is it possible for a modchip to damage the cartridge reader?

[SaphirO]

I installed a modchip on my Switch v2, then set up Atmosphere and the CTGP Deluxe mod. I was using my Mario Kart cartridge with the mod and everything was working fine, but one day, after leaving the console in sleep mode on Mario Kart 8 CTGP Deluxe for over 24 hours, the game crashed with an error. I had to restart the console, and since then, I'm no longer able to use game cartridges on either OFW or CFW. I get an error saying that the cartridge reader might be damaged. This happened about one or two weeks after installing the modchip. So I’d like to know: is it possible for a modchip to damage the cartridge reader? Or is it just a coincidence?

 

[LuigiGad]

surely a coincidence, everything breaks over time.

 

[jkyoho]

Not likely, modchip only runs payload.bin and most commonly hekate bootloader bin file.
FYI, Does OFW give you error code when inserting game into cartridges?

 

[SaphirO]

Not likely, modchip only runs payload.bin and most commonly hekate bootloader bin file.
FYI, Does OFW give you error code when inserting game into cartridges?

No error code only the basic error that say "your cartridge reader maybe damaged"

Post automatically merged: May 26, 2025

No error code only the basic error that say "your cartridge reader maybe damaged"

 

[yankii]

Have you tried blowing into it? Works every time.

 

[SaphirO]

Have you tried blowing into it? Works every time.

Bro, even this god level method isn't working

 

[SylverReZ]

Have you tried blowing into it? Works every time.

Moisture can corrode the contacts and has been a disproven fact many times that you should NEVER blow into your cartridges.

https://consolemods.org/wiki/Cartridge_Cleaning

 

[DinohScene]

Well... if you wire it up incorrectly, you might damage the cartslot.
Or if you're clumsy and spill solder everywhere.

 

[Lostbhoy]

Moisture can corrode the contacts and has been a disproven fact many times that you should NEVER blow into your cartridges.

https://consolemods.org/wiki/Cartridge_Cleaning

Tell it to the 90s

 

[Hayato213]

I doubt it is related, you damaged it separately.