Atari 2600 colors unstable

[Jamisonia]

My 2600's colors are very unstable. While I'm playing the game the colors change. Sometimes messing with the color/b&w switch helps, sometimes this crashes the game. Any suggestions?

[flojocabron]

is this while youre playing or once the game is over?

when the game is over, colors switch randomly. Once you reset the game, it goes back to its original colors.

check the little box switcher and see if theres no problem with it.

[Majors]

Running RF?

2600 is over 30 years old...shit breaks.

[Hobie-wan]

Maybe it spent too much time in a garage and all of the connections and switches need a good clean.

[Jamisonia]

I have tried giving it a good cleaning, but I suppose it can't hurt to try again.

To describe the issue more, I start the game and colors are whatever, as I play the game the color pallette changes. Usually this is associated with something in the game, like I move to another screen. One really weird is I sent there and turn the system on and off it will start up with different colors at random, meaning sometimes it will stay with the same colors for 5 on and off cycles the change suddenly, sometimes it will change colors every one and off cycle.

[Limewater]

I have tried giving it a good cleaning, but I suppose it can't hurt to try again.

To describe the issue more, I start the game and colors are whatever, as I play the game the color pallette changes. Usually this is associated with something in the game, like I move to another screen. One really weird is I sent there and turn the system on and off it will start up with different colors at random, meaning sometimes it will stay with the same colors for 5 on and off cycles the change suddenly, sometimes it will change colors every one and off cycle.

I'm not certain that what you're describing is outside of normal operation. For example, there are not a lot of games where you change screens, and it's not uncommon for the color pallet to change when you move from one to another. For example, the colors change for lots of screens in Adventure.

[Hobie-wan]

Good point. What game are you playing?

[BoringSupreez]

Running RF?

2600 is over 30 years old...shit breaks.

Every 2600 I've seen has had at least minor picture issues. It's just a fact of life when it comes to systems older than NES.

[Jamisonia]

Like Pitfall. Sometimes when I start the game up it will look like autumn Pitfall with an orange palette. Then I move a screen and its a purple color palette, then another and its a brown one. I can also cause this change by turning the console and off. Sometimes it will cycle quite regularing through these colors, sometimes it won't. I know this isn't right because I have an Atari 7800 and the games don't do this on it. Usually the color changes occur when I do something in the game, but not always.

Sometimes as I'm playing the game the colors will change randomly. Usually when this happens the video signal gets weaker then the game fades out completely.

I'm using the correct power adapter, and I'm not afraid of soldering. I was hoping somebody could tell me "that's a sign of bad caps", or "that's a bad power regulator" something like that.

[CRTGAMER]

My 2600's colors are very unstable. While I'm playing the game the colors change. Sometimes messing with the color/b&w switch helps, sometimes this crashes the game. Any suggestions?

Before going to internal solder work like caps, maybe try Electrical Contact Cleaner on the color switch and the cart contacts. You might also try a direct connect from the 2600 to the TV without the RF switch. You will need to get a RCA to RF adapter to plug into the internal RF modulator of the 2600.