Game Boy Color - No Audio - Fixing Ebay Junk - No Sound

I've got a Game Boy Color that is having audio issues. I get sound through the headphones, but no sound through the internal speaker.
This is often an issue with the headphone jack, so I show you how to clean it and restore sound.
Tools You'll Need: eBay Affiliate Links:
Tri-Wing Screwdriver: rover.ebay.com...
#RetroGaming #RetroRepairs #FixingEbayJunk
Want to buy me a beer? Or a broken console? Hit up the donate link (But only if you want, don't feel obligated). www.paypal.com...
Thanks for watching

[@CandyGramForMongo_]

Alcohol. The cause of and the solution to all of life’s problems!

[@abelreiscarvalho7143]

😹😹😹😹😹😹

[@awmehgoddd]

I wouldn't recommend drinking isopropyl, but hey, you do you.

[@CandyGramForMongo_]

I really can’t see doing that.

[@joshwa9794]

Have to say I love your videos. I'm a service engineer for samsung but I learn little tricks and tips from you everytime. Videos are so relaxing and always gaming related which I love. Please continue to create videos.

[@qioz6607]

Thanks man, I was litteraly jumping in joy once I heard the sound start working. Saved me a couple of bucks 👍

[@CaptmagiKono]

This is why I started to remove any disposable batteries from their devices when i'm not using them, battery acid is a real issue.

[@RetroRepairs]

Definitely. Usually that comes when they've been sitting for years. Someone played it, put it down and never touched it again.

[@joshuabradberry9823]

Sometimes they’ll even explode.

[@ReshiLuna]

@@joshuabradberry9823 yeah, the battery in my childhood pokemon crystal cartridge exploded and broke the cart, and I had to get a new one. (If you're curious what it did when put in to the gameboy, it would go past the gameboy logo, then stay on a white screen.)

[@TheBrokenPast]

What a coincidence. Great minds must think alike! :) Awesome video as always, @RetroRepairs. Glad you got this one working again, and saved from the trash. Well done!

[@Retrobution]

superb, it was the headphone jack the tiny metal connector that separates when the headphone is plugged in :) thank you

[@VanisherXP]

4:03 the instantant regret when he realizes he just scraped the paint and the case is transparent. BTW, am I the only one that get's triggered because that old flux goo in the corner was never scrubbed away?

[@korbynavi7940]

i know Im pretty randomly asking but does anyone know of a good site to stream newly released tv shows online?

[@ralpharon5523]

@Korbyn Avi i would suggest FlixZone. You can find it by googling :)

[@almarri9001]

You intros never fail to jump scare me.. love your videos.

[@PersonausdemAll]

🤣👍

[@joshuasutton678]

Mine had the exact problem. And now it's fixed because of you. Thanks Man!!!

[@northern830]

wow your channel is growing fast lol

[@MrDbrennen]

Deserved. I used to fix up PSPs and DS handhelds for a hobby, too much to do these days so watch RetrotRepairs do it instead. Very zen

[@killianryan9823]

hey really enjoy your videos. would you do a tutorial on shell replacement for GBA sp and possibly a IPS mod aswell? thanks man keep up the content

[@RetroRepairs]

If i get one, definitely. I dont have an SP to work on yet, but I'll keep an eye out

[@aurthorthing7403]

Just a heads up: That's not battery acid, it's alkaline and the vinegar is acid.

[@RetroRepairs]

True, "battery acid" is the common phrase for it and what most people would think of it as, but you would be correct. The electrolyte inside is not "acid", but rather a base. Vinegar would not neutralize another acid.

[@awmehgoddd]

@wargent99 It's not juice because it didn't come in a sippy cup

[@dannysamman3384]

@@awmehgoddd the most knowledgeable thing I've read in this whole comment section.

[@medwardl]

I have half a dozen Gameboys with this problem I originally tracked down speakers for them but then got to thinking that it would be really implausible to have that many bad speakers.

[@daftward9292]

Had the same issue but it was a lot more corroded with my Gameboy for the terminals. Ordered some new ones for that. Was relieved to find out the white flaking wasn't as serious of an issue as I thought it was, but there was corrosion in all the little holes on the board in between the A&B buttons and speaker. Audio is the same issue too, so this video is a Godsend.

[@chrisw1634]

18:52 I think you inadvertently turned the volume down all the way as you said full volume lol

[@pawelpipowich9304]

For cleaning matal parts i have a tip for you. Use your dremel and a soft bras brush

[@doomhuntress886gaming]

Nice nose shot in the beginning lolz

[@mr.skeltal8687]

Wires in the shell visible in the thumbnail, but not shown in the video?

[@RetroRepairs]

Ive since put a frontlight install from a different console into this. I realized too late I never took a "before" picture for the thumbnail

[@CamachoArthur]

I learned today!

