Arcade Otaku - アーケード オタク

I've owned this SFC console for over a year, was working fine and dandy.
Hadn't used it since Christmas Day (when my nephew came up)

Tried it recently and it's just a black screen, it flickers on when you switch it on. But the screen is just black.

The only signal I had was something was going wrong, when we played on Christmas it was Wild Guns in 2 player, bizarrely when my Nephew had his own controller plugged into 2P we couldn't select characters or options ...
Unplugged his it worked and then plugged it in during gameplay was fine.
Coincidence? Not sure ...

So, is there anything that can be done? Or is it a last cause?

I know SFC consoles are cheap, however mine is a 1-CHIP so I don't really want to ditch it.
The prices people are selling them for now on EBay are crazy.

Thanks!

Maybe too obvious, but could it be a connection issue?

I had the same problem happen - flicker, but black screen on turn on - but if I pushed down on the cart while turning on, the game started. So the connection just needed cleaned. All I did was clean the cart with some lighter fluid, insert it & eject it a few times, and it's worked as normal since then.

Insert, re-insert and re-re-insert the game cart!
My SFC is continually black screening, and I sometimes have to eject the game 4 or five times before it comes back to life.

Maybe something wrong with the scart cable ? Got switched or Damaged is it SFC and send cables that show a black screen when the wrong one is connected....I know it happens with some console not sure which one now lol

I have encountered in the past when a couple of carts needed pushing down or sat at a certain angle to boot, but now its all carts that produce a black screen, including ones that booted without issue before.

The cable I use has only ever been used for the same console too, a retrogamingcables 'cable' so nothing has been swapped over or changed.

Thanks for the replies though guys!

FerociousSwan wrote:I have encountered in the past when a couple of carts needed pushing down or sat at a certain angle to boot, but now its all carts that produce a black screen, including ones that booted without issue before.

That sounds like the console's connector pins are dirty. You can clean them by applying alcohol / cleaning solution to a piece of cardboard and inserting & removing, or applying it generously to a cart's pins and inserting & removing the cart multiple times (that's what I've done in the past). Will take a few attempts probably.

JackieHarris wrote:

FerociousSwan wrote:I have encountered in the past when a couple of carts needed pushing down or sat at a certain angle to boot, but now its all carts that produce a black screen, including ones that booted without issue before.

That sounds like the console's connector pins are dirty. You can clean them by applying alcohol / cleaning solution to a piece of cardboard and inserting & removing, or applying it generously to a cart's pins and inserting & removing the cart multiple times (that's what I've done in the past). Will take a few attempts probably.

That is definitely worth a go! Thanks for that, I'll give it a try (if I can find some cleaning fluid!)

My nephew also brought up some other SFC games we played, admittedly they were a bit dirty and manky ... Perhaps caused some issues on the console?

Brand new connectors cost next to nothing. Might as well get a new one.

EDIT: although, quality will possibly be not upto Nintendo spec. Still, I'm happy with my new Chinese connector.

I had the same problem a few years ago. Got some mentholated spirits from a chemist. Worked a treat.

FerociousSwan wrote:

JackieHarris wrote:

FerociousSwan wrote:I have encountered in the past when a couple of carts needed pushing down or sat at a certain angle to boot, but now its all carts that produce a black screen, including ones that booted without issue before.

That sounds like the console's connector pins are dirty. You can clean them by applying alcohol / cleaning solution to a piece of cardboard and inserting & removing, or applying it generously to a cart's pins and inserting & removing the cart multiple times (that's what I've done in the past). Will take a few attempts probably.

That is definitely worth a go! Thanks for that, I'll give it a try (if I can find some cleaning fluid!)

My nephew also brought up some other SFC games we played, admittedly they were a bit dirty and manky ... Perhaps caused some issues on the console?

WD-40 helps against oxidation after cleaning (and cleaning in itself, too) but can leave an oily residue.

Happened to me but i had no power, maybe the Pico fuse is on it's way out also. easy fix for 50p or so
https://console5.com/store/fuse-125v-1-5a-pico.html