Game Boy Color Repair

[CPFace]

The power switch on my Game Boy Color no longer functions, and it seems like my GBA SP is moving in the same direction. Can anyone recommend a fix, recommend a website with information, or recommend a repair service?

[Koopa64]

IIRC, the power switch in the GBC is surface mounted. It'd probably be a real easy fix if you can find the right kind of switch to replace it with. Just desolder the old switch (if it's what broke) and solder on the new switch. Digi-Key and Mouser deal with selling parts like that.

 

In the mean time, if you are super desperate to play your Game Boy Color, you could probably add a temporary fix like two short wires attached to the two switch solder joints to tie together to apply power. When it's time to turn off the system, you could remove one battery.

[jadedrakerider]

Digi-Key and Mouser deal with selling parts like that.

 

I'm having an issue with my gbc d-pad. If I wanted to take a stab at fixing it, what would I be looking for?

[Koopa64]

D-Pad isn't working? That's usually caused by dirt, or the rubber contact pad is wearing out. If cleaning the D-Pad, both sides of the rubber pad and the metal contacts on the board with isopropyl alcohol doesn't help, you'll probably have to get a donor GBC and raid it for parts (ones with broken screens are good candidates).

 

Somebody really needs to standardize a mod to consolize handheld systems with broken screens. That would be absolutely awesome and Game Boys with dead screens could be re-purposed.

[Blarginatorr]

Hmm, and I thought GBCs are so cheap nowadays that people wouldnt even bother to repair them.

 

But the D-Pad, you sure its not just worn out rubber pads?

Those can be replaced, or the pads can be repainted with conductive paint.

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[jadedrakerider]

Hmm, and I thought GBCs are so cheap nowadays that people wouldnt even bother to repair them.

 

But the D-Pad, you sure its not just worn out rubber pads?

Those can be replaced, or the pads can be repainted with conductive paint.

 

They are that cheap, but this one has sentimental value because it was the very first game system I bought with my own money. If I were to buy a whole new system to play these games, I'd probably buy a Gameboy Advance.

 

It may be the rubber pads. I need to get a hold of one of those special screwdrivers though. I'll have to try cleaning it out.

[Koopa64]

If you get the right size of flatblade screwdriver, you can still unscrew tri-wing screws. I've done it lots on GBA carts.

[Blarginatorr]

I actually made my own Tri-wing bit ages ago, but that was for the DMG-01 model, which are larger than the ones used in GBC->

I think the GBA carts still use the larger screws.

 

I still recommend getting a proper Tri-wing, just in case to have them opened in a safe way without accidentally mutilating any screws.

[NinjaWarrior]

How do you fix the speaker, I have the one I bought in the 90's that went out

[Koopa64]

I'm not much of a sound guy, but maybe a new replacement speaker could be located. I'm definitely not the right person to ask though, I know nothing of the tiny details and differences between (A) speaker and (B) speaker.

[CPFace]

Thanks for the help!

[gazp]

Sorry about necroposting but i have exactly the same problem: My gameboy color has a broken power switch. I want to solder a custom one on it, but unfortunately i cant find how the switch works; it has four contacts, named 1, c, 2 and 3 and i don't know which ones i should wire to the new switch and how. I haven't managed to find any tutorial on this on the internet or any schematic of the device and this is why i am ressurecting this old post, hoping that someone has done it before me and can help.

 

Thanks in advance

[Atariboy]

My lightly used backlit Game Boy Advance SP that I bought new a few years back on Black Friday also needs a new power switch.

 

Somebody really needs to standardize a mod to consolize handheld systems with broken screens. That would be absolutely awesome and Game Boys with dead screens could be re-purposed.

When there are excellent tv options for the entire Game Boy range, I suspect there will never be much movement on that end.

 

One good use if someone had an original GBA with a dead screen is as a Game Boy Player controller with the GBA to GCN link cable. A lot of these games don't play particularly well with the GameCube's button layout.

 

But no such issue with a real GBA.

 

 

How do you fix the speaker, I have the one I bought in the 90's that went out

I'm not much of a sound guy, but maybe a new replacement speaker could be located. I'm definitely not the right person to ask though, I know nothing of the tiny details and differences between (A) speaker and (B) speaker.

 

Some 90's handhelds that developed sound issues that eventually went silent did so due to failing capacitors.

 

So I'm not saying that's your issue here, but it very well just needs a few capacitors for the sound circuit replaced rather than the speaker itself.

Edited October 21, 2013 by Atariboy