Hardware No Video Out on Used Wii

[VirtuallyRetro]

I bought a used a Wii awhile back from a thrift store. It didn't come with any of the cables, but it was so cheap I felt it was worth the risk. I finally got cables to test with, but it doesn't seem to work as well as I'd hoped.
I'm hoping someone can give me some advice on what troubleshooting I can do before I scrap it.

So, when power is plugged in the LED indicator is red (as it should be). When the power button is pressed the light turns green and the disc drive *whirrs*, however there is no video out. The TV detects a signal, but the screen remains black.
Also the console appears frozen after this point. Reset, doesn't do anything.. It will not sync with a controller either. However the disc drive is fully responsive.

I hope that's descriptive enough. Any insight would be really helpful.

Thanks!

-Update-
I've tried removing and remounting the bluetooth module, as some other guides suggest and it made no impact.

 

[Sathya]

I bought a used a Wii awhile back from a thrift store. It didn't come with any of the cables, but it was so cheap I felt it was worth the risk. I finally got cables to test with, but it doesn't seem to work as well as I'd hoped.
I'm hoping someone can give me some advice on what troubleshooting I can do before I scrap it.

So, when power is plugged in the LED indicator is red (as it should be). When the power button is pressed the light turns green and the disc drive *whirrs*, however there is no video out. The TV detects a signal, but the screen remains black.
Also the console appears frozen after this point. Reset, doesn't do anything.. It will not sync with a controller either. However the disc drive is fully responsive.

I hope that's descriptive enough. Any insight would be really helpful.

Thanks!

-Update-
I've tried removing and remounting the bluetooth module, as some other guides suggest and it made no impact.

oh... Maybe you buy a brick wii i'ts your risk when you buy a used wii. it's better when you buy a new wii u or buy a new wii. i'ts very easy to find a new wii u. but this is a new wii and almost out of stock!!
https://www.amazon.com/Wii-Bundle-Sports-Resort-White-Nintendo/dp/B0045F8QD4

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I bought a used a Wii awhile back from a thrift store. It didn't come with any of the cables, but it was so cheap I felt it was worth the risk. I finally got cables to test with, but it doesn't seem to work as well as I'd hoped.
I'm hoping someone can give me some advice on what troubleshooting I can do before I scrap it.

So, when power is plugged in the LED indicator is red (as it should be). When the power button is pressed the light turns green and the disc drive *whirrs*, however there is no video out. The TV detects a signal, but the screen remains black.
Also the console appears frozen after this point. Reset, doesn't do anything.. It will not sync with a controller either. However the disc drive is fully responsive.

I hope that's descriptive enough. Any insight would be really helpful.

Thanks!

-Update-
I've tried removing and remounting the bluetooth module, as some other guides suggest and it made no impact.

You can try these troubleshooting steps, they are a bit old but they may help you figure out what's wrong (some additional hardware may be required):
http://savemii.net/images/chart_d.png

You don't need a SaveMii dongle, you can use a GC controller in port 4 instead, by following this:
Guide:
1. The first step is also the hardest one. To be able to use SaveMiiFrii, you need to open up your gamecube controller and remove the protective sheet under the D-Pad. By doing this, you are able to press all 4 directions of the D-Pad at the same time.
2. Plug your GC controller in the 4th slot on the Wii. Now turn the wii on and Hold the 4 directions of the D-Pad down. If you did this correctly, you will be in th recovery menu.

 

[VirtuallyRetro]

You can try these troubleshooting steps, they are a bit old but they may help you figure out what's wrong (some additional hardware may be required):
http://savemii.net/images/chart_d.png

You don't need a SaveMii dongle, you can use a GC controller in port 4 instead, by following this:
Guide:
1. The first step is also the hardest one. To be able to use SaveMiiFrii, you need to open up your gamecube controller and remove the protective sheet under the D-Pad. By doing this, you are able to press all 4 directions of the D-Pad at the same time.
2. Plug your GC controller in the 4th slot on the Wii. Now turn the wii on and Hold the 4 directions of the D-Pad down. If you did this correctly, you will be in th recovery menu.

