r/game_gear • u/kalfoger • 8d ago
Doesn't turn on
I got a Game Gear, i tested it was working before buying. Also got a issue that when i turn it on it immediately turns back off and if i hold it at a very specific angle and then turn on it works fine and doesn't turn off. Then i got a flash cartridge (yesterday), it also worked, games worked fine it was nice. Today i turned on the GG again, played Sonic Spinball for a minute, then it started "rebooting", giving me artifacts on screen and then turned off and didn't turn back on. I disassembled it and noticed the "new" capacitors already there. I don't know about solder much but this looks not too good, maybe burnt. What exactly could be the problem?
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u/SonOfJaak 8d ago
Yha. That board was not cleaned. It looks like the original cap puke is still on the board doing damage. To fix this properly you need to take off the caps, clean everything, and then re re install the caps.
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u/MathematicianOverall 7d ago
If are comfortable to take the motherboard out from the shell, I'd recommend trying vinegar and an old toothbrush to clean up the gunk. Also did you solder on the replacement capacitors?
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u/kalfoger 6d ago
Nope, someone else soldered the capacitors before i even bought this GG. Don't know who and when
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u/iVirtualZero 8d ago
Order an SYF Motherboard and get it serviced for swapping the main chips over to the new motherboard.
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u/MathematicianOverall 7d ago
I honestly doubt the OP would take on that as a project. I know starting from new is a great idea but its a big project.
I purchased one of the SYF boards myself but haven't got to doing the project
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u/iVirtualZero 7d ago
It's not much of a project, you just transfer the cart slot over with the connector and the main chips. The board is already preassembled. If you have advance soldering skills, it should be simple to switch over.
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u/MathematicianOverall 7d ago
I suppose? Watching the Retrosix videos on YouTube scared me with how many ICs were dead during transferring. I wonder if the heat from hot air was too hot?
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u/iVirtualZero 6d ago
Wow really? I never had that happen? I use Low Melt Solder Paste for transferring over IC's.
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u/Grim-D 8d ago
It is indeed not too good. The blackness is hopefully just burnt flux but the solder it self looks poorly done. The issues my just be cold solder joints. Cleaning and reflowing them all would be the first thing I did.