FAULTY Game Boy COLOR from eBay | Can I FIX It?

I got me a broken Nintendo Game Boy Colour on eBay.

It was sold as no power, so let's see if we can change that and get this thing working again!

#spoiler, it's not just corrosion.

Hope you enjoy!
Steve

PS. I'm not an expert in repairs at all. I do this for fun, and it may not be the best or safest way to go about repairing broken stuff. I'm pretty good at melting plastic though. Please don't copy me - I'm an idiot.

If you want to make a device donation to the channel, please use the following PO Box. PLEASE NOTE that this is not a repair service, and all items are non-returnable.
PO BOX ADDRESS: StezStix Fix?, PO Box 415, BOLTON, BL4 4AZ
Please only use this service if you are a UK resident and using Royal Mail.

Some of the magic things I use to break stuff;

Filming equipment;

Links are affiliated where possible to help support the channel. Nice.

[ivarska]

From my own experience repairing Game Boy Color consoles - use a flashlight and shine it through the board from the bottom, this way you'll see the traces. Also, there is a complete GBC schematic available online. Nice video though, keep up the good work, and keep us entertained!

[ShadowcasterZero]

For super corroded battery terminals, I usually desoder them off and give them a vinegar soak for 30 minutes. If there's pitting or metal missing, you should either nickle plate them again or full on replacement.

[christo]

8:40 You might want to try a brass wire wheel for jobs like this. They make wire wheels for dremmel. A brass wire wheel would be far less destructive. The brass is really only hard enough to get rid of the corrosion without damaging the underlying metal. Get both a cup wire wheel and a flat wire wheel. You'll wonder how you got along without them. You can buy a large pack of them for dirt cheap.

[Mymatevince]

I must say you are looking mighty fine in this video Steve, that coupled with spilling the IPA made it the perfect video. That was a Game Boy from hell though.

[Spuds]

30 minute video?! Looking forward to seeing the pain unfold

[leonardgoertzen]

Love your sense of humor. Always puts a smile on my face.

[headyD]

The capacitor you are talking about is a tweeter protection capacitor. Its in series with the speaker to block very low frequency signals and DC current which could harm the speaker. Whenever I repair a gameboy and there is no sound at all, i'll shortcut it for a second with a wire to check If its the cause.

And, as always, a great video, thank you!

[rciancia]

Steve, you changed an Electrolytic cap with a ceramic cap. While this will work, you will not get a stable capacitance that way. Probably not a big deal but something worth noting. Well done !

[beedoubleyou_]

I bumped into Ste once in a Morrisons in Manchester. He was very nice. A fascinating, true story.

[Kevinwoolford]

When you ground back that corrosion with the shell on and then tried to clean it I knew it would pop the fuse 😂 well done on the fix dude, repairs are pain 👏

[infinty]

Just finished watching and honestly it's one of the best videos you've ever put out.

[Pulverrostmannen]

IMPORTANT NOTE: The fuse you took out of the playstation is marked 5G, which is a 5 AMP Fuse

[davidleerobinson]

This was one of the best I've seen, as soon as you said "what have I done to deserve this" I was praying for the pet shop boys at the end 😅😅 The repairs are great, but even more so for the rap and song at the end!

[jimmypeeters]

Always beautiful to see childhood memories come back to life... literally! Great job restoring/reviving this.

[JonnyFix]

I winced when you glued that pad back on. My experience with heating such glue was watering eyes and my nose almost running off my face!

[lookitskazzy]

Those contacts shouldve been replaced, and the entire board shouldve been cleaned with acetic acid before any rework started. Introducing heat can accelerate the corrosion.

Pads or joints with corrosion should have had all old solder removed, then cleaned and reflowed. Highly recommend a wire brush and fiberglass pen for this kind of work.

Shining a light under the PCB can reveal the traces.

[squidjam]

Isn't the oxidization bound to come back if the affected parts aren't protected (by electroplating, for an example)?

[honorw]

As someone who is IPC certified, watching surface mount Lands (Pads) being butchered makes me shudder but also makes me laugh because you soldier on and get it fixed anyway 😁. Keep the videos coming I love them 👍

[AndrewRiebe]

My favorite one so far. Love watching this channel, and you have inspired me to get into electronics.

[grahammarsh]

At the point Steve said "I just need to tidy this up and put it back together" I noticed the video was only halfway through, clearly more entertainment to follow!!