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Repair guide

Repair a frayed or intermittent controller cable

Most cord faults are near the strain relief at the controller or console end. Trim back to good wire and resolder.

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Controller · Medium · about 45 minutes. Try it, but check first. This will not fix every machine, so read the sources first.

You are in the right place if: The controller works only when you wiggle the cable, or inputs drop out.

Before you start

  • Photograph the colour order before cutting.
  • If the controller port itself is bad, replacement controllers will fail too.

Parts you may need

  • Replacement controller cable. if the plug end is damaged Amazon · eBay

Tools

Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These links only search by name. Disclosure

Step by step

  1. Test with another controller If a second controller works in the same port, the first one is at fault.
  2. Find the fault Wiggle the cord at the controller end and plug end while watching inputs.
  3. Open the controller Remove the screws and lift the board.
  4. Check continuity Test each wire from the plug pin to its pad.
  5. Cut back Trim to good wire and strip the ends.
  6. Resolder Solder each wire to its pad using the colour order you photographed.
  7. Add strain relief Tie a knot in the cable inside the case or use the case's retainer.
  8. Reassemble and test Check every button and wiggle the cord.

Tips, tales and maybes

Found in write-ups and forum threads. These are other people's reports, not tested by us.

  • Tip (Medium confidence). iFixit's SHVC page: test with a known-good controller. If that also fails, the port itself is at fault. Source
  • Maybe (Low confidence). A knot or retainer for strain relief is standard practice, but this is general knowledge rather than from a fetched source. General technique, no source.

Manuals and technical documents

Service manuals, schematics and datasheets for this machine, kept in our own library. Check your own board and part numbers against them.

Super NES and Super Famicom

All 2 documents for Super NES and Super Famicom in the library

NES and Famicom

All 1 documents for NES and Famicom in the library

Sega Saturn

All 1 documents for Sega Saturn in the library

Sega Genesis and Mega Drive

All 6 documents for Sega Genesis and Mega Drive in the library

Guides we used

We wrote the steps in our own words from these. They have the photos and the full detail, so please read them and support their authors.

Boards and models vary, so check what is in front of you. A repair can involve hot tools, chemicals and, on some machines, dangerous voltages. You do it at your own risk.

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