SNES Blank Screen

[Intrepid]

I grabbed a SNES at Goodwill w/2 games for $15. I don't like post-NES Nintendo so I was going to either sell it on eBay or mothball it. It was listed "tested and working" but also had an "as-is" sticker.

 

I took it home and plugged it in, hooked it up and flicked it on. All I get is a blank screen. I cleaned the games and pulled off alot of black residue, and tried again. Same problem. If I turn the deck on w/out a game in, it's still a black screen just slightly different color. Hitting Reset makes it flicker and then go back to the black screen.

 

Any ideas what would cause this on a console? Is there an "easy" fix, or should I just junk it? There is a slight rattle inside when I shake it.

 

On a similar note, where can I get the security screw-driver to open the SNES?

[Andrew]

Do you know if its the games that aren't working or the system? Check the pins on the SNES -- look at them to see if any are misshapen, bent or broken off out of place.

 

You can pick up the security screwdrivers (gamebits) at www.mcmelectronics.com. There are two sizes, a 4.5 mm gamebit and a 3.8 mm game bit which are as useful as any cleaning kit. What I recommend is getting a real soft eraser and rubbing the game contacts with that -- it will take off all the stubborn dirt on the contacts.

 

I think that they require a minumum order price of around 20 or 25 bucks ( I can't remember offhand), which if you don't reach they will charge additional handling fees. They also sell new pin connectors for the NES and SNES there as well for pretty cheap (much cheaper than what they are on eBay).

 

Sounds like a good deal for $15, which two games did you get with the system?

 

Hope this helps

 

Andrew

[Intrepid]

I got Mortal kombat II and NBA Jams. That was kind of nice, since I didn't know they were there when I went to pay for them. There was a note on the deck that said "Accessories in office" It had power, RF, 2 controllers, and the 2 games taped in a bundle.

 

I'm going to have my girlfriend bring over 1 of her SNES games to see if it's the system or the games I bought.

[Intrepid]

Well, it's definately the system because my girlfriends copy of Super Mario World shows the same blank screen.

 

Though now I'm sure that it is definately the deck, most likely the connectors. When I jiggled the cart while the power was on, a jumpled pixelated screen came up briefly, and then went back to black. It did this twice. Seems to me that it's most likely the connector.

 

Thanks alot for the link, it was the one I needed.