iFixit - Answers With Device "Super Nintendo"

Super Nintendo: Why do I have no image?

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 14:41:17 -0700

My SNES powers on but I cannot see any image on my tv. I have tried the rca cables as well as the coaxial cable and still nothing.

⟐ Answered septembre 13, 2024 at 14:41 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: Why is my picture distorted?

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 08:34:20 -0700

I brought my snes out of storage after a few years. I hooked it up properly, inserted super mario world, turned it on and I could clearly read the words "Nintendo presents" but when it went to the next screen the picture looks jumbled-like a jigsaw puzzle that's missing pieces. I tried another game and it was the same. I cleaned the games and the console. I tried 3 other t.v.s and it's the same. I have audio, but a jumbled picture. Any ideas why, or how to fix it would be great.

⟐ Answered novembre 21, 2023 at 8:34 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: Why do my games only play in black and white?

Sun, 11 May 2025 15:08:20 -0700

Whenever I start the console, the games have no color. It only plays in black and white. It must be a problem with my console because I've tried playing the games on a friend's SNES and they played in full color.

⟐ Commented mai 11, 2025 at 15:08 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: SNES Controller R bumper not responsive

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 14:35:18 -0700

I received a North American version of the Nintendo brand SNES controller where the right bumper does not respond. I opened it up and cleaned out all the contacts and I also can't find any sort of wire break or pin problem. I read that this may have to do with how the controller interacts with the CPU with pulse clock cycles, but other controllers I've tried don't have this issue. Is there any way to fix this problem, or am I stuck without a shoulder button to lean on?

⟐ Answered mars 13, 2022 at 14:35 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: Theres a slot on the bottom of the console whats it for?

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 20:58:12 -0700

On the bottom of my SNES console there is a slot for something but i have no clue what. it has a protective cover and on the cover is simply the letters EXT. I am guessing its for some type of extension....However since i do not have the orginal manual that came with my Nes when i received it when i was little i cant be sure and have yet to find any way to find out what its for or what purpose it serves...

⟐ Answered juin 02, 2023 at 20:58 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: Why doesn’t my TV get a signal from my Nintendo?

Thu, 08 May 2025 12:59:20 -0700

When I turn my Nintendo on, the TV says “no signal”. The Nintendo is on (the red light is on), I’ve set the TV to COMP/AV and I’ve plugged the red and white cables into the red and white plugs but have no yellow plug for the yellow cable.. I tried plugging it in all the other colored plugs and it still hasn’t worked (that’s what I do with my DVD player, which works).

My TV is HD.. is it possible that it is too new and isn’t compatible with the Nintendo?

I also had to purchase a new AC adapter.. is it possible that it’s not strong enough?

Thanks in advance!

⟐ Commented mai 08, 2025 at 12:59 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: My console wont power on

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 17:53:58 -0700

I have everything plugged in where it should go, but there is nothing - not even a blank screen - coming up. The power light on the front left isn't lighting up either. How do I fix this?

⟐ Answered avril 10, 2024 at 17:53 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: Weird Graphic Issue (Vertical Stripes/Banding) on Certain Elements

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 20:30:05 -0700

Hey guys! I've been searching everywhere for an answer and no luck so far. I'm getting strange Vertical Lines that show up only on certain elements on my SNES. For example, part of the bg hills in super mario world. You can see examples and the internals at the line below:

https://goo.gl/photos/a1RFPZ15weqMdbVZ7

Different games and cables still have the issues. Pulled the whole console apart and everything looks normal and clear. There does not appear to be any traces broken. 62 pin cartridge connector is clean with no bent pins. The brown discoloration around certain areas I cleaned up with 91% isopropyl alcohol, thought maybe it was cause by a leaky cap but it could be flux?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

⟐ Commented août 02, 2021 at 20:30 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: My AC Adapter port is broken what now?

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 02:26:47 -0700

I have a Super Nes and for the life of me don't know if to trash or see if there is any way to replace the ac adapter port

⟐ Answered juillet 26, 2018 at 2:26 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: My super nintendo does not load all games and only some partialy

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 22:38:23 -0700

I recently bought this snes from a garage sale and found that it didnt load games, after leaving it on for a couple hours with super mario world in (a game i know i know works from my other snes) i hit the reset button and it poped up with the nintendo logo but thats all, i tried other games and found that it would partially load mario kart (i could go through the menu but would fall off the track as soon as a race started) i then tried mario all stars with no issues at all. after trying every game in my collection, no others work on this snes but work perfectly on my other snes. please help me, this snes is in beautiful condition and i would love to see it working.

