Hardware 3DS won't read any game cartridges.

[Super1710]

All of sudden my CFW New 3DS (Small) can't read game cartridges, the last game I had in was working and I took it out and hadn't put a game in for over a week and no none of my game carts show up on the menu, I blew into the cartridges and the slot but no luck. Sending it to Nintendo isn't an option because of my CFW of course, and I already have my games digitally but there isn't a good solution to run DS games on my SD card (nds-bootstrap still needs a lot of work). Is there any way to fix it?

 

[Deleted User]

Try cleaning the contacts with some contact cleaner perhaps?

 

[konsolenumbau.expert]

Sometimes the pins are bend in the reader itself. Should be visible with a lite. If so sometimes it's fixable by opening the ds and bend the pins back by grabbing them over the solder point of each pin and pushing them back. Bit better solution is simply soldering a new cardslot to the device.

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[Super1710]

Try cleaning the contacts with some contact cleaner perhaps?

Welp, I have no idea about how the insides work and I don't know if I have access to a contact cleaner. I'll look into it.

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Sometimes the pins are bend in the reader itself. Should be visible with a lite. If so sometimes it's fixable by opening the ds and bend the pins back by grabbing them over the solder point of each pin and pushing them back. Bit better solution is simply soldering a new cardslot to the device.

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I don't want to solder in case I break it or something, but I'll check the pins.

 

[konsolenumbau.expert]

You got to be very careful by cleaning the pins with a q-tip or such thing. Like I wrote these pins in the card slot like to bend.

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[Super1710]

I think the pins were bent, I did try getting a bit of dirt near the edge out so I used tissue (please don't kill me) and must have bent the pins. shouldn't be too hard to bend them back right? Also I did this before inserting a game card.

 

[konsolenumbau.expert]

Well whatever did the trick. At least it's working again[emoji106]have fun.

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[Super1710]

Well whatever did the trick. At least it's working again[emoji106]have fun.

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I haven't fixed it yet, just figured out what done it in the first place, anyway thanks for your help.

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Well whatever did the trick. At least it's working again[emoji106]have fun.

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Can you give me any tips on bending the pins back in place? I'm afraid because I'm not very experienced with this stuff.

 

[konsolenumbau.expert]

Hmm. Well like I said sometimes the pins are pushed "backwards"... So open up the ds and view every pin from the backside of the slot. When you can see some bended pins simply push them back with a tweazer... Always look in the slot as well to check they are in position. Like I said sometimes it's simply necassery to swap the hole slot... That off cause would involve soldering.

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[Super1710]

Hmm. Well like I said sometimes the pins are pushed "backwards"... So open up the ds and view every pin from the backside of the slot. When you can see some bended pins simply push them back with a tweazer... Always look in the slot as well to check they are in position. Like I said sometimes it's simply necassery to swap the hole slot... That off cause would involve soldering.

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Thanks for the advice. If I do need to solder I'll consult someone with experience... Thanks again.

 

[3DSPoet]

I bought a used 3ds xl from a pawn shop that wouldn't read any cartridges...A light and some precision fumbling found that the pins were, in fact, bent. A little more precision fumbling and they were straightened....cartridges readable again.