PAL SNES display problem

[MGB]

Hello, my second PAL SNES has decided to die on me, and so I took to ebay to look for a replacment. Some jokers are asking around 40€ for a console without accessories in poor condition, this one cost me 10€ only a few years ago so I don't want to pay that much if I can avoid it.

If you switch the SNES on, the image comes up for the game briefly, then the picture sort of transitions into shades of grey before dissapearing altogether. I know the cable is fine, checked with my N64/Gamecube, so it would appear to be some fault with the AV connector/display components since it still produces sound.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? By chance are there some simple fixes that can be tried, or should I just stump up the cost of another one?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

[bacteria]

Sounds like some of the components are dead in the console, maybe a leaking capacitor.

Remember if you intend to open up a SNES console, to turn it on and off a couple of times first, without power, so the capacitors discharge, if you don't then when you handle the board you'll fry it as the capacitors contain enough voltage to damage the board.

I'd say get a new one. Ebay or flea markets are good sources.

[Oge]

The same issue happens when you connect a RGB SCART Cable which has Capacitors to Red, Green and Blue lines. Have you opened your Cable in order to see if everything is okay?

Don't forget that a SNES motherboard is fully repairable, it could be a simple problem (regulator, capacitors, dried soldering, etc.) which is not expensive to be repaired.


Cheers,
Oge

[Tildius Maximus]

I had bought a "non-working" super famicom that had a similar problem. I opened it up and cleaned the gunk off the pins and general area around the av stuff (there was some kind of brown gooey stuff) and once I cleaned the board up a little I plugged it back in and it fired up perfectly!