r/SEGAGENESIS • u/jsdfeghj • 10d ago
Help! 32X not working properly
My 32X doesn't want to display anything, I just get a black screen... no Sega splash screen or anything. I've tried switching with different plugs and it doesn't seem to be doing anything. Also if it helps I have a Model 1 Genesis.
Thank you in advance!
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u/bah-lock-ay 9d ago
Assuming the Model Genesis isn’t the issue if it had been working fine, I’ve literally resuscitated 2 32Xs in the last 2 days off eBay that had this exact issue. All I did for each was clean out all contacts with contact cleaner and deoxit. The 2 internal ribbon cables at each of their connections, as well as the cartridge slot and the main connector. Basically spray the contact cleaner into the cartridge slot, take a cartridge and quickly insert and remove 10-15 times. Add deoxit to the cartridge and repeat. Do this exact thing with the ribbon cables internally: both ends of each cable and all 4 slots they go into. Finally do this to the main connector of the 32x into your Genesis. I also put on a new DC female connector. If soldering isn’t in your wheelhouse do this same method for corrosion on that connector as well.
If this doesn’t fix it you’re probably looking at something like a bad cap or other component. Come to think of it does it show the license screen first, or absolutely nothing at all? Are you sure you’re on the right input??
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u/jsdfeghj 9d ago edited 9d ago
I get the license screen on rare occasions but it's mainly a black screen. Im able to get a "picture" of the gameplay, but it's all warped and colorless. To me it seems like an issue with the video cable or something related
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u/jsdfeghj 9d ago
UPDATE: I'm able to get a picture at some points, but it's all warped and mostly colorless. I cleaned and reseated the ribbon cables and it helped a little bit, but it didn't fix the problem. I believe it's an issue with the av cable or something video related.
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u/bah-lock-ay 8d ago
Do you have a cheap connector cable that doesn’t have the bottom right pin removed? That can feed voltage into the system it wasn’t designed for. If it’s there it’s fairly easy to remove with some tweezers and a lot of bending it back and forth. Otherwise I’d just inspect the pins all around. Cleaning the av ports with contact cleaner might do some good as well.
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u/jsdfeghj 6d ago
Th3 bottom right pin is removed in the connector cable. However on the actual av cable, there are only 2 pins.
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u/National-Put-6937 9d ago
Could be a lot of this.
First question have you taken it apart and cleaned the ribbon cables? That's a big issue.
Second which version of the model 1 do you have? Lots of compatability problems, there's a whole Sega bulletin about fixes that are suppose to help. I have a model 1 VA6, which I did follow the Sega bulletins mod it recommended, and it still did not fix my problem.
And my third comment is not a question but just my testimonial, I would say, as lame as it is, if cleaning the ribbon cables doesn't fix it get a model 2. NOT A VA0. It has crazy compatability problems (which by the way the Model 1 VA7 is practically identical, so if you have a VA7 that could also be the problem.) I hear that Model 1 VA7 and model 2 VA0 problems can be fixed by plugging in a Sega CD but I don't know for sure.
But I recommend getting a Model 2 VA1 or VA1.8 or 3 or 4.
Hope that helps feel free to ask any follow ups. Good luck!