GameCube repair marathon! How many can we fix?

[@jacobwood9320]

have you ever successfully fixed a no power issue? currently having this problem & looking for any advice

[@dee7343]

I bought 6 that are on their way to me! Can’t wait to get my hands on them! I grew up on this console

[@suhailinayatulla652]

6 broken ones?

[@dee7343]

@@suhailinayatulla652 Yeah

[@weeblbob233]

I need to buy an multimeter. Thanks.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Definitely. It’s an extremely useful tool

[@elijahnorris6760]

What’s the music playing on the first repair?

[@oOignignoktOo1]

I recapped my board using a kit from console 5 and even after recapping I had to dial down the laser to 112 ohms before it could consistently spin and read discs without issue. For the time being it works but ultimately I may have to get a picoboot mod and serial 2 to sd adapter to play backups for longevity.

[@spicytacos_08]

Hi! I have a gamecube that displays badly and i have no idea what's causing it. Have you encountered that issue before? Do you happen to know what could be causing it?

[@LIRetroGaming]

I have seen issues like that before and sometimes it is related to the AV port. Try cleaning it with CRC contact cleaner and see if that improves the situation. The port might also need to be replaced, or it may be another problem on the board, but that’s where I would start

[@spicytacos_08]

@@LIRetroGaming thanks! i will try that for sure!

[@spicytacos_08]

@@LIRetroGaming so i tried to clean it the best as i could but sadly, it didnt work. I forgot to mention that the image is not centered properly. It has a weird black border but only to the right side of the screen. Do you have any idea of whats going on?

[@bryancampbell4604]

150 is way too low, as that will make the laser use itself way too highly. You want more between 230 to 275.

[@SummerADDE_Elevators]

I sold my old gamecube a few years ago. It had the problem that it booted up normally, but died after a while, I could power cycle it but it would have the same problem. The time it was on shortened for each power cycle but resting it for a bit and booting it up anew could make it last a bit longer... Darn I miss that thing. 10/10 would buy a Gamecube again!

[@iwillturnyouintoatwinkie1895]

That sounds weird- could you go into more detail- were there any visible things that happened before shutdown?

[@SummerADDE_Elevators]

@@iwillturnyouintoatwinkie1895 Nothing I could tell at least. It just turns itself off, with only the fan spinning.

[@iwillturnyouintoatwinkie1895]

@@SummerADDE_Elevators it probably shuts itself down cause the fans might not be in very good condition

[@bottomofabottle8647]

I'm having the same problem what was the solution

[@Sandwich231_]

I just found you and I love your videos, the GameCube is one of my favorite console of all time, I would like more videos of these GameCube repair marathons

[@LIRetroGaming]

Thanks, I should have some more coming soon!

[@wolfpackpete6408]

@@LIRetroGaming I'm completely new to the Gamecube, just but my first one (2nd hand obviously)... The console plays fine but the memory card that came with it is doing this "corrupted" thing. The console wants to re format the memory but it doesn't help at all. I bought a new memory card and that one worked for 3 or 4 days and now the same problem is happening with it. Do you think the memory cards are the problem or is this something inside the console that needs cleaned or fixed? There are a few videos on this issue but they aren't any use, just click bait rubbish. If you could do a video diagnosing the problem(s) with the memory card function failing and how to solve it, that would be amazing!

[@kman463]

Hey how's it going. I also repair gamecubes, but I'm having an intermittent issue. It powers on, then the light goes off, and fan still spins. I thought it was the power pcb on the very bottom of the case, but no, didn't solve my issue. So I swapped motherboards into another fully working system, but weirdly enough, both of them work now. I can't figure out how to remedy this issue. Do you have any ideas?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Wow that’s a really strange issue. I really can’t explain that either

[@AlDim000]

Adjusting the potentiometer before even checking the drive board capacitors is completely wrong. In the vast majority of cases GameCubes have capacitor failures that cause them to stop reading. Pot tweaking to make up for insufficient voltage from the drive board is *not* a real repair and absolutely will not last.

[@LIRetroGaming]

This was an old video that I did before I was aware of the failing caps on the disc drives. I no longer do this and I really need to make an update video

[@Ridley1911]

The first thing you should check on gamecubes that can't read disks is the capacitors in the laser board, there is one in specific that will fail over time and cause the system to not read discs, going straight to the trimp pot and reducing the resistance will actually cause unnecessary wear on the laser itself, if the console wasn't modded and only ran official disks, there is a huge change the laser itself is in good condition. Trust me, check the caps before everything, thats the root of the issue in 90% of the cases. Its usually the 47uf cap located at the edge of the board that fails, but make sure to check all of them.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Good to know about those capacitors. I will definitely test them out in the future

[@Ridley1911]

@@LIRetroGaming Yep, in some cases if you leave the console on for 5-20 minutes in the bios screen, then try to load a game and it reads its 100% a capacitor problem.

[@cowboyluigi5275]

My disc spins but it still can’t be read. The motor for the laser moved, so is the laser itself just weak? Or is it something entirely different?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes most likely the laser is too weak. Did you adjust the strength of the laser like how I demonstrated in the video? There are replacement lasers if it turns out that yours is completely bad

[@cowboyluigi5275]

@@LIRetroGaming I haven’t adjusted the laser yet. I’ve seen other situations where, when the laser is weak, the console will automatically go to the system menu and say “No Disc”. Mine doesn’t do that. it knows a disc is inserted, but then an error message will appear and it only gives me the option to turn the console off. It seems like the laser might still be an issue here, but considering my symptoms are slightly different from what was presented in the video, I wasn’t sure if the cause would also be different or not.

