Hi
can someone tell me if the controller port on my saturn can be (easily) fixed? i know the controller is not the issue because they work fine on another console.
it works on the oval button but not my round button console. just doesn't seem to recognise a controller is plugged in. i changed the battery/cd spins okay/powers on fine
please help- don't wanna trash it
I would try cleaning out the controller port with a dust gun. Maybe even use some 99% alcohol and some cloth to clean up the connections as well. Its a long shot, but worth a shot.
If that doesn't work and you're handy, you could open up the console and have a look around. Could be that the point the controller port is soldered onto the motherboard at has broken loose due to age and constantly plugging and unplugging controllers over the years. If that is the case, you would just have to re-solder the points.
Also, with the power disconnected, check the pins inside the conroller port. If one or more of the fingers are bent down, use a small pick or very small screwdriver the pry that finger back into position.
Does the system recognize a known working control pad in the control pad 2 socket? If neither are recognized the problem is probably internal. I don't recall off the top of my head if the controller ports are on a separate board that can be replaced of if they reside on the motherboard. If the controller ports are on a separate board like they are in the Dreamcast, I probably have a spare one I could sell you since I have a round button Saturn with a bad video output.
okay ..
my meter reader stuck his meter pins to both ports and said that it's probably something other than the ports as it seemed to have power. Could it be a fuse or something on the main board?
if i opened it up would i be able to find something obvious? I googled but images of the console innards didn't pop up.
thanks (i'm not giving up yet)
There are two boards inside, the motherboard and the power board. The power board has a fuse which is easy to check and easy to replace. It's a normal fuse like an old fashioned automotive fuse. BUT if the fuse were blown, the whole thing wouldn't be turning on.
The controller ports are attached directly to the motherboard. If they are bad you either need to replace the whole mother board or the ports themselves would have to be unsoldered and a new set soldered on.
don't wanna trash it
stuck his meter pins to both ports and said that it's probably something other than the ports as it seemed to have power. Could it be a fuse or something on the main board?