This SONIC 3 Game has a Strange Fault | Can I FIX It?

[@Heymrk]

I'm always fascinated by your willingness to repair absolute crap that shouldn't be repaired.

[@yveice]

Start sound works, reset cycle works, so why should the µC under the blob be broken? After seeing the screen working my first guess was, that somewhere between the blob and the keypad contacts is (lightly) shorten. I would desolder the keypad part completely and measure that there is no contact between the via's < 10M Ohm. And give both boards a very good clean with IPA and a toothbrush or so. As you got a mostly similar device, you could check there if the game is glitching if you hold down (and keep pressed) multiple bottons at once and then power it on and wait until the normal game should start.

[@Mymatevince]

Unlucky Steve. I was sure it was going to be the crystal. Nicely edited Lego mini figures🤣

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Vince! Yeah, I really thought it would have been. I even put the "faulty" crystal into my Double Dragon one and it works fine. Such a shame, I really wanted to get this working, but it wasn't meant to be! 😊

[@rimmersbryggeri]

@@StezStixFix REflow and clean anything connected to the lcd.

[@SimonEllwood]

The crystal was not so likely as after the reset there was some music playing at a sensible speed.

[@masterrudi]

Liked the Lego thing !!

[@captcraig777]

Another astounding failure! The sad part about buying used broken stuff is that sometimes, there is no repairing them. I appreciate the content you put out because it is incredibly educational. When I can afford it, I will start my own electronics journey (at 50 years old mind you). In the meantime, thank you so much for taking the time to create these videos!

[@welshtony1]

It's sad to see how many of these old games have been chucked but that's how they was designed. They was never meant to last long at all :(

[@RobiticDuck]

I love these quiet little electronic repair videos with bits of humor in the editing.

[@RavenorHS]

This was my first exposure to a Sonic game as a child. I remember specifically asking my friend if he had a Sega Megadrive. He said "No, I have a Sega R" by which he meant the registered trademark logo next to the Sega branding on the front of the game >.

[@Yourmomgoestocolledge]

You had a very dumb friend 🤣🤣🤣

[@michaellegg9381]

Lol

[@cheekbonestrenchcoat]

Just want to say thank you I dropped my Switch a little bit the other day and it cause the casing on the Left Joycon to crack and "pop" off the screw at the top. Before this channel I'd have probably panicked and spent a fortune on new ones. Instead I ordered a Switch screwdriver, carefully opened up the casing and rescrewed it in place, fastening the cracked part back in place so it's not really noticeable. Instead of costing me about £50, it cost me about £8 for the screwdrivers. So thanks for giving me to confidence to make a minor repair!

[@CD-Gaming]

I remember I had one of those things but for Golden Axe when I was in Primary School... so simple and straightforward, I think I may have taken it apart at some point as that is where I first encountered that big blob, no idea what the hell it was!

[@elishariedlinger559]

I know this is a but late, but it looks like there may be some traces that are cut. Notice at this time: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIa9iGSNn9V9hqM

[@jeromebullard6123]

I noticed that as well. Corrosion ate through one of them.

[@TheMrDrMs]

A clue for me that it was not the OCXO was that when it stopped its beeping spaz, the little 'jingle' played in time, it wasn't slower or faster than it should be.

[@victorg7036]

I had one of these Sonic 3 tiger games growing up. I had no idea how it played. I would just press the buttons and random stuff would happen. Never knew if I won or not. Also I remember the music

[@StezStixFix]

😁 yeah, most of these Tiger games are very similar I think. Not much playability, but I still love them!

[@cherrymountains72]

OMG, I haven’t LOL’ed so much at the start of a video in a long time. Love the hairdos (hairdonts?) and not taking life too seriously. 👍🏻 No idea what the rest of the video was about though.

