SNES black screen(s)

[aRequiem]

I found my old SNES I've had since it was new. The thing hadn't yellowed and still looked immaculate. However, I was missing all cables. I hit eBay and bought power and AV cables.

I noticed no dust accumulating in the system, and the cartridge(s) I tried were all clean, so I gave it a try... and all I get is a black screen. The kicker being that if I jiggle the cartridge while it's in the system, it will sometimes change the hue of the black to a different shade of black. Other times, it just kicks back to a blue screen on the TV after I wiggle it. I used rubbing alcohol and every possible method to clean the pin inside the system and the cartridges. I still get nothing but black screens.

So it seems like it's powering up, but that's all it's doing. The AV cables I bought were actually decent ones, too.

Ideas? I have a friend willing to sell me his working SNES, but I'm just hoping I'm not in full idiot mode and the problem actually being something like the AV's.

[ChuChu Flamingo]

The red on light turns on right? Might be the AC adapter. I would try it on another SNES.

[aRequiem]

The red on light turns on right?.

Yes, the red light on the front does turn on.

[Hobie-wan]

The cart slot and/or games are probably still a bit dirty. Disconnect the SNES, cut some cardboard from a cereal box or whatnot and fold it 2 or 3 layers thick gray/brown side out. Dampen it with alcohol (or better, contact cleaner if you have some) and plug/unplug that in the cart slot several times. Use q-tips with CC/alcohol on the cart pins, try to see if you get them shiny. If it still doesn't work, the carts might need to be opened to get them really clean or the cart slot might need more vigorous work.

[aRequiem]

The cart slot and/or games are probably still a bit dirty. Disconnect the SNES, cut some cardboard from a cereal box or whatnot and fold it 2 or 3 layers thick gray/brown side out. Dampen it with alcohol (or better, contact cleaner if you have some) and plug/unplug that in the cart slot several times. Use q-tips with CC/alcohol on the cart pins, try to see if you get them shiny. If it still doesn't work, the carts might need to be opened to get them really clean or the cart slot might need more vigorous work.

I researched prior and tried the cardboard method, but it did nothing. The contacts in the unit itself are actually really shiny from how much I've cleaned them by now. I've also cleaned the carts and tried multiple carts, but that also did nothing. I'm going to give the entire thing another very thorough cleaning right now and will post back with what happens.



EDIT: Nothing but a black screen. The contacts all look immaculate, too. I'm getting nothing but a black screen when I have a cartridge in and I power it on. Additionally, I'm using the same AV cables I use for my working Gamecube.

[ChuChu Flamingo]

You should try that AC adapter on your friends SNES.