Sega Genesis Controller Port Problem

[Rebz]

Hey guys, I was going to sell a Street Fighter 2 championship edition to somebody and I wanted to make sure it worked first, so I popped it into my Genny. There was something wrong with the game but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Then I realized that I couldn't jump or move up in the menu screens. So I thought maybe the cart could be dirty so I cleaned it up and popped it back in. Still the same problem, then I tried using other controllers, but still the same thing. So then I tried 2 players and lo and behold, the 2nd player could move perfectly yet the 1st player couldn't. So is there something wrong with the 1st player controller port? Or is it something bigger? Does this happen often? I tried on my 2nd Genny and I kind of had a similar problem but sometimes it would go away so I'm not really sure where the problem is. I also tried another Street Fighter and loads of other games. Genesis just feel so inconsistent to me (I was a Nintendo kid growing up and these are my first sega consoles along with the DC Anapan sent me - Thanks by the way, I love the thing even though I don't have games for it right now lol) sometimes they work and sometimes they don't, I just get this cheapness feeling from them. Then again maybe it's because I haven't played any of the qaulity games that I keep seeing in reviews. Anyways I was hoping one of you might know what the heck is going on.

[17DaysOlderThanNES]

The Genesis is one of the best built and most reliable systems of all time. It sounds like your controller port has been yanked on too much and either the solder joint is broken or the connector in the controller plug is damaged. Alternatively, it could just be dirty/oxidized and not making a good connection. Get a toothpick and pull some cotton from a q-tip and wrap it around the q-tip (it will stay, I do it all the time, just twist it alot), dip that in rubbing alcohol and swap the pins inside the Genesis. While the pins are still wet, plug and unplug the Genesis controller a few times so you can get those pins cleaned (hopefully). Do this while the system is unplugged, of course. Also, how do you pull out controllers? if you yank it by the cord rather than pulling the plug, that can damage wires or solder joints in the plug itself. My Model 1 and Model 2 controller ports have never failed to work for me, ever.

[Rebz]

Thanks for the tip I'll try that when I have time, hopefully it'll fix my problem. I pull the controller out from the plug not the wire.

[cmb1100]

Hey guys I have the same problem. I love my Genesis and have had it since '92 and I don't want to lose it. I've used extension cables for the controller because the cable is too short pretty frequently so I'm wondering if that could be part of the problem. Also I think maybe one of the pins for the controller port is gone so could anyone give me a controller port board for a Genesis Model 1 I'd appreciate it. I've fixed my consoles at home for years and have never had a problem before with my Genesis and I don't notice the solder joints being broken or anything but I'll clean the pins and resolder those joints just to see if that's the problem and get back to you.

[Hobie-wan]

Please do not crosspost. You had more or less this same thing in BST, which also ran afoul of the 2 week waiting rule there. But pastsing what I had originally answered there.

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There's only 1 PCB in the model 1 and 2 Genesis. So the "controller board" is the entire board. If just the ports are messed up, they can be fixed or replaced, but really you're looking at just grabbing another Genesis for ease or if there's more damage than that.