Nintendo 64 Game Screen Not Displaying Properly
The power light is on but the television screen is black, flashing or does not look right when turned on
It's Dirty
Most Nintendo 64 problems can be solved by cleaning the game cartridge or by cleaning the cartridge slot. If neither of these solutions work, you will need to inspect the pins that connect the cartridge slot to the motherboard to see if there are any broken connections.
Reseat the Jumper or RAM pack
The Nintendo 64 won't boot all the way without a Jumper or RAM pack properly installed. Open the little cover on top of the console, pull the expansion pack out a bit (first two steps) and then pop it back in.
Problem with RF or AV Cables
If cleaning the system does not fix the problem there may be an issue with the RF or AV cable hookup to your television. Verify that the cables are hooked up properly. Also verify your television's compatibility with the type of cables you are using. If this yields no answers, swap the cables with another working set of cables to see if this fixes the problem.
If the problem persists, there may be a circuit problem located on the motherboard. To fix these, you will need to repair the audio video port.
Red Light Doesn't Turn On
The red LED Nintendo 64 light on the front of the console does not light up when the console is powered on
Problem with the LED bulb
Fortunately, the LED light should not affect the functionality of the system, so if it is broken the console is still functional. However, if you care about the cosmetics of your system, you should simply replace the bulb.
Nintendo 64 Won't Turn On
Turning the power on yields no results
Problem with Power Cord
A bad power cord could be the cause of your Nintendo 64 not turning on. Verify it is hooked up properly, then swap the cord with another working power cord to see if it fixes the problem.
Bad circuit connection from power cord to motherboard
There may be circuit connections that are misaligned or completely detached. To fix this, you will need to repair the power connections.
Bad Motherboard
If your console does not respond in any way when the power is switched on it may need a new motherboard. Most of the unit's parts are attached to the motherboard, so replacing should provide a good all around fix.
Controller is Not Working
The controller is either unresponsive or half-responsive
Malfunctioning button(s)
The problem with the controller may be caused by one or more non-working buttons. You may need to open the controller and clean the affected button.
If this does not solve the problem, you will need to check the contact points between the controller and the motherboard and replace them if necessary.
None of the Above
If none of the above remedies the problem with your Nintendo 64 your best bet is to post a question in our Answers forum. If worst comes to worst, the controller can be found for a very reasonable price online, and your old controller can be saved for spare parts, or responsibly recycled.
Team
Cal Poly, Team 5-4, Regan Fall 2009 Member of Cal Poly, Team 5-4, Regan Fall 2009
CPSU-REGAN-F09S5G4
7 Members
15 Guides authored
50 Comments
hey what id the conecters are rusty
PIE NATION - Reply
What makes a Nintendo blink on and off when you turn it on?
mary bolin - Reply
Mine also has the same issue. The red light lights up briefly with a pop sound sent to the speakers, but either doesn't have enough voltage/amperage to power the system, or there is a short in it, causing a cycle of red light blinking and popping about every 0.3 seconds.
Jacob Mantz (忍マンツ) -
Put a Killer Instinct II Gold cart into a working system and got no video or sound out. Put a working Turok cart in and also got nothing. Put my backup system on and tried the Turok. It worked as expected. Tried the Killer Instinct cart, got nothing and now I have two down systems. I didn't think a cart could kill a console, but apparently it can. I opened the cart and there is no evidence of tampering inside (no obvious shorts, so foul play is out).
Jeff Sockwell - Reply
I picked up a copy of killer instinct gold today and was getting the same black screen. I took it apart inspected it. Cleaned it and still nothing. Just out of curiosity I put the game back in. I turned it on and still a black screen but then I removed my rumble pak from the back of my controller and the game started right up. I put the rumble pak back in the controller and restarted my console and again black screen. Once again I removed the rumble pak and the game started right up. It starts right up anytime there isn't a memory card or rumble pak connected to the controller. Hope this helped.
Josh kennedy -