[@dogegamer529]

Mine light doesn't come on when I press power button but the fans start running anyway even though I get no picture how do I fix

[@LIRetroGaming]

That sounds like it’s having an issue with power. The PCB on the very bottom of the system probably needs to be replaced

[@anydan4178]

I got mine about a few years ago and I love it.

[@marciogarcia7246]

Hi. Can you help me? I have a gamecube that is not turning on. The red light works, cooler works, but nothing more hapens... No video signal and disc also does not spins. I've been looking everywhere in youtube but I could not find any troubleshooting for this specific case. Any information will be extremely appreciated. Thanks.

[@LIRetroGaming]

There are fuses on the power supply and also on the motherboard. You should check them in continuity mode on your multimeter - they might have failed and need to be replaced

[@marciogarcia7246]

@@LIRetroGaming thanks for the answer. I checked the power circuit board fuse and it is ok. What i think is not ok is the fact that there is a short circuit (bip) for 4 seconds when i test this board feed connectors... and then after 4 secs it stops to bip and readings stop in 030. Any idea? There shouldnt be a short circuit at this point, right?

[@ronaldhenson3379]

I just bought a Nintendo game cube dol-101 off eBay it was defective it had a good disc drive and controller ports and put the disc drive and controller ports on my original Nintendo game cube dol-001 and it works excellent

[@tena2013]

I sadly don't have the tools needed to even attempt fixing my gamecube. I got a really nice LE tales of symphonia gamecube and out of nowhere it stopped working. Light flashes, fan runs, but doesn't work at all

[@aguilerajohn]

Excellent and informative as usual!

[@bottomofabottle8647]

Mine keeps shutting off and the fan still keeps running any idea

[@LIRetroGaming]

Sounds like a bad power PCB

[@felixsanroman5047]

I recently purchased one and the the meter tester. It was very low so I put it around 200s. I kept testing it out disk spins but it keeps kicking the Lazer away from disk and shutting it down. The game cube is really good condition no rust just a bit of lint. I busted by brain trying to figure out what's another thing to check? Like I said I check the motor to Lazer and the slider is still greased as it should. But no clue what to check next

[@myrancat4257]

Would you be willing to fix my game cube if I sent it and you returned it to me.how much would it cost?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Sure thing, you can reach me at 1uprestorations.com

[@myrancat4257]

Thanks 😊

[@leopoldogonzalez5444]

Hi! My gamecube laser lens lit ups fine, but the disc doesn't spin! What should i do?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Did you try adjusting the potentiometer like I did in the video? What value did you set it to?

[@leopoldogonzalez5444]

@@LIRetroGaming I tried several values from 150 up to 600 tops, spent like 3 hours on it and nothing, i think its a bad lens. What do you think?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yeah to me that sounds like a bad laser. Replacement lasers are available but I personally haven’t tried them

[@DonnieFreymoyer]

Bought one new when they came out it died 3 times 1st time under warranty 2nd time I paid 3rd time I threw it away

[@RileyDavis178]

What's a game boy

[@adhemelfaiky6047]

I need a favor

[@irgecura2170]

Can i have one

[@Dont_tell_sarah]

Great video! Was hoping you would cover the issue I’m having though. My GC just turns off in the middle of playing. No rhyme or reason. It’s super clean although I haven’t taken it apart yet. Any advice would be very appreciated. Thanks

[@bryancampbell4604]

Check for burnt or damaged parts. Most likely a resistor has failed.

[@alejandrocoria14]

I just bought a gamecube for 10$ everything works only thing is the drive won't spin at all like it's jammed idk if the motor is dead ???

[@LIRetroGaming]

Check the switch that detects whether the lid is closed. Sometimes those break and the cube will not power on the laser if it thinks the lid is open

[@danieldvanz6459]

Hello I just bought a GameCube that didn’t read disk because of the lid switch so I fix that now I have videos but no sound any pointers?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Is it a model with the digital port? If so you can connect a carby or an eon adapter to the digital port and see if there is sound. It might be a dirty or damaged multiout port

[@nicholasjones7807]

Do you sell your cubes on eBay?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Occasionally, but most of the time I just do the repairs for other people and don’t have my own supply of spare systems

[@Jay-uu5lu]

Just found your channel and well what are you gonna do with all those gamecubes that you fixed

[@LIRetroGaming]

I repaired those for a friend of mine and he most likely has sold them all by now

[@noahz6980]

Hey my gamecube light will come on for like 2 seconds but then go off and the fan will come on and stay on. What do you think could be wrong? Thank you!

[@LIRetroGaming]

That sounds like a problem with the power PCB which is on the very bottom of the game cube

[@noahz6980]

@@LIRetroGaming Ok, any ideas on how to fix it? Thank you

[@benjamindelosreyes6329]

Need help with my gamecube I have replaced the controller port but still the 4th controller port still does not work. What do I do.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Start by inspecting the solder joints on that controller port and see if any of them are loose. Make sure that the insides are also cleaned with isopropyl alcohol

[@benjamindelosreyes6329]

@@LIRetroGaming will do what's weird is that this same thing happened with the new replacement

[@OzanBozz62]

I wish I still had one.

[@LIRetroGaming]

I can totally understand that. I have never owned one but I get the appeal

[@OzanBozz62]

@@LIRetroGaming the thing is when you were young you wouldnt think that gamecube would be sold out forever ir that it gonna make alot money from it. Now I kinda regret not having it anymore and the games also. I hope one day inwould be able to get one with games I love.