Weird Issues with Crash Team Racing (UPDATE)

[Lodestar]

I recently bought the Collector's Edition of Crash Team Racing and have been playing it on my PS2. Some weird issues have been occurring and I'm wondering what the source of the problems is.

When I'm outside of races, like on the world map or the post-race results, it periodically flashes text on my screen for a split second (too quickly to read it), but it thinks I'm unplugging my controller. Weird thing is, it's plugged in and works fine on other games. I've tried other controllers, but it still does it. The other issue is with the memory card; it'll never recognize it the first time, so I have to pull it out and re-insert it - only THEN will I be able to save or load.

The disc looks fine, only a few very light scratches - no disc rot or anything that I can see. Maybe my PS2 failing at reading discs...?

[Zing]

It sounds like a loose connection for your controller port. The memory card slot is also connected with it, so that is why the memory card flakes out.

[Lodestar]

Hmm, that's possible, as I was recently messing around in my PS2 fixing another problem and I had to remove that part to re-attach a ribbon that had fell out. How would I tighten it back up? Pretty sure I took care of everything when I put it back together.

[Hobie-wan]

Unplug, make sure it is clean and replug probably is all that needs to be done. Is it just a slide in connector for the ribbon, or is it one where it has the little bit that slides out to free it, then you put the cable back in, then slide the block to secure it?

[Lodestar]

Can't say for sure, but the model is SCPH-39001, if that helps.

I started the game up again, now it says my memory card is unformatted. -__-

[Hobie-wan]

I have the loose guts of a fat PS2 in my parts pile, not sure what model it is though. The mobo end of the controller port cable does use the little brown lock slider. Make sure you slid the ribbon cable in, then slid the block to lock the cable. If it is flopping loose, maybe that is the problem. Hopefully you didn't just lose your memory card though.

[Lodestar]

I'm looking at it now, I see no brown slider, just looks like a single ribbon plugged in with no mechanism.

EDIT: Actually, it was held in by a little black flap that flips up and down to lock it in place. So I cleaned the contacts and put it back in. And I hope I didn't lose my data, either...

[Lodestar]

Wow, suprisingly good news for a change, that seems to have fixed my problem. Memory card is fine and the game is no longer flashing that nonsense when I play.

Thanks for the help, Zing and Hobie.

EDIT: Spoke too soon.

[Hobie-wan]

Cool.

[Lodestar]

Alright, I was right to be somewhat skeptical...it's doing it all over again.

So, it's either the game, or my PS2...not sure which, because other games don't exhibit these problems.