[@MindoverMaster1]

You aren't worried about the other corner that looks corroded?

[@ThiagoMMM]

1 day, 1 video 🙏🏻

[@kliop00023]

easier said than done :\

[@adventureoflinkmk2]

7:27 -- you could prolly use a dremel with a wire wheel attachment to get off that ick...

[@Kakuja1111]

Love your videos!!!

[@fenderbc03]

Liked!! Coming back later to watch.

[@neyensb]

Let's get this wet and shove it in there a few times - RetroRepairs

[@RetroRepairs]

My technique is simple, yet effective

[@airplane6417]

what do you say about a gba sp or a ps2? I know your in Canada, but they are going to be fun.

[@yairbtz4930]

Thank you so much this video was useful for me.Ionly had to clean it.

[@walterhaase]

Love your vids, fellow Canuck. Just wondering though. Shouldn't you use baking soda to neutralize acid?

[@RetroRepairs]

The battery "acid"is really a base, so vinegar works for this. In theory the baking soda would neutralize the vinegar, but alcohol washed it out, so all good

[@walterhaase]

@@RetroRepairs Ah, good to know

[@KISSbestfan]

I was feeling kinda guilty I left only such a short comment. So I decided to come back, as I was having one question that had been bugging me: I saw a few guys doing a consolized versions of Sega Game Gear, and instantly thought about doing the same with Gameboy (DMG, Pocket or Color), and honestly - the only thing that could be problematic in my opinion would be the video output of this baby. Other things you can do pretty easily - re-positioning the cartridge slot, power supply, power button, audio output and button mapping for the controller (this one is actually incredibly easy if you follow a certain trick). I'm not sure whether its even possible to recieve a video output. Earlier I thought that maybe the CPU chip outputs video, which is then converted into the lines going into the LCD, but if its not the case, then I'm a bit clueless. I even thought about checking out Super Game Boy board, but I guess it doesnt help much either, as it uses some help from the SNES. Why even bother doing this ? Well I guess its because I started to re-discover the Gameboy games when shown on a better screen. I have a cheap PSP clone that plays Gameboy games (plus some other like NES and Genesis, but thats not the case here), and after hooking it up into the small CRT I thought "Hey, this looks neat". So I thought instantly about an opportunity for a fun project, whenever a cheap Gameboy pops out with a broken screen. Maybe you have an idea whether my plan has a chance for success ?

[@RetroRepairs]

I don't know too much about specifically how the video on a game boy is created, but that's a cool concept. I'd have to think it's doable though, but sorry i couldn't be of more help with that.

[@KISSbestfan]

@@RetroRepairs thanks ! I guess I just have to keep searching for a solution then !

[@gartmorn]

I bought a transistor radio, sold as not working, and the problem was the same as in this instance ie earphone jack contamination. Common problem!

[@RetroRepairs]

Yep. Happens with iphones too

[@doctormoebius3007]

Your Video helped me a lot, thank you!

[@gcz-zy9ix]

i wanna fix one of these soon. already fixed and modded a gba and also a game gear fix on the way

[@theannoyedmrfloyd3998]

Hopefully the volume slider isn't dirty, too.

[@airplane6417]

Strange enough, I just got a broken Gameboy color with bad audio. HMMMMMM...

[@michaeladams9807]

Can you repair my wife she has a issue with her mouth. 😂 Love your repair videos 👍👍

[@RetroRepairs]

I'm afraid there's no fix. You'll need to find a parts unit

[@PersonausdemAll]

Lool 🤣👍

[@michaeladams9807]

Nice fix 👍👍

[@ReshiLuna]

My gameboy colour's speaker just outputs a CRT like buzz/hum instead of audio most of the time, but occasionally does work somewhat, how can I fix that? Is it caused by the same thing? (Also, love how you're playing crystal too, that's why I want to fix mine!)

[@RetroRepairs]

Possible that the contracts in three headphone jack are bad, but it could also be that the speaker has been affected by leaky batteries

[@JuicyJakeRepairs]

Funny enough i have one just like this! Although my backlit mod has died after a year so i need to fix that 😅

[@RetroRepairs]

Interesting. Did the panel die, or do you figure a wire came loose?

[@JuicyJakeRepairs]

@@RetroRepairs Its flickering, i think the panel is on its way out. Looking at the wire from outside the case it still seems attached. But thats about as far as ive got with it. I wiill probably end up doing a video on it hahahaa

[@cancelhandles]

@@JuicyJakeRepairs Please do, I'll watch it.

[@JuicyJakeRepairs]

@@cancelhandles haha its on my list of things to do, got a bunch of other stuff first :)

[@PuffyRainbowCloud]

There are some great "drop in" screens now, maybe look into one of those?

[@RetroPlayer93]

I love your content!