Okay so I am able to boot into the recovery menu. 4.3U is installed as indicated. But what can I do to reinstall the software? Looks like the previous owner bricked it.
I've read that there's a recovery disk, but since I don't have a mod chip it won't boot on my console...

Suggestions? What should I do now?

 

[Ryccardo]

I've read that there's a recovery disk, but since I don't have a mod chip it won't boot on my console...

Even if you had one it wouldn't help you, unless the previous owner installed a trucha-reenabled launcher IOS

You don't have any real options, even with a hardmod you wouldn't know the encryption keys (with which you could have flashed another Wii's nand backup)

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Even if you had one it wouldn't help you, unless the previous owner installed a trucha-reenabled launcher IOS

You don't have any real options, even with a hardmod you wouldn't know the encryption keys (with which you could have flashed another Wii's nand backup)

There is still a chance, if they can run a Smash disc patched to autoboot they should be able to use Smash Stack. Autoboot patching doesn't require the trucha bug.

Okay so I am able to boot into the recovery menu. 4.3U is installed as indicated. But what can I do to reinstall the software? Looks like the previous owner bricked it.
I've read that there's a recovery disk, but since I don't have a mod chip it won't boot on my console...

Suggestions? What should I do now?

Did you follow the troubleshooting chart I linked? When you say recovery menu, you mean the menu you get when you use SaveMii/SaveMiiFrii, correct?
If so, then there is a chance your bluetooth module is faulty. It might be something completely different, but the chart suggests that that should be the first thing you check. Replacement bluetooth modules are dirt cheap ( http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bluetooth-M...983166?hash=item41a474a93e:g:8AwAAOxyrYFR0psd ) and it's the easiest part to fix so it's probably a good idea to try replacing that first.

If that doesn't help, you're gonna need a modchip so you can run a Smash Bros disc patched to autoboot. It may not work depending on how messed up the Wii is, but I think it's your only chance. Smash Bros is the only exploit game to my knowledge that doesn't require importing a save beforehand and therefore is the only one that can be used for this. If you're able to load Smash Stack then chances are good that you'll be able to fix the Wii.

Out of curiosity, have you tried to hold Reset on boot, on the off chance that the person who had it before you installed Priiloader? Also, does the disc light flash once or twice on power on? (to check for BootMii)

 

[VirtuallyRetro]

Did you follow the troubleshooting chart I linked?

Yes, I reseated the bluetooth module, but I have not replaced it yet as the chart suggests to do. I have a donor Wii that I can pull the part from.

When you say recovery menu, you mean the menu you get when you use SaveMii/SaveMiiFrii, correct?

Yes, this is the dark screen presented when holding all 4 directional buttons on a GC pad in port 4. The menu only says 4.3(USA) for me, but I cannot do anything more.

Out of curiosity, have you tried to hold Reset on boot, on the off chance that the person who had it before you installed Priiloader? Also, does the disc light flash once or twice on power on? (to check for BootMii)

I will have to check on this. I'll update when I know more.

 

[VirtuallyRetro]

Update!!

The Wii is fixed! After a couple of hours of disassembly on two Wii's I was able to make this one work!
I had one of the Family edition Wii's that I never use since it does not have GC ports and is less desirable. I removed the WiFi and Bluetooth Modules from this Wii and put them in the bad Wii.

This also gave me the unique opportunity to case mod the Wii.
Pics below:

Spoiler

Thank you everyone who gave me helpful advice and tips!

 

[bowser]

I also have a Wii in the same state as OP's. Assuming the Wifi and bluetooth module are fine, what are the next steps to fix it? I don't have a SaveMii dongle, I also do not have a Smash Bros disk, but I do have a GC controller.

 

[Sathya]

Why

Update!!

The Wii is fixed! After a couple of hours of disassembly on two Wii's I was able to make this one work!
I had one of the Family edition Wii's that I never use since it does not have GC ports and is less desirable. I removed the WiFi and Bluetooth Modules from this Wii and put them in the bad Wii.

