Sega 32X: Graphics problems with connection to Genesis

[Ignacius]

My 32X recently died on me. I was able to resuscitate it by unplugging and reinserting the white connector cables inside, but there's still a problem. You probably know that 32X games use a combination of graphics rendered from both the Genesis and 32X. Everything from the 32X is fine, but now, anything rendered by the Genesis (mostly backgrounds) is colored a light blue. Reinserting the cables again caused it to change to dark blue, and on the third try it went back to light blue.

With RF output from the system there's no problem, but then you ONLY get the graphics and sound coming from the Genesis. And with composite out, playing Genesis carts with the 32X as a pass-through causes the entire game to appear blue.

I've been reinserting the cables carefully to make sure they are fully and evenly inserted, but the colors are still wrong. Is there any other way I can try and fix this? I'm using a Model 1 Genesis.

[SpoonyBard]

Have you checked to make sure any pins on the cable aren't bent/broken?

[Ignacius]

This is the kind of cable I'm talking about:



With edge connectors. Not the external video cables with easily bent pins. I've tested those and they're fine.

[Hobie-wan]

Probably a bad connection for the pass through cable, else the pass through is damaged.

[Hobie-wan]

Oh, if you mean you reseated the internal. Did you clean the ends, or just reseat? If there's a little bit of surface corrosion, might need more attention.

[Ignacius]

I only reinserted them. It doesn't look like anyone has opened the system before, though I did find a strange piece of rubbery foam inside.

What do you recommend I use to clean them?

[Hobie-wan]

Search for one of the many threads about cleaning carts and cart slots. Just ignore the recommendations to use stove cleaner and windex or anything with colors, smells, or solids in them. Contact cleaner or alcohol with the methods mentioned in those other posts.

[Teh Lurv]

Video from the Genesis is passed to the 32x as RGB, it sounds like one (blue?) of the signals isn't being passed properly to the 32x. Since the 32x graphics are okay, I'm leaning towards a problem with your 32x patch cable. You could try flexing and bending the cable while the system is running, see if you notice if the picture changes at all.