into the shop. Rare but they do exist. The Pak simply does not work and is clean.

    They're cheap enough that I simply grab a new tested pak and move on.



    The jumper pak is good it works in other n64. 



    Is is the jumper pak port removable? Like the pin connector on an snes. Or is it soldered onto the main board. 

     
  • GuntzGuntz
    What would you need to remove it for?



    If you're worried about wrecking the pins by shoving coffee filters and paper towel in there, then try scrubbing the slot with a cartridge. Wet the jumper or expansion pak connector in alcohol, scrub the slot a few times, then dry the cartridge to clean away any dirt. You can preserve your Saturn cartridge slot this way too.
  • skinnygrinnyskinnygrinny
    Originally posted by: Guntz





    Wet the jumper or expansion pak connector in alcohol, scrub the slot a few times, then dry the cartridge to clean away any dirt. 

    I've done all that. 



    I would want to remove it because the jumper pak is good. My thought is the connection from the jumper pak to the main board is bad via the connection pin slot having a broken connection. Not just dirt. 



     
  • GuntzGuntz
    Get a lamp and a magnifying glass and inspect the jumper pak slot. I really doubt the slot is broken though. The game cartridge slot could be dirty too for all you know. Only one of the two slots has to be non-functional to prevent the entire console from not working.
  • Rookie1Rookie1
    This happens to mine too. When I first bought it I thought it was DOA. I took it apart and thoroughly cleaned everything, and it works like a champ now, however I still get that black screen every now and then for whatever reason.
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