[@pierrelombardino3654]

First time watcher and I was so scared I didn't know you can spray electronics with alcohol!

[@ronniebrown2381]

How come I don’t ever see you use air in a can?

[@RetroRepairs]

No real use for it. Not much is that dusty, and it doesn't help with dirt, grease or other grime

[@soulmourne2698]

My gb pocket had a broken speaker the 3.5 mm jack was ok i tried with an other speaker and works just fine

[@RetroRepairs]

That also can happen. If you see battery acid everywhere, check the headphone Jack. If it's clean, check the speaker and wires first

[@Toogman]

"Let's get this wet and shove it in a couple of times to see what happens" If a blind person was to hear this video

[@wildstoo]

I was "watching" this video while playing a game and when he said that I pretty much had to look at the other monitor to make sure I was still watching a repair video.

[@jacobmedina9011]

Link to that blue mat you use ?

[@CandyGramForMongo_]

“Solder mat” on Amazon. :)

[@jacobmedina9011]

@@CandyGramForMongo_ awesome thank you

[@matjazvoros2095]

I have a similar problem on my Color. I tried all things you showed, and my Color is like 70 % more preserved and clean... any help on what I can do? Also..I have a problem with my Pocket. It turns on only with the 3DCV adapter, I tried the obvious stuff people show on video, does anyone notice anything else on the board that could be wrong? m.imgur.com/a/1fnLZmf Thanks in advance!

[@blindsniper9794]

Did you do the front light mod after you filmed this repair?

[@RetroRepairs]

I moved a front light mod from an opaque shell to this one, that's why there's wires in the thumbnail

[@RetroRepairs]

@Tom Piner i already did the frontlight mod before, I've made a video. I just swapped that installation into this shell. Ive got a different GBC video in the works though

[@hderijk3187]

My pokemon red is glitched, is there any way to fix a corrupted ROM? I already tried reflowing and cleaning. All help appreciated! After prof. Oak makes some weird noises, the game freezes when starting a new game.

[@mistdyna]

At 9:50: "Phrasing."

[@awmehgoddd]

(clicks timestamp) "-few times... see what happens."

[@ericgurganus5193]

Why post a timestamp that's 4 seconds ahead of what you're trying to reference

[@TheMixmastamike1000]

your liver is gonna hate you in 10-15 years if your doing this all the time gloves are probably a good idea ( in reference to the ipa but the battery acid can't be great either )

[@PersonausdemAll]

Hands + liver? 🤔

[@26conno]

9:46 that's what she said...

[@greywolf393]

I knew someone would say it. Well done....

[@refractionpcsx2]

Hmm, are you sure that was the audio issue? I mean sure the battery acid was a problem that needed dealing with, but when you first tried it, the audio did come on after a few seconds, which is the same thing that happened after you "fixed" it. To be honest it sounds more like a bad cap to me than a problem with corrosion. That did need cleaning though

[@RetroRepairs]

Issue has not returned, so im fairly sure yes. I had played around with it a bit prior to even starting the video so i suspect i knocked some of the built up battery residue loose, allowing the circuit to complete again

[@refractionpcsx2]

@@RetroRepairs fair enough! I was gonna say I'd be curious if it came back if you left it for a while, glad it hasn't :)

[@cyo_corner]

What tripod/phone holder are you using?

[@DazedGhost]

im stuck before the 1st step. I dont even have the screwdriver

[@andybaker6088]

What are the two wires (red/black) running across the front of the Gameboy doing?..they can only be seen in the still image of the Gameboy and don't seem to be there throughout the video...is this another mod of some sort?...just curious

[@RetroRepairs]

It would be a Frontlight mod. This was a long time ago, but i believe i forgot to grab a cover photo before the mod.

[@botersaus7244]

Do you have any tips on how (and where) to buy faulty gameboys like this for a low price?

[@RetroRepairs]

Just gotta check often. Alot are too expensive to be worth it. It might be a cheap way to get a unique color option, but they'll be hard to profit off if you're trying to resell.

[@botersaus7244]

@@RetroRepairs Do you buy all of your retro consoles on eBay? And what would be a good price?

[@RetroRepairs]

@@botersaus7244 usually, yes. And price will depend on what's wrong. I wouldnt spend more than about $20 on one unless it was a limited edition. Power is usually an easy fix, dirty power switch or battery terminals. Screen issues could be a simple polarizer, or a whole screen replacement. I also look for a battery cover that comes with it, otherwise it's just another expense to get one.

[@botersaus7244]

@@RetroRepairs Thank you very much, I will take that into account.

[@rdxdt]

The vinegar (acetic acid) neutralized the battery acid? It makes no sense...