[@lisajohnson1528]

Lol love the hairstyles at the beginning love your repair videos best thing on KZbin imo

[@Zombytes]

i remember in one of Vinces videos, he had (I think it was a game and watch) one, that he cleaned up, but it turned out the button contacts where shorting together still, I forgot why, but there was like traces of carbon or something that were making the button contacts short together, not allowing the game to work, and he was thinking it was the blob chip also, until he figured that out. May be something simlar going on with this thing

[@UndeadPasta]

Man I found this channel randomly a week ago and I can't stop watching. Subbed

[@gb7767]

You got your money's worth out of that one ... shame about the outcome. The only thing I could suggest is that you buzz-out all the lines (continuity test on the traces and connectors). Other than that just a good clean of all the contacts including any carbon blocks under the buttons etc. Right, back to MMV's megadrives ... I had to pause it to watch this. The lego-men loading the batteries was a nice touch :D

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks G B! I did actually continuity test the traces, but edited it out. I'm very tempted to have another look at it though, just in case! Thanks for the info 👍

[@theonemanopinion2764]

Just the start of the sonic intro music was enough to get my nostalgia juices going! I still have that game somewhere!

[@SimpleShaun80]

Love this dude, keep this up... Thought it was going to be the crystal on the last one but it wasn't to be. great investigative work though :)

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Shaun, much appreciated mate 👍

[@retroeye-vu4vl]

What crystal

[@EikottXD]

@@retroeye-vu4vl Watch the video.

[@JustinEmlay]

I know this video is old but you could have put the old crystal in your DD game to fully test that part. If the crystal was bad then putting in a wrong crystal value could still have the same bad outcome. So that avenue wasn't fully tested since the crystal value was unknown.

[@ToxoRetro]

🎶If there's something strange, In your 'tronics-hood, Who is gonna call? (Lego) Ghostbusters!🎶 Loving your cheeky animations. 😄 Anyhow Stez, I think the remaining problem is similar to Joey's SMD practice board where it works to an extent then fails at a logic gate change. Let's face it, you've tried everything else... I hope you can get past that sci-fi esk force shield blob to get to the main IC. Best of luck mate. 🤞

[@StezStixFix]

😁 Thanks Toxo! I'm very tempted to try and melt off that blob and see if I can find anything underneath. Doesn't look like it's easy to do, but I've got nothing to lose! 👍

[@Wasper216]

That’s not how you test a diode. Your multimeter even has a diode test function that you completely ignored.

[@coffeyeoin5]

call the police

[@OldUKAds]

And this poster could have been informative on HOW so future people could learn. But nah. Maybe on his or her diode testing KZbin channel.

[@fixins]

You know what's super satisfying with a project like this? Throwing it in the bin.

[@Jinxnator]

Stezzzzy The faces you pull 🤣🤣🤣 Keep the great content coming bro and the video editing is starting to really amaze me 👍

[@StezStixFix]

Haha, thanks Jinxy! I think I'm getting a bit better! 😊

[@Jinxnator]

@@StezStixFix I just noticed the hair change as well 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@StezStixFix]

@@Jinxnator haha, I was wondering if anyone would notice that! 😁

[@Jinxnator]

@@StezStixFix Its hard not too 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@StezStixFix]

@@Jinxnator 🤣

[@fixit2747]

It sounds like a button is stuck on try cleaning the button points might be a short on one.

[@TruMaverick]

Was there ever a follow up video? Or did you melt the blob? Did you ever test the "KZbin comment Suggestion? " Will Sonic ever Run Again!?! So many questions!!!

[@warpath6666]

Only Dave knows for sure and he doesn't talk much 😄

[@TruMaverick]

@@warpath6666 Steve did give me an Update about Sonic. And he said it was bad . A big mess and Sonic doesn't run. Really nice of Steve

[@warpath6666]

@@TruMaverick Oh fiddlesticks !!! I guess I hadn't gotten to that one yet. Great entertaining videos. I've now bought the same mat, soldering station, digital microscope, and multimeter ... dismantling everything that doesn't work for some good practice. The hot air rework station will come later 😄👍

[@TruMaverick]

@@warpath6666 No way! I actually watched all these videos! This channel is very entertaining. Simple yet satisfying 😌. I have been enjoying the singing and learning about fixing, and modifications in a whole new light

[@chris-pike]

Good to see another of your fixing vlogs there Steve there always interesting to watch and something that i really enjoy watching - Nice 1 👍

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Chris, appreciated! 🙏

[@randomretroplays3123]

Really enjoyed watching. If it is the blob then theres nothing much you can do.