This also gave me the unique opportunity to case mod the Wii.
Pics below:

Spoiler

Thank you everyone who gave me helpful advice and tips!

why you still play wii when you was have a switch?

 

[VirtuallyRetro]

Why

why you still play wii when you was have a switch?

Because we still don't have Virtual Console for Switch. There are classics that I very much still love to play every now and again. GameCube is also one of my favorite systems of all time, and the Wii has that build in too. There's also a handful of Wii games I haven't played. It's a good console and I intend to keep it around as long as possible.

Don't get me wrong I'm loving the Switch, but that's no reason to throw out the Wii just yet.

 

[Sathya]

Because we still don't have Virtual Console for Switch. There are classics that I very much still love to play every now and again. GameCube is also one of my favorite systems of all time, and the Wii has that build in too. There's also a handful of Wii games I haven't played. It's a good console and I intend to keep it around as long as possible.

Don't get me wrong I'm loving the Switch, but that's no reason to throw out the Wii just yet.

Me too. I love very much wii and all nintendo console.

 

[VirtuallyRetro]

I also have a Wii in the same state as OP's. Assuming the Wifi and bluetooth module are fine, what are the next steps to fix it? I don't have a SaveMii dongle, I also do not have a Smash Bros disk, but I do have a GC controller.

I would follow the steps The Real Jdbye suggested earlier in the thread. Those worked really well for me.

----
Update

A new issue has presented itself. I have video artifacts showing up in random spots. I noticed them first in VC games, but they don't show until I press the home button to bring up the menu. It's very strange.

Spoiler

I think this might have been due to me transplanting the Motheboard from one case to another. To do that you have to loosen the heatsink. I thought that as long as I don't pull it off it would be fine, but more than likely I'm going to have to dive back in and reapply thermal paste. Do any of you have experience with this?

-Edit-
I've noticed some weird power on behavior. This might be nothing but the blue led in the disc slot flashes twice after the initial boot.
I've never noticed this behavior before. I did install BootMii on this Wii. Could that be what's doing it?

I've attached a video below

Spoiler

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-ohw_PUNNw7Ukd5NDdsQWE4eUU

 

[bowser]

The 2 quick flashes indicates that you have BootMii installed to boot2. It's perfectly normal

 

[VirtuallyRetro]

The 2 quick flashes indicates that you have BootMii installed to boot2. It's perfectly normal

Awesome, that's what I suspected. Just wasn't 100% sure.

Now if I can get the artifacts to go away. Then I should be set. I ordered some arctic silver thermal paste. It should be here by Wednesday. I'll update if it had any effect.

 

[VirtuallyRetro]

Well... I replaced the thermal paste on the CPU and GPU. And it seems that paste was really degraded, it was very poor quality and shrunk. But, unfortunately the damage has been done. It won't get worse (maybe) but it won't get better either.
Fortunately the artifacts don't show themselves in gameplay. So, I'll still be able to get plenty of play time out of this Wii.

 

[PrincessLillie]

why you still play wii when you was have a switch?

Because there are good Wii games (Super Mario Galaxy is an example) that aren't on the Switch and may never be on the Switch.
(Update 2020: Maybe this example is a little bit outdated now...)

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

A new issue has presented itself. I have video artifacts showing up in random spots. I noticed them first in VC games, but they don't show until I press the home button to bring up the menu. It's very strange.

Spoiler

I think this might have been due to me transplanting the Motheboard from one case to another. To do that you have to loosen the heatsink. I thought that as long as I don't pull it off it would be fine, but more than likely I'm going to have to dive back in and reapply thermal paste. Do any of you have experience with this?

Could you try another TV?

 

[VirtuallyRetro]

Could you try another TV?

I did and with different video cables (composite and component) and it's still the same.

 

[kitkatkit]

I saw and tried from a youtube video. Just leave the red plug in. Pull out the white and yellow. Plug the yellow to the white. Then plug. It should work after that.
Plug all cables back to the correct color.

 

[kitkatkit]

I saw and tried from a youtube video. Just leave the red plug in. Pull out the white and yellow. Plug the yellow to the white. Then plug. It should work after that.
Plug all cables back to the correct color.