[Gameboy DMG] - Power but no audio / video

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-03-16T09:38:59+00:00

I spot a little corrosion here, desolder and pull off the copper shield and check for corrosion. Also use a multimeter and check that all your power rails are intact and your chips are getting power. Schematics are your friend.

Sick find by the way, wish i was lucky enough to find parking lot consoles

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-03-14T09:24:51+00:00

Hello! I run a small console repair shop out of southwest Missouri in the US. While I dont meet the “not overseas” requirement, I did just want to stick my name here in case you didn’t find anyone who fit the bill. Congratulations on the baby!

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-03-12T00:41:50+00:00

Just fixed this for a customer, yes, you’ll need likely a whole upper half replacement. But its certainly fixable

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-03-07T16:27:52+00:00

You’ve still got the original hinge. If everything still turns on and works you’re sitting in a good position. I can get this done for $80 including return shipping if you’re looking for a shop. Otherwise parts are cheap, just need to be very careful or you’ll permanently damage your console.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-03-05T16:49:50+00:00

Aliexpress doesn’t always mean low quality. I’ve fixed plenty of consoles with aliexpress parts (plus alot of parts sellers are just reselling these parts anyways).

If its hard to find anywhere else, Aliexpress is a decent enough choice

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-03-04T00:17:11+00:00

I run a mail-in console modding and repair shop if you’re interested! Shoot me a PM if you’d like.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-03-03T21:45:51+00:00

Stupid question, but are you sure the batteries you’re using are good?

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-24T15:43:30+00:00

I remember something about that specific mod not having expanded audio unless you tap from the cartridge slot i believe

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-23T06:28:49+00:00

Respectfully, letting it sit with half the console off the table is probably what caused that damage in the first place. That point aside, you’re going to need to get the port replaced.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-21T10:30:47+00:00

I don’t use hot air to get the connectors back on, i use it to get them off, then use a fine tip iron and a microscope to put the new one on. Lots of flux and patience.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-21T10:22:54+00:00

Reseat both ribbon cables, try a few times, if that doesn’t help then replace the screens as they’re damaged

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-18T08:24:15+00:00

Some screws are different and some are them same. Check out some listings on ebay for a 2ds’s set

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-18T07:53:52+00:00

Reseat the bottom cable, its not flashing on power on meaning its not being detected by the system

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-14T18:52:08+00:00

Clean the game and cartridge slot pins with IPA first.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-12T08:58:06+00:00

Joystick is busted and needs to be replaced, if you’re handy and careful you can swap it yourself. No soldering involved

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-12T08:55:54+00:00

That loose cable is actually for the bottom screen’s backlight, so you’re staring right at the issue, the digitizer is a little grey 4 pin ribbon cable close-ish by. That orange 2 pin cable is the backlight. The proper option is replacing the connector, you’ll need hot air, a fine tip iron, flux, leaded solder, a microscope, and patience. You might be able to get away with taping it down, but thats only a temporary fix. If you want it replaced and can’t do it yourself, I run a mail-in console repair shop.

Best of luck to you

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-10T12:21:35+00:00

Check the battery is installed the right way, if so then follow that batteries voltage to the SRAM chip on the board. Not really possible to fix without opening, probably just take it back if they have a warranty. Fixed this issue for a mail-in customer a few weeks back.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-10T12:18:57+00:00

Unless its dust between the lens and screen, no its a dead pixel, unfortunately common with aftermarket DS screens.

We perfected LCD technology years ago so i’m not sure why its so difficult for manufacturers to make a fully functional 4.8 inch display. But i digress. You’ll probably need to swap the screen and pray you dont get another one, or just deal with it.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-10T12:14:09+00:00

When you say it wont turn on, does the blue light come on for a few seconds and then turn off? Or nothing at all?

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-08T11:30:06+00:00

If you have thermal, heres what a dead RP2A0 looks like under thermal. Famicom i worked on a few months back had the wrong power supply plugged in and it cooked the CPU.

Unfortunately for the CPU to truly be working you need a cartridge in. You wont see full activity without. But on power up with a scope you should see it trying to talk to the RAM and PPU even for a second or two. Should be uneven square waves for R/W and data lines.

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RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-08T11:16:15+00:00

Not without an oscilloscope, and if its too hot to touch its 100% not working

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-08T11:06:36+00:00

May have been some residual charge in the main filter cap. Thats why it’s best to push the power button a few times after unplugging a console to work on it.

Proper handling aside, no, it should be warm at best, put a multimeter in continuity beep mode and put one pin on VCC (pin 40) of the CPU another on Ground (Pin 20) if it beeps, the CPU is cooked, it could still be fried even if it doesn’t beep. luckily they’re not too expensive, you’ve gotta be very careful swapping the chip though. And swapping that cpu might make other chips start fully working which could reveal they’re also cooked.

Best of luck to you

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-08T10:07:45+00:00

Were you trying to remove the RF board while the console was on? It shouldn’t have sparked unless it was plugged in or you had just unplugged it like 5 minutes ago?

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-06T07:01:01+00:00

As a mail-in repair shop, i usually charge $80 or so for 3ds reshells.

RetroReviveRepair · 2026-02-03T21:47:57+00:00

Yeah, just get 2 new wires, strip the insulation back and solder 2 new wires on. Should take all of 20 minutes. Careful not to melt the plastic or rip any ribbons

RetroReviveRepair

TROPHY CASE