[@andrasszabo7386]

Hello, Steve, The inductor and the transistor is the audio "amplifier"/driver circuit. It has nothing to do with the game itself. If you remove them, the game will play fine, but without sound.

[@KorAllRBare]

🐨 The blobbed chip is the only component not tested, So if you have cleaned the tactile switches and they test reliably, then yeah it's that IC under the Blob, At least it's a good donor board seeing all the other components checked out OK.. APU I dropped a 👍

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks 🐨! Yeah, I can't see what else it can be. Will make a good donor board, you're right 👍

[@pintokitkat]

You don't need to recap what you've done in the video because for us you did it seconds ago and we have better memories than goldfish.

[@skylarkblue1]

If there's no issues with hardware, perhaps it's software? Looked like it did a texture dump of sorts and the sound is reminiscent of software crashes. Could be ram is corrupt or broken or similar. Idk I'm just spitballing, I've never worked on this kind of hardware before so idk how it works exactly.

[@jinglequeen]

I had issues with a Mega Man 2 where the buttons for the 'weapon' did nothing. I replaced everything, and it kept having the same issue. There are solid jumper wires that connect the buttons to the board. I replaced those and I got it up and running. (It is also cute and clean inside because I used colored plastic covered jumpers.) I wonder if they are bridging and spamming start...

[@craizydraws4724]

My mind could not and would take one good look at it and say “no” but great job!

[@rcboosted]

Give it the SNES mini treatment? Pop in a pi zero that loads up the actual Sonic 3, and now you have an actual Sonic 3 hand held! But that's a much bigger project though. Need lots of components.

[@delightful-ish]

"Did I do that?" asked while working on a 90s Sonic game...

[@secretbaseinvestigations7039]

Clawfinger! What a band!

[@bryanfields5306]

When you cleaned the circuit board up it looked to me like one of the traces on the PCB is broken,

[@jonmayer]

I had one of these as a kid. Kuddos to you, but I can't see that as being worth the time trying to fix.

[@Pirate_]

7:30 WOW, wise words from a wise man. I would have never come to that conclusion.

[@TheAxelay]

Great video but if it was me?! I'd never sacrifice Double Dragon for Sonic 3 but each their own here.

[@oldguy8177able]

im sure the diode if not faulty is shorting,because in circuit it conducts both ways which it should'nt

[@jonathanlittle8393]

Nice one think you found the issue like the lego helpers

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Jonathan! I really wanted to see this one working, but I guess it wasn't meant to be! 😊

[@thunderlipz]

Did check the flux capicator? I think the guy before was using the "88 reset presses" method, which explains the mashed button. If you still cant get it fixed, send it to me, I'll pass it over to the doc.... Thanks for the video future boy!

[@whatislovebutonelonggame5406]

love the stop motion animation! & say hi to your feline friend for me please~ meow~

[@StezStixFix]

Haha, thanks WILBOLG! 😊 😻

[@joshholbrooks1181]

Seems that one of the buttons and being held down completely

[@wyxchari]

It sounds like a stuck button. Clean the button contacts and check for a short for corrosion.

[@cmbaz1140]

I actually still have this flying around somewhere in the basement...wow

[@MatthewBryce]

Careful with those Kirkland batteries, they leak and destroy stuff

[@jimmyramkisoen191278]

Nice hearcut!

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Jimmy! Fancied a change 🤣

[@samwilliamson4715]

10 different hair styles.. 1 legend Another ‘stupid game’ Nice try tho 👍 👍 🎉 happy new year Steve; appreciate your content

[@HighDefBNG]

I HAD ONE OF THESE! Sorry, I loved Sonic as a kid, was the only super hero I've been into, my heros now have K swaps and LS swaps haha. Great video.

