Corroded Pitfall 2: Can It Be Saved?

[Ianr757]

Hi all, I just recently picked up a copy of Pitfall 2 that has seen better days. After extensive cleaning with alcohol, the game still doesn't work. Based on the pictures, does it look like there's any hope? Thanks!

[ColecoJoe]

Hard to say. Some of those traces look like they are missing some copper.

 

Try this stuff before you give up.

 

https://amzn.to/2SyF1Wg

 

[+jsmith73]

Might be salvageable. 

 

Depends on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go.

 

With just the pictures to go by there's every chance that the copper has corroded away underneath the conformal coating. The bubbles you are seeing are a dead giveaway of corrosion damage.

 

If you are feeling brave, you can gently scrape away that coating to get a good look at the traces. You might be able to get away with flowing solder along then to jump any missing spots if they're not too large. You might also desolder, remove and then re solder the DIP.

 

Give the deoxit a try first.

 

Edited February 9, 2020 by jsmith73
Additional step

[Ianr757]

Thanks all, I just ordered some of the deoxit and will get back to you when I try it out. Still open to other opinions as well, thanks!

[Ikrananka]

You could also test continuity of the traces using say a multimeter.  That way you'll at least know if any traces are damaged.  Also, reflowing the solder at the pins of the ROM might be necessary, but in itself could cause more damage from the heat on the corroded surface of the board.

[Ianr757]

Update: the deoxit didn't help out unfortunately, so I'll turn to some of the alternate suggestions you guys have mentioned. Thanks for the help!

[MrPix]

I’m making a new batch of those PCBs in about a month. If you’re still stuck drop me a PM and I’ll mail you one. 

[Ianr757]

6 minutes ago, MrPix said:

I’m making a new batch of those PCBs in about a month. If you’re still stuck drop me a PM and I’ll mail you one. 

Hmm, that might just work, thanks! I'll admit ignorance here, but would that mean that I would just pull off the DIP and solder it onto the new PCB?

[MrPix]

17 hours ago, Ianr757 said:

Hmm, that might just work, thanks! I'll admit ignorance here, but would that mean that I would just pull off the DIP and solder it onto the new PCB?

Yes, or you could send it to me and I could do it for you. That way, if the ROM is bad too I could burn you an EPROM.