[@RetroRepairs]

"Battery acid" is really a base, but the commonly used name for the alkaline electrolyte that leaks out is 'battery acid'

[@Netist_]

I've got a DMG-01 I'm trying to fix. At first it didn't turn on, but I gave it a clean and it works great now. The screen has some issues, though. There's a couple dead columns. If I reflow the pins on the ribbon that connects the display to the board, it'll work perfectly--for an hour or two. Eventually the dead columns will show back up, though. Which columns are dead also seems to change, though they're always close to the left side of the display. I've also noticed that if I tap gently on the ribbon cable, the columns in the problem are flicker in and out. Any advice? I'm thinking that maybe the cable itself has problems, in which case I guess I might just need to replace the display entirely? The volume is also extremely low, and the volume wheel doesn't seem to do anything. The wheel was bright blue and extremely corroded, so even though I gave it a thorough clean, I have a feeling the potentiometer might have just given up the ghost.

[@RetroRepairs]

Those vertical lines are finicky. It can take a LONG time to get it repaired reliably. Have you tried fixing again? I doubt the ribbon is flaky, but maybe the solder joints at the other end are iffy They make a nice ips screen mod, this could be a good candidate. You can't replace the stock screen, the part isn't available unless you harvest it off another unit

[@retrolobo]

The thumbnail of the video shows some internal wires that are not in the vide.... right?

[@RetroRepairs]

Yes. I realized while putting the video together that i forgot to take a before picture. I've since moved a frontlit modded screen into this shell in preparation for another video

[@retrolobo]

@@RetroRepairs oh nice!! looking forward to that one :D thanks

[@ryturner103]

I have the opposite problem. Speaker is fine, but headphones have no sound. Could you give me some pointers? i've already installed a backlit screen :)

[@pandellic]

take a qtip and dip it in ipa, then put it in the headphone jack and turn it

[@Martinsrulesd00d]

"Let's get this wet, shove it in a few times, see what happens. "

[@foxtochopkun4438]

What is the intro song? It sounds very familiar... can't find it anywhere!

[@RetroRepairs]

Someone made it and sent it to me, feeling my channel needed some into music.

[@caseyflemming8962]

Where can I get one of them mats that you are using ?!

[@greywolf393]

Amazon has them. Shot $10-$20

[@abeleski]

Those alkaline AA batteries are Alkaline. Not acid. So they leak a base which is why vinegar neutralizes it as it is an acid. Unless you are powering your game boy with a car battery :). And i am sure you know this but if you are making videos others will watch its probably good idea to use right terminology

[@grantjoslin3637]

Not sure what you thought scrubbing the painted area on the board was gonna do, for anybody reading, a q tip used only on the contacts will work beautifully and not ruin the finish.

[@ZackMuffinMan]

🐨

[@HowdyYT]

Might be a bit of a long shot, but I just got a broken gameboy color off eBay. After cleaning the switch and battery contacts the unit powers on, but freezes after the gameboy/Nintendo logo screen. Anyone else have this issue? Tested the connections with a multimeter and game carts make full contact with the connector. The Nintendo logo is always clear. Thank you for the help!

[@HowdyYT]

Basically after the gameboy/Nintendo screen I get a blank white screen.

[@RetroRepairs]

Have you tested with another game?

[@HowdyYT]

RetroRepairs yes I’ve tested with two games. They both work on multiple other gameboys and have been cleaned during testing

[@RetroRepairs]

I'd probably start checking traces, especially around the battery contacts. Leaky batteries may have broken a trace. The clear "Nintendo" means the game is being read, but the console still can't boot it

[@HowdyYT]

RetroRepairs thank you. I’ll update my comment if I come to a solution!

[@iamdarkyoshi]

What's with those wires on the thumbnail?

[@RetroRepairs]

I forgot to take a picture of it before i moved frontlit screen into it after i fixed the audio

[@crzymktrdrebel]

Hello can I send I my Game boy Horror for you to fix for a profit?

[@artificialfrontiers4603]

This video has sound. I'm hearing audi-oh...

[@Darxide23]

Protip: Pipecleaners for headphone jacks.

[@RetroRepairs]

That'll work great for the inside, but need to make sure it gets between the contacts that enable/disable the speaker

[@luki163333]

"No sound" - 0:00 fixed

[@MarioMario456]

Second

[@KISSbestfan]

Yet another one experiencing battery leak

[@RetroRepairs]

Super common with these handhelds. At one point, probably without even realizing, someone played their Game Boy Color for the last time, and those batteries probably sat there for years.

[@KISSbestfan]

@@RetroRepairs just like most battery powered stuff. By the way sorry for a short comment. Im kinda drunk lol :P Take care !

[@RetroRepairs]

@@KISSbestfan no worries, cheers!

[@MrKurly23]

Can you fix my Sega Saturn

[@grantjoslin3637]

Yeah, don't use a hard toothbrush on circuit boards kids. A q tip dipped in 99% alcohol works wonders.

[@CamachoArthur]

I learned today!