Help with Diagnosing/Fixing a Super Mariokart cartridge?

macorymacory
in Help Wanted!
Hello everyone,



I would really appreciate it if anyone is able to shed some light on this topic. I have had a Super Mariokart cartridge for about 20 years, and it has been broken for almost that long. Worked fine for a bit as a kid, now all it does is show a black screen and does not boot. Actually lent it to a friend back in the day, played it there and then got a call when I made it home that the game would not start. 



I have taken the game to a few resellers who also work on broken games and no one has been able to figure it out. I will attach some photos of the board. I gave up on it years ago but recently opened it up again and noticed something.



Would the little trace spot to the left of the '25' be the cause? The pins and board are pretty clean. If that is or is not causing issues, how would one fix it? Thanks in advance for looking; I would love to figure out how to play this again, and the people here would know better than anyone.

Comments

  • IchinisanIchinisan
    Do you have a multimeter?
  • RetroRewiredRetroRewired
    If you absolutely have no equipment at all, get a piece of wire, trim the ends and scotch tape it real tight like this and try to boot it. I can't think of anything better at the moment, will probably work  



    image
  • Sign Collector GuySign Collector Guy
    Check continuity on that trace with a meter. Could be looking at a bad chip on the board and could replace with a donor. Also head here on facebook. Join and make a post. Buddy of mine. Has fixed carts for me and people I have sent his way. Good luck.



    https://www.facebook.com/groups/193924881096119/
  • MrPete1985MrPete1985
    It's possible that pin 24 has a damaged trace but I have seen worse that still have connectivity. If you are in the US and don't mind paying for return shipping I'll see if I can fix it for you, you can check out my YouTube channel to see some of my past repairs.



    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1_DqOvObL0K0xUmvQR7lQ?view_as=subscriber
  • macorymacory
    Wow, thank you all for the quick replies. I'm from Canada, MrPete, and I do not have a multimeter. I may know someone who does, so this is a great start. I will check with him this weekend and hopefully figure this out after so long haha. I will check back in with you and post the results. Also just wondering if anyone noticed anything else that may be an issue as the board almost looks new. Sign Collector Guy, which chip were you thinking exactly? Thanks again everyone.
  • MrPete1985MrPete1985
    Just sent you a PM I can work with Canada. Not sure if the cost of shipping is worth it to you though
  • RetroRewiredRetroRewired
    Note that I was mostly joking, but you can get a continuity tester at the dollar store or Walmart (also in $1 range) and know immediately if that's the specific issue.
  • QuintenQuinten
    I have an old Zelda cart that won't boot either never messed with it much but might try or reach out to those who can with the promise of beer money to fix
  • macorymacory
    Just want to update you all,



    I took it to a friend's and had every pin tested with a multimeter, and they all have continuity. He doesn't really work on games but he said soldering pin 24 wouldn't be a problem for him, but it seems fine.



    Almost gave up but then he checked the resistors and (I'm not sure of the range but the C3 is reading 81 while the identical C4 on top reads 3, as with the other identically coloured resistors .. anyone know if that's normal or where to go next?
  • MrPete1985MrPete1985
    Those components marked with a C on the board are capacitors not resistors. Did you friend check for a short to ground? Would be the far left and far right pins on the connector
  • macorymacory
    Hey guys sorry for the lack of reply, Mr. Pete we tried that and don't believe it was shorted; we also don't know the correct values that are supposed to read though. Is there any way to know if it's a chip at this point? Or is there any more of process of elimination? Thanks again and especially for your patience.
  • MrPete1985MrPete1985
    At this point it could be any of the chips and you have to test them one by one.



    Quinten sent me his zelda cart and I was able to fix it. The MMC1 chip had died, first I removed the mask rom and dumped it and it was fine. Next pulled the SRAM and checked that and it was fine.



    Finally pulled a MMC1 from a spare board I had and it fired right up
  • QuintenQuinten
    Much thanks to MrPete for his help. Great communication and quick turn around had me playing Zelda in no time! Tx again!
Sign In or Register to comment.