[@andycooper4230]

Great try mate have you tested every trace on the ribbon love the edit

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks mate. Yeah, they all tested ok. I'm tempted to go back and have another look, but I'm pretty sure I was thorough enough. Gutted!

[@andycooper4230]

@@StezStixFix hopefully somebody may know what is under those black bobs always puzzled me why what ever it is needs covering like that 👍

[@StezStixFix]

@@andycooper4230 I tried to remove one on an old ps2 controller, it just seemed to disintegrate and didn't have much to it at all. I definitely want to know more about them! 👍

[@danielvillegas1647]

Great videos! Can I ask what brand is the first flux you used? Thanks beforehand!

[@fnln3011]

the fault is that it's a tiger handheld so what you need to do to fix it is gut it and replace the built in game with a small board running the s3&k rom on an emulator attached to an LCD wired up to those buttons for input.

[@drlegendre]

If it's playing music at the correct pitch / tempo, then the xtal is fine. If the xtal were truly dead, there would be zero activity from the CPU.

[@DudditsJoeFinemusic]

You know, in Europe we call the "crystal" a quartz! Because that IS a quartz! 🙂

[@felixhartard5569]

Only in Germany it is called a "Quartzoszillator" or Short "Quartz". In most other countries it is just referred to as a "crystal oscillator", "Oscilador de cristal", "Kristaloscillator" or "Kristal osilatör". So it is natural to shorten it to "crystal". So maybe widen your view of the world and don't think that YOUR truth is everyones truth.

[@ianhaylock7409]

And the rest of us call it a crystal, because, you know, quartz is a type of crystal.

[@justinparkeradams]

I know I am way late on this but given that it is a Sonic game, could the buzz sound just be Sonic running and the fault is that the game play is not being displayed properly?

[@VTuber_Central]

*avgn:* "why are you fixing this burn them all to hell"

[@larsthestorf5630]

Could those blue wires be the Problem? Maybe some form of bad contact?

[@StezStixFix]

Hi Lars! I seem to remember I did check them and they were OK. But you could be on to something. In hindsight, I maybe should have tried swapping them out! 🤔

[@stevenwheat3621]

You've let me down again..... Just kidding, or am i?....

[@gerryb54ful]

Hi, I was wondering if It could be the ribbon cable that's faulty it would be worthwhile checking it, good luck with it.

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Gerard! I did check it quickly off camera, but you're right, it's worth double checking! Thanks for the info! 👍

[@craiggilchrist4223]

I think something was permanently stuck in the reset hole to keep the game running.

[@themanthelegend7048]

I had this same game and it did the same thing.

[@Ratchet_effect]

I see what you did there, you re-capped the re-cap. A Serious & doable idea, you can remove the epoxy resin with a hot plate & nitric acid. Then some acetone to clean the acid after its melted the epoxy. You might want to do it in the ventilated shed, if you do go ahead 🖖👍

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Steve, I am very tempted to do this - I really want to know what's under there. Although I would have no idea what to do with it once I'd burnt it off! 🙃

[@Ratchet_effect]

Once the epoxy is off and it's clean, simply put it under your microscope. Check for any broken bond wires, please be careful! use gloves, glasses. Oh and only put the acid on the epoxy blob, don't! leave it alone. Your knowledgeable, your common sense wont go out the window, so I can sleep sound knowing your safe & good 😊

[@StezStixFix]

@@Ratchet_effect Definitely sounds like fun 😊 Thanks for that Steve. I may well give it a go. Will have to get a hot plate first though. 👍

[@Ratchet_effect]

Its cool to watch the acid melt the epoxy like butter. If you remember the mini-ware hot plate, we spoke about on Caps stream, the one I told ESM about. That'll do it easy! peace of cake for it, as it's only a small thin board, you won't need much heat 100-120 around ball park. I can't stop yawning so going to catch up on sleep, Have fun! my brother Steve-to-Steve. 😊