⟐ Answered octobre 10, 2025 at 22:38 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: Why does my game freeze while playing?

Thu, 03 Nov 2016 19:17:08 -0700

As I am playing Donkey Kong 2, Kong or one of the other characters will stop moving regardless of the buttons I press.

⟐ Commented novembre 03, 2016 at 19:17 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: Console doesn't turn on. The power light flashes for a brief second.

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 05:02:00 -0700

I bought an untested SNES, and after plugging it in, no light would come on. I took it apart to see if there was any obvious damage, but nothing aside from a little corrosion around the power input solder points which I cleaned off. Now, after that, the light will flash on for a moment when I hit the switch, but will immediately turn off.

I’m fairly ignorant towards electronics, (i know how to test for continuity using a multimeter and solder/desolder, but that’s about it) so feel free to over-explain if necessary.

⟐ Commented octobre 27, 2022 at 5:02 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: Super nintendo AC adaptor

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 20:19:03 -0700

My AC adaptor is broken and lose and its making the picture on the TV hard to see, how do I fix it? Is there a place I can take it to to fix it?

⟐ Answered novembre 03, 2021 at 20:19 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: power adapter inside box

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 16:41:50 -0700

I have an snes and in the place where the power adapter plugs in looks like something is missing. There are two prongs and the power cord has a round hole. How do I fix this?

⟐ Answer deleted août 16, 2019 at 16:41 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: May have short circuited a chip with the back of the power switch?

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 13:14:22 -0700

Recently bought a snes while on vacation, some of the pins might have been bent during the flight back since I eventually figured out that the cartridge had to be leaning forward for the connector to read it. Was trying to slowly bend the connector upright to fix that. While testing to see if it would read cartridges properly, instead of having the power switch hang out the side I instead tried to reach through where the eject button would be to turn the power on. Saw two quick flashes, and suddenly the console no longer powers on.

Power cable works fine on a back-up snes, swapping the power switch didn't fix this issue, and swapping the controller port still didn't light up. My best guess is that the back of the power switch might have made contact with pins on the PPU1 and/or PPU2. I don't currently have a circuit tester to see if the fuse and/or chips are still working... how doomed is this snes? Based on this, is it completely toast or is there some fix I'm overthinking?

⟐ Commented octobre 06, 2022 at 13:14 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: Every button pauses the game!

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 11:00:58 -0700

Ive tried several controllers on my super nintendo and every game all the buttons pause the game. up, down, left, right, a, b, everything pauses the game. it is the console, how do i fix it?

⟐ Answered juillet 26, 2022 at 11:00 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: Need help with mario looks weird

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 14:39:27 -0700

Idk what to do all games look fine except the 2 super mario world cartridges mario looks weird

⟐ Answered mars 13, 2022 at 14:39 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: Games only play in black and white.

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:19:24 -0700

I have tried all the suggestions in this iFixit post, any other suggestions?

⟐ Answered décembre 01, 2011 at 8:19 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: What is a good setup w/links hopefully to what I need to whiten shell

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 08:31:23 -0700

I've seen so many restoration video projects where the tech puts both the top and bottom part of the shell depending on console (could be PS1 as well), in a solution of hydrogen peroxide and a UVB light pointed at them. Ive researched and learned that yellowing can be fixed be this combination of hydrogen peroxide and UVB light in the 280-315 nm range. However when I google search, all I find is UVA and UVB light apparatus for cannabis farming or other applications. Does anyone have a good link to a good product that will complete the task that I intend to do? Any help would much be appreciated; and also if there's something other than hydrogen peroxide that should be added to the wash (think Ive seen a nickel based solution added before in the past too); please let me know. Thanks so much for anyone that can help me out with this!

-BrakShow

⟐ Commented janvier 13, 2025 at 8:31 UTC−7

Super Nintendo: Why does my controller work with only 1 game?

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 13:41:25 -0700

So my SNES will play NCAA basketball just fine on any controller i have. but i put in anything else, the controller only partially works or just the buttons and not the d-pad. for example i put in Super Playaction football and only the A button works. But i put back in NCAA basketball the controller works just fine all buttons and dpad. so i know the controller cant be the cuprit. Any help on this as i love my SNES and want to be able to play it would be super appreciated!

⟐ Commented août 07, 2024 at 13:41 UTC−7