Restoring N64 Cartridges?

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Nismology

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#1 Nismology
Member since 2009 • 649 Posts
Several games in my N64 collection, namely Mario Kart, Destruction Derby and Wipeout, take many attempts to get to work, probably because they've been played so much. is there a way I can get these games working as good as new? What is the best way to go about cleaning them?
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Banjo_Kongfooie

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#2 Banjo_Kongfooie
Member since 2007 • 3838 Posts

Several games in my N64 collection, namely Mario Kart, Destruction Derby and Wipeout, take many attempts to get to work, probably because they've been played so much. is there a way I can get these games working as good as new? What is the best way to go about cleaning them?Nismology

Try blowing on them, thats what I do.

Carts are sturdy like bricks? Is your console on of the few defective ones maybe? Try getting a used one on the ebay.

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Dudersaper

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#3 Dudersaper
Member since 2007 • 32952 Posts
Blowing in them will only make it worse, don't do that.
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lordlunch2

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#4 lordlunch2
Member since 2006 • 544 Posts
I've actually been having this problem with my NES games. It gives me the gray blinking screen and I just replaced the 72 pin on it and it helped a bit, but a lot of games still won't play. Does Q-tip cleaning actually work?
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Banjo_Kongfooie

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#5 Banjo_Kongfooie
Member since 2007 • 3838 Posts

Blowing in them will only make it worse, don't do that.Dudersaper

I do it all the time and it gets the dust and stuff out.

I blow where the cart goes in and it still works.

Also milk spilled on my N64 (granted it was off) and it still works.

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DealRogers

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#6 DealRogers
Member since 2005 • 4589 Posts

Cotton bud and alcohol

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JuarN18

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#7 JuarN18
Member since 2007 • 4981 Posts

Cotton bud and alcohol

DealRogers
I agree, that's the best way to clean the cartridges
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norm41x

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#8 norm41x
Member since 2011 • 813 Posts

I use q-tips and alcohol lol.

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Nismology

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#9 Nismology
Member since 2009 • 649 Posts
My console is in beautiful condition - it's one of the newer translucent blue ones, and it's my pride and joy, i really don't think it's the console at fault, especially as I tried my games on my friend's black N64 (that was apparently bought on the day it came out) and the same problems occurred. Those few games I mentioned are past the point of blowing, that's what I do with my other games that work better. I shall try the alcohol technique, but I'm worried that it's just simply age and wear more that dirt and grime :( I shall be annoyed if I have to buy another copy of Mario kart 64, I picked my copy up for only 6 pounds, (which may be why it's so worn out) and the going rate at the moment seems to be quite high.
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Stinger78

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#10 Stinger78
Member since 2003 • 5846 Posts

This guy knows a LOT about cleaning and repairing old games and systems:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SEgAEVZ3OQ&feature=channel_video_title
This vid is a 'cleaning overview' but as you can see around the 8-minute mark, you can get a little steel wool and swipe over the contacts a few times and it should get them shiny again.

By the way, blowing into carts is actually a great way to make them stop working as there tends to be moisture in breath that gets onto the metal pins in the carts and over time builds up causing loss of connection.