[@StezStixFix]

@@Ratchet_effect thanks Steve! I did have a look for that hotplate the other day when you mentioned it. I think I found it on Amazon, but will have another look 👍

[@amalaodoms]

Bought this item TODAY and it makes sound but the screen is too dark to see anything1

[@randomretroplays3123]

I love a good fix it video, big like and subscribed 👍

[@alf1982]

My brother had one of these, while I had The Terminator. It stopped working and I took it apart. I might have got those the wrong way round! 😂

[@GamingBoyColor]

Gotta like the vid cuz the ghostbusters in the first minute

[@nobeac]

If it's a mother board problem isn't it done for?

[@00Glitch]

I need closure on this and I am never going to get it, am I? :(

[@rafaelantonio6765]

the bubble has a malfunction short circuit

[@opinionateddrone]

I had one of these as a kid. I was never very impressed with it, but I played it anyway

[@mattwickham274]

late to the party but did you try to take the reset button out of the circuit ?

[@Littlefighter1911]

Maybe some kind of short near the buttons? After all, pressing down reset at 4:22 made it play for a bit. So maybe the reset is floating currently? Could also be pause/unpause or other buttons not having a great time.

[@MrExeetor]

did u try and measure the "faulty" diode again when u popped it back in? could be something wrong with the board that made the diode have resistance both ways.

[@MrExeetor]

Also just found this video so I know Im abit late ^^

[@principeeee]

Io ho dovuto smontare uno dei miei..lo schermo era diventato meno lucido pensavo fossero le pile..poi ho capito che era questione di contatti e ho risolto usando un prodotto x pulire i contatti

[@602sanchez]

I got these mini thing here too

[@crobinson2624]

I actually have that game along with the Sonic 2 game.

[@kennethbarker852]

1st class video to watch thank you take care kind regards from me kenneth💟💟💟👍

[@squierstrat9502]

It worked fine. That was just the game...

[@mirkoskender4418]

Try to switch displeja and put in, in duble dragon

[@philwhelan226]

Lol the hair styles 😂

[@FelinoAnticomunista]

Nice cat !!!

[@jackal242]

THAT HAIR !!! :)

[@northernninjarunner5506]

Did you ever fix this?

[@hellomeesh]

Wait… your hair changes 🧐

[@MrJDNJ]

Has anyone ever successfully removed the black blob to see what the heck's under there??? I wonder what chemical would dissolve it....

[@309electronics5]

Likely some acid but under the blob is just a bare die its not a whole chip with pins on the side, its the bare die that gets glued to the pcb and then bond wires of gold get bonded from the die pads to the pcb pads. Its the cheapest way to produce a chip and its likely a cheap chinese undocumented microcontroller with some otp code(one time programmable, basicly by blowing efuse based bits in the chips memory you basicly create the 1s and 0s of binary (1 is when a bit is not blown, 0 is when a bit is blown) and thats how the code gets burned in the memory and cant be reprogrammed)

[@barth9580]

Why would you even want to fix a Tiger game? They sucked when they were new.

[@infin1ty850]

Wait, it's "Stez-Stix-Fix"? I think I have been pronouncing it incorrectly this entire time, 😂

[@juanramosb.4029]

I had this one

[@heypockyway6652]

Done something new with your hair mate?

[@StezStixFix]

😄 you could say that! 😊

[@ThiagoMacielpp]

Eu tenho o do Peter Pan feito pela Tectoy.

[@northernninjarunner5506]

At BD Before Dave

[@mirabilis]

Your hair is dancing.

[@indusrealty4617]

who got you that haircut? ;)

[@StezStixFix]

😬 barbers was shut that day 🤣

[@marycunningham8281]

😅

[@brandongray5823]

Small m is Milli capital M mega

[@pauldavies1973]

Google is your friend, use Google

[@swampy1584]

You cant win them all