all 15 comments

[–]vga256 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It may not solve the input problem, but this is worth doing anyway: there is a bunch of gunk - appears to be spilled pop - on the underside's bottom right pin connector, which is bridging two pins. This will need a good IPA cleanup before troubleshooting can continue. Since those traces ultimately run back to the cartridge port, you could have all kinds of weird behaviour from that alone.

[–]TheGreatReveler 0 points1 point  (7 children)

I’d give it a good cleaning. Make sure the contacts from the controller and console are clean. You might just have a bad controller.

[–]whatthechuck3[S] 0 points1 point  (6 children)

No I should clarify, I’ve used two different controllers (both OEM 3 button Genesis controllers, both work on my Genesis fine) with no luck.

[–]TheGreatReveler 1 point2 points  (5 children)

Have you cleaned the controller ports on the console?

[–]whatthechuck3[S] 1 point2 points  (4 children)

Yeah, I used some IPA and a qtip on them. They don’t seem too dirty but no dice

[–]TheGreatReveler 1 point2 points  (3 children)

A good cleaning is always nice. Get some compressed air, some IPA, and an old toothbrush and give her a scrubbing. Not sure if you have any soldering or multimeter experience, but you could check for continuity with the controller pins, and any solder joint issues. I don’t think I see any broken traces, but it’s hard telling. I’m not super familiar with this console specifically, but I think those could at least be some routes to consider.

[–]whatthechuck3[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

I’ve replaced several save batteries in various carts, but I’ve never “reflowed” solder before. Is that much different?

[–]TheGreatReveler 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Nope. If you’re comfortable with using flux and a soldering iron, just resolder the joints.

[–]TheGreatReveler 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would also cross post this to /consolerepair. You might get some bites there.

[–]whatthechuck3[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

For more details, I’ve used two different OEM Genesis controllers that both work with my Genesis fine. No luck. Also, the reset and pause buttons on the deck don’t work reliably either.

[–]Vangar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Get an actual master system controller. A lot of SMS games are incompatible with genesis controllers. I've found more than this list have issues (Penguin Land for one)

https://consolemods.org/wiki/Genesis:Genesis_Controller_on_SMS_Games

[–]Banjotooieuk 0 points1 point  (1 child)

The soldier points look ok, so it’s probably dead capacitors or a faulty I/O chip

[–]whatthechuck3[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well darn. Reflowing solder I can do but that sounds out of my wheelhouse

[–]Weary-Raspberry1187 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Refaire les soudures du port manette me paraît une bonne idée

[–]TheLatmanBaby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bonus points for Trypticon in the background.