Hardware N3DS XL blue light, black screen

john.jingle · Apr 18, 2021

Hey all,
I bought a n3DS XL used from a buyer on fb marketplace. It was working for a while until it stopped booting up and showed the dreaded blue light, black screen issue. I opened it up to look for any signs of damage but everything looks to be in place and not tampered with. While there is no evident tampering I still think this is a hardware issue. Granted, I don't know if this was a modded unit (any way I can find out?) but here are a few things I've noticed:

1. 3DS will always turns on, just the screens won't boot up
2. When 3DS screen stay black, I would open the back and disconnect/reconnect some cables. I haven't been able to isolate which of the cables would be directly responsible for it but...
3. I manage to freeze the 3DS on the home menu when I shook the unit to mimic impact.

Anyone have any leads on a potential piece of hardware that is capable of freezing the unit while also keeping the screens and LED lights on?
If anyone has a diagram of what each cable is responsible for, that would be also helpful.

Cheers everyone

jeffyTheHomebrewer · Apr 18, 2021

1. Turn the system OFF, then hold L, R, A, and DOWN o the Dpad while pressing the power button. You should see the System Update screen. If an internet connection isn't configured, configure one, then try again. (You can configure a connection from this same menu)

2. Ask the seller if the system was homebrewed.
If it was, ask them if they installed B9S or A9LH.
If it wasn't, try installing B9S via ntrboot on a compatible flashcard.

john.jingle · Apr 19, 2021

jeffyTheHomebrewer said:
1. Turn the system OFF, then hold L, R, A, and DOWN o the Dpad while pressing the power button. You should see the System Update screen. If an internet connection isn't configured, configure one, then try again. (You can configure a connection from this same menu)

2. Ask the seller if the system was homebrewed.
If it was, ask them if they installed B9S or A9LH.
If it wasn't, try installing B9S via ntrboot on a compatible flashcard.

I've tried that system update button combo. That doesn't do anything; blue light comes on, screen stays black (or should I say off? It's clearly not emitting any light at all).
Unfortunately I bought this 3DS a long time ago and haven't contacted him since the exchange. I'll see if I can install B9S in the mean time.

IC_ · Apr 19, 2021

john.jingle said:
It was working for a while until it stopped booting up and showed the dreaded blue light, black screen issue.

Does the yellow wireless status light turn on or do you hear any home menu sounds from the speakers, or does the blue light just turn on and nothing else happens after that until you force power off the system?

john.jingle said:
3. I manage to freeze the 3DS on the home menu when I shook the unit to mimic impact.

I'm understanding that was when the system was still working? That definitely sounds like a hardware issue. It's unlikely that it's one of the cables or other system components causing that, the issue is most likely internally in the motherboard or in the SoC. Unless you have the tools and knowledge to diagnose and find the exact issue on the motherboard, replacing the entire motherboard is the only viable option.

john.jingle · Apr 20, 2021

IC_ said:
Does the yellow wireless status light turn on or do you hear any home menu sounds from the speakers, or does the blue light just turn on and nothing else happens after that until you force power off the system?

I'm understanding that was when the system was still working? That definitely sounds like a hardware issue. It's unlikely that it's one of the cables or other system components causing that, the issue is most likely internally in the motherboard or in the SoC. Unless you have the tools and knowledge to diagnose and find the exact issue on the motherboard, replacing the entire motherboard is the only viable option.

I enabled wifi the last time I was on the home menu. When it's not working, only the blue light turns on and no audio comes from the speakers. I've left it on for up to 5mins and nothing ever happens so I'm forced to power it down.

I have an extra n3DS XL that I know works properly. I can try and swap the two to see how they behave but I was hoping to do that as a last resort. What is an SoC?
I might try and reseat all three top screen cables that connect to the mobo. I don't know if I'm onto something but I have been consistently freezing (while on home screen) when I keep moving the top screen back and forth, snapping it in place. Does anyone know if a top screen cable or the camera would be able to freeze the entire system like that if it's improperly seated?

lone_wolf323 · Apr 20, 2021

john.jingle said:
I enabled wifi the last time I was on the home menu. When it's not working, only the blue light turns on and no audio comes from the speakers. I've left it on for up to 5mins and nothing ever happens so I'm forced to power it down.

I have an extra n3DS XL that I know works properly. I can try and swap the two to see how they behave but I was hoping to do that as a last resort. What is an SoC?
I might try and reseat all three top screen cables that connect to the mobo. I don't know if I'm onto something but I have been consistently freezing (while on home screen) when I keep moving the top screen back and forth, snapping it in place. Does anyone know if a top screen cable or the camera would be able to freeze the entire system like that if it's improperly seated?

yes it does. nintendos way of wiring stuff is pretty crappy.

jeffyTheHomebrewer · Apr 20, 2021

john.jingle said:
I enabled wifi the last time I was on the home menu. When it's not working, only the blue light turns on and no audio comes from the speakers. I've left it on for up to 5mins and nothing ever happens so I'm forced to power it down.

I have an extra n3DS XL that I know works properly. I can try and swap the two to see how they behave but I was hoping to do that as a last resort. What is an SoC?
I might try and reseat all three top screen cables that connect to the mobo. I don't know if I'm onto something but I have been consistently freezing (while on home screen) when I keep moving the top screen back and forth, snapping it in place. Does anyone know if a top screen cable or the camera would be able to freeze the entire system like that if it's improperly seated?

SoC is short for System-on-a-Chip

Hardware N3DS XL blue light, black screen

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Neato Burrito!

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GBAtemp's ???

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Neato Burrito!

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