u/Alternative_Ad_8950

Hi everyone!

I recently bought a PAL ITA Super Nintendo at a flea market along with a few games. When I got it home, it wouldn't power on. I had to toggle the power switch repeatedly to clear some internal grime, and after applying some IPA into the switch assembly, it finally powered up.

Initially, it wouldn't read any games. After repeatedly inserting and removing cartridges, I managed to get Super Mario All Stars and Super Mario World to boot, but with significant issues:

Mario All Stars: I reached the main menu and could start a game, but there were heavy graphical glitches (artifacts) and the screen would freeze immediately after starting.

Mario World: It only showed the "Nintendo" logo. Afterward, the map music would play, but the screen remained black.

Other games: Gave a signal (the TV detected an input) but stayed on a black screen.

To fix this, I cleaned the cartridge pins with an eraser and IPA. I also completely disassembled the console for a deep clean. I soaked the cartridge connector (slot) in IPA for a few minutes and brushed the pins thoroughly.

Regarding the motherboard (SNSP-CPU-01):

I checked the pico-fuse and the 7805 voltage regulator with a multimeter, as well as some traces, and everything seemed to be within spec.

The board was covered in a dried, dark brown liquid that also stained the shell and the RF shielding. Based on the color and smell, it looked like a soda spill from years ago. I scrubbed it hard with a toothbrush and IPA, which turned the residue into a sticky paste. I then used a cloth dampened with a little water to remove the stickiness and finished with more IPA and compressed air.

The Current Problem:

After drying, I noticed some white chalky residue and transparent spots (likely sugar) on the board that won't come off even with more scrubbing. I decided to let it dry completely.

After about 5 hours, I reattached the cartridge slot and tested the console. It powers on (LED is red), but now there is absolutely no signal on the TV (not even a black screen or "handshake").

My theory is that there might still be moisture/IPA trapped inside the cartridge slot, or perhaps the soda residue is causing a short/open circuit in the vias.

Has anyone dealt with this before? Any advice on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated. I'd love to save this console!

[SNES] PAL (SNSP-CPU-01) - No signal after cleaning old soda spill. Need help.