So I screwed up my gamecube - help?

[preacher]

So I have screwed up my gamecube and am hoping you guys can help?

Basically the front panel just came clear off. Nothing snapped or riped or broke. So while the cube comes on I can't do anyhting because the controllers dont work:( Now I tried to include a picture to show my problem. As you can see the cord(?) connecting the front panel to the rest of the cube has lost its connection. I know what I have to do, reconect the cord to the front panel, but my question is how? Has this happened to anyone else? Do it need to melt it back on or is there something else I can do? Please help. Thanks.

[chanokin]

I think your GC has some chance to live a little more. I would recomend to find a connector to put those wires where they belong, dont really know where to search, maybe on dead cdrom or floppy disk drives.

the other option is to solder the whires directly, its anyhow a matter of fine soldering.

[preacher]

Yeah thats the problem, I dont have a solder:( I was hoping I coud kinda heat it back into place with a hot screwdrive of some sort. The cable is fine thou, nothing has snaped or anything, so I pretty sure I don't need another one. Was wondering if anyone else has had this problem?

[bugmenot]

no chance without a soldering iron, but for one time use you can just buy a cheap 5$ one. if the contacts are still fine you can just resodler it, if not you have to get a new cable. i also sugest you a socket instand of sodlering it direcktly on, its easyer to solder and you can replace it easyer

[Xboxmodder999]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20389&item=8184361430&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
I suggest that you contact the seller of that item, he most likely has the controller board, and will sale you it for cheap.

I have purchased a few times from him, and he is really helpfull.

[DeepBlade]

yes, that would be the best way out of this mess.. all you need is a new panel, then u can re-attatch it to the cube

you may even search for broken gamecubes on ebay for.. $20ish? , most of which (i would assume) have problems with the laser... so the front panel is still working.

[ammerzoden]

i have a new panel for you, iam from the netherlands so contact me if you want

[preacher]

Originally posted by Xboxmodder999
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20389&item=8184361430&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
I suggest that you contact the seller of that item, he most likely has the controller board, and will sale you it for cheap.

I have purchased a few times from him, and he is really helpfull.

Yeah I m guessing I may have to do that. But I live in the UK:/ Does anyone mind uploading an image of how the conector looks contected to the front panel? I guess I might as well try to burn ****;)

[shangrula]

amature time: why not just get some electrical tape (or probably any good sticky tape) and just stick it back in place? there's nothing bad that can happen from trying before you spend money or burn stuff

just a thought...

[knubbe]

Don't buy a new one whatever you do!... Same thing happened to me - someone tripped on a cord and that ribbon came off. All you have to do is solder each little strip onto the corresponding place on the chip. If I recall the outside metal bits on controller port chip isnt used.

[preacher]

LOL - cool! K, quick question before I start doing anything, where do place the cord? Exactly where it was before? Or will roughly do it? Also (stupid qestion) erm, what does a solder do? I mean, can't I just use a hot screw driver and place them back into place?

Oh, and the electircal tape will work, but sometimes it comes loose (durring a game) and then your screwed:/ LOL

[Xboxmodder999]

Originally posted by preacher
LOL - cool! K, quick question before I start doing anything, where do place the cord? Exactly where it was before? Or will roughly do it? Also (stupid qestion) erm, what does a solder do? I mean, can't I just use a hot screw driver and place them back into place?

Oh, and the electircal tape will work, but sometimes it comes loose (durring a game) and then your screwed:/ LOL

No a hot screw drive will not work, you can not get it near hot enough for it to work. Just do as I suggested, purchase a new one. You can get one for very cheap(Like $10 shipped). talk to ammerzoden, he will probably sale you one for cheap.

A soldering iron is going to cost you more then a new panel will cost;)

[preacher]

I just found a solder for £8;) Panels are costing more like £18 due to p+p;)

Might as well give the solder a shot though:/

[revengeismyfury]

Yo I had the same problem. My freaking nephue accidentally pulled on the panel while the top was on and the cable broke loose.

I thought I was screwed then noticed it sticks when I stick it back in the same place.

Buy a cheap solder gun then press down each metal contact of the ribbon cable onto the board where it originally was.

once you do that it will be like it never happened. A fast 2 minute fix doesnt require any extra solder just a plain heated up soldering gun:D :D

Really easy to fix and you should not have to buy another panel!

Becareful that none of the points touch each other.

Make sure you have a fine decently fine tip on the soldering gun.

and press each metal contact onto the board in downward strokes. It will make it easier that way so that the points dont cross or touch eachother.

If someof em bend out of place just bend em back in place. Good luck and I hope its just as easy for you a little patience will have it up and running within 2-10min.


Depending on your experience it could possibly take you an hour or 2.

[nukleuzdj]

replacement part here if you have no joy with fixing it yourself.
£9.99 is reasonable price too id say (not sure what the postage will be)
https://www.ps2repairs.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=128

[molton]

that's my biggest problem with the gamecube's design, why didn't they put a connector there instead of just soldering it too it, I had one pin disconnect that I had to resolder.

Soldering isn't that hard but I'd imagine soldering with a hot screwdriver would be next to impossible lol. Go to a place like radioshack and pick up a soldring iron, some solder (rosin core 50/60 or something like that is standard for elecrtonics I think) and a cheap digital multimeter, you could probably get it all for $20, then resolder all the connections and use the continuity setting on the multimeter to make sure none of your connections are bridged or anything, that would suck to spend all that time money and effort just to fry your gamecube. If you did bridge any connections you can use a knife to seperate it while heating the solder again. It'd be easier to get a replacement if you can but then the next time you need to re-connect a wire you'll have to buy a replacement part too, you might as well take the learning expirience and spend the money on the tools instead.

[Xboxmodder999]

that's my biggest problem with the gamecube's design, why didn't they put a connector there instead of just soldering it too it, I had one pin disconnect that I had to resolder.

I don't think that they were planning on people opening it ;)

[thecheekymonkey]

well, if your soldering it back on, i suggest some flux mate, as this will make the solder "weld" to the contact.

heat is your enemy on this job

[ROFLMyWaffle]

I just wanted to say I have a front panel in perfect condition I'm not using, and I'll take $5 USD + shipping for it. I just need to put the power led back on there, but that's not a problem for me. And its a soldering iron (lol) its a tool that heats up solder (a metal that melts at lower temperatures) to form a sort of conductive glue

[preacher]

Just to let everyone know I seemed to have fixed the problem with out buying a new front panel or soldering!! I used some electical tape!!:D While I initially tried this and it wasnt to successful I brought a better "brand" and it seems to have been doing just fine. You just need to be careful when you put the tape on. Works fine now:D Thanks for all you help:)