Game Boy Advance SP Power Switch Troubleshooting and Repair Guide

[@wunderwaffefries]

Amazing tutorial as usual. I had a SP with intermittent power issues and this fixed it perfectly. If you get orange or red lights at times and it goes back to green randomly this is the fix.

[@JoeBleeps]

@@wunderwaffefries thanks for the feedback! Glad it helped

[@xFishTiCuffs]

Thanks to this, I did my first soldering job to repair my childhood SP that's been faulty for 15 years or more. Thanks pal!

[@JoeBleeps]

Wonderful! You're welcome

[@dragline7287]

I just broke out my sp after a few years and have been having this problem. Thanks for the video.

[@JoeBleeps]

@@dragline7287 you're welcome!

[@tuxedeoproductions3844]

Im new to soldering and i was wondering why do you need to apply solder on the tip of the soldering iron? Also do you need to apply flux to the solder joints before you detatch and reattach the joint? If you do need to apply flux does it matter which type it is, like paste or liquid flux? I would really appreciate a response to these questions. 😊

[@ETcraftingChannel]

Hi! I just followed your video, and the power button works as it should now (hurray)! However now I have a new problem: that being that on startup the screen only shows a few black outlines at the bottom of the screen now..... I can hear the audio of the game so it seems to work but not being able to actually see it is a bit of a downside. Might you possibly know what's going on here and if it's fixable?

[@JoeBleeps]

sounds like the screen ribbon may have become slightly disconnected. First thing I would try is reseating the ribbon cable by opening the catch, pushing the ribbon all the way in and clipping it shut again. Let me know how it goes!

[@ETcraftingChannel]

@@JoeBleeps Is the catch the top or the bottom part of the gameboy?

[@ETcraftingChannel]

I figured out what the latch was (in the bottom part), unplugged and plugged the cable in again and it sadly did not fix the problem. It did fox part of it though funny enough, cause before the stripes took like a minute to completely disappear when shut off, and now they disappear immediately. Maybe I just did not press it in far enough?

[@JoeBleeps]

@@ETcraftingChannel if it made a difference maybe try it again just in case

[@chriswehrkner8842]

Thank you so much! I do have a question though. Have you ever heard of this problem erasing game files?

[@JoeBleeps]

Wiping game saves altogether? No I haven't

[@wayedk1040]

Damn didn't work for me sadly. My problem was that the red light comes on within 15 minutes on full charge. When it turns red I reboot it and it takes another 15 minutes for the light to go red again. It did make sense because if the connection is dirty, not enough power would pass and the gameboy will think it's on low charge and shows a red light. But after cleaning it still does it. It IS modified though, heavily. I added RGB and a laminated screen which sure draw more power, but that shouldn't limit the battery life to 15 minutes right? Battery was also replaced and I modded the charge port to be USB C. It also has slight sound issues. Troubleshooting continues!

[@JoeBleeps]

It could still be the battery, depending on the type you are using. The Helder ones are very good with an IPS screen

[@ValkoorMoonblood]

I've got a similar problem, the battery light turns red almost immediately, even though it's just been charged to full. The battery died last for a few hours even when it's red, laminated IPS screen and a Helders battery. You ever figure out your issue?

[@HectorNector_22]

When i first bought mine from a guy fb marketplace the switch was kinda finikey then i put in an ips screen (using your tutorial) and it started working perfectly but then i bought a replacement speaker because mine is super quiet and after putting it in switching it on became so much worse than originally. I followed this guide and its still the same, is it the switch or something else? Please help 🙏 😢

[@JoeBleeps]

If it's not fixed by cleaning there are replacement switches you can get. I did one on a regular GBA and it worked well

[@DerSaa]

Thank you very much!

[@JoeBleeps]

You are most welcome!

[@rickmartinez953]

Great video. My nintendo sp stays stuck on nintendo screen. will not play video. can you help

[@JoeBleeps]

Sounds like the cartridge contacts need cleaning. Try putting some alcohol on the cartridge pins, then inserting it and removing it a few times. Clean the cartridge pins and repeat a few more times. Give the console time to dry out before switching it on again. Good luck!

[@frankiewild99]

I have a gameboy sp where the charge light just does not turn off, I’m already on my 3rd battery, and I’m starting to think it’s the gameboy, I’m charging it right now and seeing if it stops one last time but it charged like 4 hours yesterday, I’m not sure what it could be but I want to get a soldering set just in case.

[@Tsigarinho]

I installed a funnyplaing ips screen as also a led kit mod to light my buttons. Everything is working fine but i have randomly turning off my console except the LEDs that are keep have power and are light. If i turn the power button off the LEDs are turning off. I thought it was from the power switch but i did what you showed and is not that. I also changed 3 different batteries and the random turning offs are still there....😢 Any ideas?

[@JoeBleeps]

I was going to suggest an updated battery, there may not be enough in a standard battery to power the screen and LEDs. I've built my own and also used the Welder ones that are good. Other than that, I'm not sure. I'd probably try removing the LEDs and do some testing without those to see if the screen is causing issues. Is the screen ribbon fully inserted? It might not be fully seated in place which would cause erratic behaviour.

[@Tsigarinho]

@@JoeBleeps i removed the led kit and is working great now. I played 2 hours without any turning off. I'll try again to install the led. Maybe i didn't solder it good enough the first time. Thanks for your respond!

[@JoeBleeps]

@@Tsigarinho good luck!

[@mikeyneid85]

This was very helpful, thanks!

[@JoeBleeps]

Great! You're welcome

[@Kirbo_exe]

Thanks you so much man !

[@JoeBleeps]

Welcome!

[@Kirbo_exe]

@@JoeBleeps Thanks you ! I have just one question. You see the shielding, it has two ends and on thoses there are two little metal parts that ar separated and soldererd, it's theses that we unsoder. It will short circuit if they are re soldered together ? Like the tin touches the two little metal parts and they are not separated ?

[@JoeBleeps]

@@Kirbo_exe I wondered the same but it should be fine. They are both connected to the shielding so they are both connected already in that way.

[@Kirbo_exe]

@@JoeBleeps Thank you for the answer ! I have finally do it, thank you !!!

[@JoeBleeps]

@@Kirbo_exe congratulations 🎉

[@eiraoi2131]

Is a common problem in all GBA and GBA Sp models

[@JoeBleeps]

It really is!

[@eiraoi2131]

@@JoeBleeps thank you for taking your time to make this video and help players

[@JoeBleeps]

@@eiraoi2131 you're very welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@jskull045]

Did it and its not turning on

[@JoeBleeps]

@@jskull045 could be the battery?