10th February 2024, 8:11 PM
(This post was last modified: 10th February 2024, 8:19 PM by Dark Jaguar.)
There's a whole lot of things that it COULD be, so unfortunately I can't really pin it down just yet. Here's a few things I'd suggest. Based on what you said, it seems like power is coming on and your TV is getting a signal, but it's just a black image, correct? If you leave it on, do you hear any game sounds? If not, well there's a few things.
First, check the RAM expansion port. Let me know if you have either the expansion pack (the "red top" as only Derrick says) or the original "jumper pack" which merely shorts the connection so the system can still boot. Pull out and reinsert the pack if you would. Double check the power brick in back as well. Pull it out, check the pins, reinsert. If you have the expansion pack inserted, replace it with your old jumper pack, if you can still find it, and try again to see what happens.
Secondly, let's double check the controller ports. Unplug all the controllers and attempt to boot. If it boots, plug in each controller one at a time until it does not. Once you find the controller at issue, check what accessories are plugged into that controller, and unplug them and see if it boots. If it doesn't with a specific accessory or controller plugged in, you found the cause.
Lastly, let's double check that cartridge port one more time. I know you tried to swab with alcohol, but do you have one of those "cleaning products" designed to be inserted into the cartridge port? If so, wet that cleaning edge with some alcohol and insert and remove a few times. Also, take a strong light and a magnifying glass and get a close look at the port. Are any pins misalligned or is there any loose debris, especially something metallic, in the cart? If you find something, before doing anything let me know.
Those are all the basic things I can recommend. Beyond that, it will get a little costlier. You can purchase a replacement N64 power supply, for example. Be VERY careful about third party replacements. The only one I can promise will work for you is:
https://www.game-tech.us/product/ren64/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013EU0AQQ
You will need both products. I only can recommend these because they're the only UL certified options I've seen. But, you may also try finding a replacement OEM (official) used one off eBay. Be SURE to get one from someone with a high review score and which they have confirmed and tested themselves. Avoid "as is" listings.
Beyond this, if nothing else works, you can ship it to me. I'll do a full capacitor replacement and see if that will fix the issue. Now, N64 caps shouldn't yet have gone bad by and large, but there's always the possibility one has. The exception is the ones in the power supply. Nintendo made so many different revisions and models of that little black brick that I'll need to order specific caps for each one it could be. Hmm... if you can't find a working replacement, I can check them all out on my own hardware and see what's up. If you have a local used game store, see if they'll let you test their system with your power supply as well. It'll help rule things out. Last resort still involves shipping the console to me. If I can fix it, I'll send it on back, and if not, you can hunt one down off of eBay. The consoles themselves have gone up in price recently though, but the expansion packs are oddly more expensive. Here's a sale listed on the lower end, since it's console-only.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225996429900?ep...Swa1Rlxskc
First, check the RAM expansion port. Let me know if you have either the expansion pack (the "red top" as only Derrick says) or the original "jumper pack" which merely shorts the connection so the system can still boot. Pull out and reinsert the pack if you would. Double check the power brick in back as well. Pull it out, check the pins, reinsert. If you have the expansion pack inserted, replace it with your old jumper pack, if you can still find it, and try again to see what happens.
Secondly, let's double check the controller ports. Unplug all the controllers and attempt to boot. If it boots, plug in each controller one at a time until it does not. Once you find the controller at issue, check what accessories are plugged into that controller, and unplug them and see if it boots. If it doesn't with a specific accessory or controller plugged in, you found the cause.
Lastly, let's double check that cartridge port one more time. I know you tried to swab with alcohol, but do you have one of those "cleaning products" designed to be inserted into the cartridge port? If so, wet that cleaning edge with some alcohol and insert and remove a few times. Also, take a strong light and a magnifying glass and get a close look at the port. Are any pins misalligned or is there any loose debris, especially something metallic, in the cart? If you find something, before doing anything let me know.
Those are all the basic things I can recommend. Beyond that, it will get a little costlier. You can purchase a replacement N64 power supply, for example. Be VERY careful about third party replacements. The only one I can promise will work for you is:
https://www.game-tech.us/product/ren64/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013EU0AQQ
You will need both products. I only can recommend these because they're the only UL certified options I've seen. But, you may also try finding a replacement OEM (official) used one off eBay. Be SURE to get one from someone with a high review score and which they have confirmed and tested themselves. Avoid "as is" listings.
Beyond this, if nothing else works, you can ship it to me. I'll do a full capacitor replacement and see if that will fix the issue. Now, N64 caps shouldn't yet have gone bad by and large, but there's always the possibility one has. The exception is the ones in the power supply. Nintendo made so many different revisions and models of that little black brick that I'll need to order specific caps for each one it could be. Hmm... if you can't find a working replacement, I can check them all out on my own hardware and see what's up. If you have a local used game store, see if they'll let you test their system with your power supply as well. It'll help rule things out. Last resort still involves shipping the console to me. If I can fix it, I'll send it on back, and if not, you can hunt one down off of eBay. The consoles themselves have gone up in price recently though, but the expansion packs are oddly more expensive. Here's a sale listed on the lower end, since it's console-only.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225996429900?ep...Swa1Rlxskc
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)