How to Repair Nintendo NES System

Chances are if you've ever owned or played a Nintendo NES, you've experienced the blinking screen or have had trouble playing your games. The cause for all these problems is bad electrical connections between your game cartridges and the NES console caused by a worn out 72 pin connector, dirt and corrosion.

With a little patience, you can repair your NES and games to a like-new condition. This guide will help you disassemble your console and show you the areas you need to focus on when cleaning and repairing your Nintendo NES. No electronics skills are needed to follow this guide. The only caution I would advise is to take it slow and make sure not to pull too hard on PCB boards or connector wires.

Looking for a detailed walkthrough on cleaning your NES Cartridges?

Step 1 Nintendo NES System Repair Video

Comments

[GameV8]

I smell spam... But I see a good instructable so it must be my imagination. :) Very Good: 5 stars

[nintendorepair]

Game V8, Thanks for not sending us to the graveyard for having links in there. Yes, we are definitely running a business, however we really have our customers best interests in mind. We take a great deal of care in picking out the best manufacturers and the best parts so our customers don't have to worry about getting quality parts, everything we sell is high quality. Also, we do offer some really helpful nintendo repair guides and even nintendo repair videos for free on our site's Nintendo Repair Center and our youtube channel.

Thanks for taking a look at our guide. More to follow shortly, and let us know if we can ever help you out with one of the classic systems, or any games or accessories. Happy gaming!

[The Mighty El Rondo]

I just now saw this, but am still very grateful for having found nintendorepairshop.com a few years back (2007 I think?). Anyway, the instructions provided on the website helped me immensely for replacing the 72-pin connector and cleaning the contacts on the motherboard. I've since used that knowledge to clean others and of course a plethora of cartridges. I used the full cartridge and console kit that's on their site, along with both of the screwdriver bits, and still use them to this day. VERY useful, and thanks for also posting up this instructable as well. To any wondering, they are a great company with great, fast and efficient service as well!

[ehanrahan]

MY NES wont turn on no power or anythin im in australia and got it from canada it was turning on for when i got then i came back and it stopped working

[MatthewEnderle]

I know I'm late on the topic, but if it sounds the way i think it is, you bought a NES that was made for Canada (120V 60Hz) and you live in Australia (240V 50Hz) so you fried a fuse somewhere...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity_by_country
look here before you purchase electronics from other countries, but desktop Computers are fine because they have switches on the back (red switch says 110,240v)

Again this is just for your education...

[jcontrerasv]

Hello evreryone, i have a problem with my NES, i was palying final fantasy when the tv screen going black with a soung like stereo. i dont know whats wrong with my nes if somebody know please let me know. note i was playing in a plasma screen, i have replaced the 72 pin connector and nothin more than black screen. thank for your help

[the_burrito_master]

I think I've bought a 72 pin connector from you guys. It's still functioning great nice product. When I switch them out I don't hassle myself with taking the mobo out it's simpler just to slide it off while it's in the case. I guess you do that so you can get easy access to clean the contacts tho.

[whyexactly]

Any tips for cleaning them? I received one for free but it needs a new power cord, and it was owned by a longtime smoker so the controllers are a bit off-colour. Suggestions?

[nintendorepair]

We also have replacement NES AC adapters and refurbished original nes controllers available (looks like I may have misread the original message about discoloration). 

[nintendorepair]

Unfortunately, you really can't change the color of the plastic. Some of the systems were made with a specific kind of plastic that fades and discolors over time. Unfortunately the only solution is to replace the portions of the case that are discolored. We actually have replacement nes case shells that are not discolored available for purchase on our site. Hopefully that helps.

[ndnet]

This feels like how traffic generation should be done. Definitely an advert, but there's enough useful information here to be applied more generally without necessarily buying the product. Good job.

[nintendorepair]

Hey thanks for the positive feedback. Yeah, clearly we run a business, but every dollar we make is generated from performing a needed service for folks that have issues with their systems. We think we do a better job serving this market than anyone else, and we want to spread the word. We have a few more useful guides already developed that we will be posting shortly. Also have a few more underway.

If you are working on a nintendo repair project, also check out our youtube page. We just uploaded 7 or 8 videos on how to fix NES, clean games, repair DS, etc.