Jaguar - Powers on, no picture.

[jenovi]

I recently picked up a Jaguar that powers on, but i get no picture out. I've tested this via the AV port with a scart cable, and with the RF adapter that came with the system. I've opened it up don't see any visible damage outside of some corrosion on the RF box inside the system. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

[+Stephen Moss]

Do you get audio?

If so, are you getting a single roar (Red Screen of Death) or the tumbling letter sound?

 

That would at least indicate if the Jaguar Bios is operating.

[jenovi]

I get nothing. No flicker, no sounds, nothing beside the Red light on the console indication that it's on.

[Elizabeth1701]

I had one in my closet for a few years I thought was dead, figure I'd get it fixed one day. Well I don't recall if I was getting the red screen or just a blank screen. Even though everything looked good. Contacts looked fine but for some reason I decided to clean them anyways. The board connector and the carts. To my surprise the dang thing started working, I still have to get a controller.

 

What I use on those contact and boards to clean is 95+% Alcohol and/or Lacquer Thinner. It what we used at Aerospace job where I built mostly Power Supplies. Alcohol can leave a film but the Lacquer works great for the contacts with a wet Q-tip, a wet pipe cleaner works well getting in connector slots. Don't get the Lacquer thinner on the plastic etc. Tends to dry it and leave it looking dull, also will remove lettering and things.

 

Unless you already did, would inspect the Caps and clean off that corrosion.

[rayik]

Stupid question - but do you have a cartridge inserted? No cart gives black screen when powered up

[+Stephen Moss]

@ rayik, the Jaguar should not power up without a cartridge inserted as the ground power connection is routed via the cartridge.

 

@ jenovi,

if this is your first Jaguar try inserting the cartridge with two hands, sometimes using one can result in the cartridge going in slightly lopsided resulting in not all connections being made. Also make sure you insert it far enough, there should be s slight bump as it goes past friction a point.

If that does not work and you have not already done so try cleaning the cartridge connections with a Q-tip/cotton bud and the cartridge connector of the Jag - most people recommend vertically inserting and removing a credit card with something cotton like a t-shirt wrapped around it. For a cleaning fluid I would suggest Isopropanol (Isopropanol Alcohol) or something similar that will evaporate.

 

If neither of the above resolve the issue you could have a big problem as you are not getting either video or sound, even a bad cart should result in the Red Screen of Death (RSoD), so either the cart is passing the checksum and there is a problem after that as the Bios is not displaying either the Boot screen or the RSoD or there is just enough power to light the LED but not to run the system. Try measuring the input and output voltages of the two regulator, I think all the Jaguars IC's are surface mount but if any (probably the BIOS chip) are socketed try and pressing down on them to make sure that are correctly seated in their sockets.

[RREDDWARFF]

On 8/3/2016 at 1:12 AM, Stephen Moss said:

@ rayik, the Jaguar should not power up without a cartridge inserted as the ground power connection is routed via the cartridge.

 

@ jenovi,

if this is your first Jaguar try inserting the cartridge with two hands, sometimes using one can result in the cartridge going in slightly lopsided resulting in not all connections being made. Also make sure you insert it far enough, there should be s slight bump as it goes past friction a point.

If that does not work and you have not already done so try cleaning the cartridge connections with a Q-tip/cotton bud and the cartridge connector of the Jag - most people recommend vertically inserting and removing a credit card with something cotton like a t-shirt wrapped around it. For a cleaning fluid I would suggest Isopropanol (Isopropanol Alcohol) or something similar that will evaporate.

 

If neither of the above resolve the issue you could have a big problem as you are not getting either video or sound, even a bad cart should result in the Red Screen of Death (RSoD), so either the cart is passing the checksum and there is a problem after that as the Bios is not displaying either the Boot screen or the RSoD or there is just enough power to light the LED but not to run the system. Try measuring the input and output voltages of the two regulator, I think all the Jaguars IC's are surface mount but if any (probably the BIOS chip) are socketed try and pressing down on them to make sure that are correctly seated in their sockets.

I'm aware that this is an old article, but I'm having a similar problem. I was hoping you could help me. I received a Jaguar I purchased online a day ago. When I turn on the system, with a cart inside, I usually get a black screen. When I power it off after reinserting the cart I usually get the same results or a black screen with sound, or sometimes it works. I also noticed that if I get a black screen with no sound. If I turn it off and on again without touching the cart I will get another black screen, a black screen with sound, or the game will play normally. Sometimes I get both audio and video, but the video at the startup screen, with the "Jaguar" logo, but the logo is superimposed and does not fit on the screen or it is smooched, but the game starts up and plays normal after this screen. I cleaned my cart slot as well as the carts themselves with alcohol. Any ideas whats going on with it? Thanks.