Sears Tele-games does not read games.

[RockinRollMcDonalds]

First time poster with a dilemma here.

 

I have this nice Sears Tele-games six switch Atari 2600 complete with box that I bought a few years ago. It worked about for a year and now it gives out either a black screen or funny scrambles of lines depending what cartridge I put in. I know the power adapter works since I have tested it with two other Atari 2600s. I am not sure if I cleaned the cartridge slot of the Atari correctly or something else is the problem. Any advice?

[SlowCoder]

I took a nonworking cartridge and basically doused the contacts with 90+ alcohol. Then inserted it about 20 times into the machine. Wiped off cartridge, then repeated. Let the system sit for a while to.allow the alcohol to go bye bye, then cranked it up.

[RockinRollMcDonalds]

I took a nonworking cartridge and basically doused the contacts with 90+ alcohol. Then inserted it about 20 times into the machine. Wiped off cartridge, then repeated. Let the system sit for a while to.allow the alcohol to go bye bye, then cranked it up.

 

 

Tried it and did not solve the problem, I guessing its something else. What should I do now, I am at a lost here.

[shadowdoggie]

Try putting your TV on Channel 4 instead of 3. I just came across a Sears 6 switch that was built to only work on Channel 4. Also, try putting the cart in just a little bit - don't slide it all the way down. I had a system that would never play games if you slid them in the whole way, but worked fine if they were barely pushed in.

[RockinRollMcDonalds]

Try putting your TV on Channel 4 instead of 3. I just came across a Sears 6 switch that was built to only work on Channel 4. Also, try putting the cart in just a little bit - don't slide it all the way down. I had a system that would never play games if you slid them in the whole way, but worked fine if they were barely pushed in.

 

Tried both of your suggestions, I pretty sure it is some internal problem now and don't know where to begin to search for the problem.

[AtariLeaf]

Try putting your TV on Channel 4 instead of 3. I just came across a Sears 6 switch that was built to only work on Channel 4. Also, try putting the cart in just a little bit - don't slide it all the way down. I had a system that would never play games if you slid them in the whole way, but worked fine if they were barely pushed in.

 

Tried both of your suggestions, I pretty sure it is some internal problem now and don't know where to begin to search for the problem.

 

The chips should be socketed. Try removing them and reinserting them. If a chip isn't fried that sometimes will work.

Edited July 31, 2010 by AtariLeaf

[RockinRollMcDonalds]

I just opened the 2600 and noticed the circuit board has splotchy stains on it. Could this be water damage and does this mean its FUBAR?

Still I haven't open the large metal shielding, should I look into that too?

 

[AtariLeaf]

If its water damaged then yes it could be fubar but I'm no expert on if its repairable if that is the case. Hopefully someone else will come along to help but I would suggest better, larger and clearer pictures so others can see the board better.

[A.J. Franzman]

It doesn't do any good to post a F*in' huge image if it's out of focus (something that lots of Ebay sellers need to get through their thick skulls). It's better to be farther away and in focus, than to fill the frame with blur. You can always crop the image after you take it.

 

Anyway, that doesn't really look like water damage, as far as can be determined from that image. If it was water damaged, you'd know it on a six switcher from rusty screw heads, and possibly rusty shielding on the RF modulator. Four switchers will get rusty RF modulator shielding too, but also the main shielding.

Edited August 2, 2010 by A.J. Franzman

[RockinRollMcDonalds]

Sorry about the pictures, that what I get for using my phone's camera. This time I took the effort to find my camera and edit the size of the photos.

Besides the splotches, I don't see any other types of water damage unless it is under the shielding. I just thought it could be a possibly after looking at the owners manual with a water stain that came with it, anything could have happen to it inside the box before I bought it.

 

Since I got free time today, I guess I should open that shielding and check the damage.

[tetrode kink]

That board looks fine. Just some particulate "petina" from age, nothing that would affect operation of the console.

 

The symptoms you describe are exactly what happens when you turn on the console without a cartridge in - meaning your console now can't read the cart.

 

A good cleaning of the cart slot may just fix the problem. Past that, you might try loosening/reseating any socketed chips to freshen contact surfaces. Also look for broken/lifted solder joints on the boards. Some here have reported good results by re-heating all the solder joints, but unless you are a good solderer, that "remedy" is just asking for a cold solder joint, which would make your diagnostic adventure about a hundred times harder. Another thing to try is to swap out chips one at a time (then test the console), with known-good chips from a working console.

 

That is just a sample of the most common remedies repeated often here, off the top of my head.

 

-tet