Hardware Is there a way to clean the wii lens?

[metri3]

Is there a way to clean the wii lens without buying a kit from nintendo?...

I have a cd with lens cleaners on it, but the wii will not play cd audio and I can't find a homebrew app that will play cd audio either.

I would like to do this as preventive maintenance, but my cousin's wii gives him errors. His kid is pretty upset he can't play the wii. Please help. Thank you.

 

[d3monsting]

I think most of those cleaners sold outside do similar cleaning thingys, but why not Nintendo? Or I guess you could open up the Wii and do some complex stuff and then put it back together.

 

[metri3]

Just checked Nintendo's site and they are "out of stock"... who knows for how long...

Sorry... "not available for purchase" is the words they use.

 

[d3monsting]

Ok, So like I mentioned the standard ones are ok, often some generic brands are sold in GameStop and/or equivalents. Best wishes.

 

[OriginalHamster]

How years old is your Wii?

 

[wiixale]

[...]I have a cd with lens cleaners on it, but the wii will not play cd audio and I can't find a homebrew app that will play cd audio either.[...]

Even if Wii doesn't read an audio CD, when it tries to load it the CD is still turning aroud, so the brush should work anyway.

 

[metri3]

The brushes are located in the middle of the disc. I don't think it will work, especially on the wii that is getting the errors...

 

[metri3]

How years old is your Wii?

OLD

Got it release day.

 

[iggloovortex]

i bought my kit from Gamestop, then once that ran out and i was still getting problems i said fuck it and just opened up my wii and used a cotton swab and alcohol.

 

[metri3]

i bought my kit from Gamestop, then once that ran out and i was still getting problems i said fuck it and just opened up my wii and used a cotton swab and alcohol.

Sh*t. I was afraid of that. I wouldn't mind doing it on mine, but I don't wanna mess up my cousin's kid's wii. I will try and find him a kit at Gamestop and see if it works I guess.

 

[Donkey Plonk]

Just take it apart, don't be a pussy. Wii's are a piece of piss to take apart and put back together, not loads of screws or anything crazy. Simply take the drive out, take the cage off the drive, as said, cotton swob and alcohol.

Cleaning lasers won't always solve the problem though especially on older units as lasers also burn out, not just get dusty. When they aren't burning bright enough, they won't read

 

[OriginalHamster]

How years old is your Wii?

OLD

Got it release day.

Maybe you need a new lens

 

[Foxi4]

i bought my kit from Gamestop, then once that ran out and i was still getting problems i said fuck it and just opened up my wii and used a cotton swab and alcohol.

That's actually a VERY bad idea. High-percentage alcohol and detergents might damadge the lens, as they are leaving residue and might cause a chemical reaction on the lens's surface. A cotton swab will do just fine if you're gentle. If not, you might create really tiny scratches on the lens.

A cleaning kit would be your best bet. There are better and worse ones, of course, but in essence a Wii drive is a standard DVD drive. It'll work. keep the Wii horizontaly while cleaning and take your time. It's not a race.

 

[Donkey Plonk]

i bought my kit from Gamestop, then once that ran out and i was still getting problems i said fuck it and just opened up my wii and used a cotton swab and alcohol.

That's actually a VERY bad idea. High-percentage alcohol and detergents might damadge the lens, as they are leaving residue and might cause a chemical reaction on the lens's surface. A cotton swab will do just fine if you're gentle. If not, you might create really tiny scratches on the lens.

A cleaning kit would be your best bet. There are better and worse ones, of course, but in essence a Wii drive is a standard DVD drive. It'll work. keep the Wii horizontaly while cleaning and take your time. It's not a race.

Always used ISO to clean lasers, xbox360 and wii. Never a problem, generally fixed and if not, new laser. Decent alcohol shouldn't leave residue, it should evaporate very very quickly

 

[MelodieOctavia]

CD form cleaners are always a bad idea, and anyone that knows what they are talking about can tell you the same. The brush is still hitting the lens at a decent velocity, and most lenses are sensitive enough that even that amount of force being repeated over and over again can throw the lens out of alignment.

 

[metri3]

i bought my kit from Gamestop, then once that ran out and i was still getting problems i said fuck it and just opened up my wii and used a cotton swab and alcohol.

That's actually a VERY bad idea. High-percentage alcohol and detergents might damadge the lens, as they are leaving residue and might cause a chemical reaction on the lens's surface. A cotton swab will do just fine if you're gentle. If not, you might create really tiny scratches on the lens.

A cleaning kit would be your best bet. There are better and worse ones, of course, but in essence a Wii drive is a standard DVD drive. It'll work. keep the Wii horizontaly while cleaning and take your time. It's not a race.

Always used ISO to clean lasers, xbox360 and wii. Never a problem, generally fixed and if not, new laser. Decent alcohol shouldn't leave residue, it should evaporate very very quickly

What's "ISO"? Are you talking about isopropolyne alcohol? Anybody know where there is a good guide to follow to take the case off of the wii?

 

[Donkey Plonk]

What's "ISO"? Are you talking about isopropolyne alcohol? Anybody know where there is a good guide to follow to take the case off of the wii?

Exactamundo dude.
Alcohol, isopropyl, acentone, its all the same sorta shit and fine to clean lasers with

 

[cobleman]

Just fork out the $10 for a Wii Lens cleaner. I have only just replaced the 1st cleaner pad and thats after nearly 4 years and i still have heaps of cleaner fluid left. Best investment you can make. Stuff taking the Wii apart waste of time and the chance you might stuff something up just isnt worth it!

 

[Tac 21]

where the hell can you find the wii lens cleaner for 10?

 

[Hielkenator]

where the hell can you find the wii lens cleaner for 10?

http://www.wehkamp.nl/games-films-m...Ccbbj2nDDHnCjCEbEfwEpBCcbbj2nDDHnDHnCjCvxn9SD

http://www.selectgames.nl/p/nintendo_wii/wii_lens_cleaning_kit/10254/?affid=googleshopping

http://www.save-mii.com/tne/product/11/263/2354/Wii---Lens-Cleaning-Kit.html