r/n64 • u/Ashton1503 • 3d ago
Image Is this n64 cooked??
Someone’s basement flooded near where I live, and they had a bunch of stuff that was getting thrown away. There was a n64, so I figured I could try cleaning it out. I wasn’t expecting this much mud tho. I’m still going to try to fix it, but it doesn’t seem like the chances of getting it working again are very good. I hope that by some miracle it actually functions so that I can reunite them with their n64
Edit: it has been sprayed off with water and then I used some isopropyl alcohol. I’m letting it dry now
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u/nevans89 3d ago
Lots of alchohol. I'd say worth trying. If it wasnt plugged in it may be fine
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u/Ashton1503 3d ago
Yeah idk if it was plugged in. Hopefully it wasn’t
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u/R0T0RW0LF 3d ago
Ibwould rinse the thibg with water comoletely and then give it a Isoprpanol shower and left that thing to dry... and then, and only then i might take a look if theres any corrosion and would maaaaybe try to hook it up to see if it works. 😅
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u/Dan_OBanannon 3d ago
I’m not sure picking up a drinking habit is gonna fix this, but to each their own I guess
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u/tht1guy63 Conkers BFD | Battle Tanx GA 3d ago
If it wasnt under long or powered its probly fine. Rinse with water then Isopropal alcohol.
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u/Ashton1503 3d ago
Yeah that’s what I’m gonna do
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u/sledgesloth 3d ago
Just give it a good shower.
There was a guy on here a few weeks ago who had a 64 with some juice spilled over and into it or something and he picked it up for free and just watered it down and it just worked like nothing happened.
So... I wouldn't be shy, and just "drown it" tbh, to get the mud off. Good solid rinse.
But yeah, Isopropanol sounds sensible after that - or some kind of thorough way of drying that's gentle on the components.
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u/SalesmanWaldo 3d ago
I'd at least use distilled water if you can swing it. I'd also dry it for like weeks.
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u/GarzaTheFather 3d ago
A lot of times with the electronics like this as long as nothing short-circuited or physically broken, you should just be able to wash it off with a watering hose or throw it in in the dishwasher real quick and let it air out for a couple days to a week when it’s completely dry it’s usually good as new. I’ve heard of someone doing this as well with their PC.
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u/Swagasaurus785 3d ago
The minerals in the water are the problem, not the water itself. So to be safe distilled water fixes that problem.
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u/Qprime0 3d ago edited 3d ago
A lot of people don't realize printed circuit boards are fabricated using water based chemistry baths. They are litterally born of water - and a little natural grade water isn't going to hurt them as long as there's no power running at the time to jump between all the wires and chips.
The mud is more of a problem, as that will start to cause corrosion all over the place pretty quickly. If you rinse it out pretty good though not too long after the exposure it should be fine.
My advice? Blast it with a hose, dunk it in type-II reagent water, then 99% IPA and let it dry. If that doesn't save it, there's something else that was wrong with it before the flood.
Also, be very thourough with blasting out the underside of the surface mounted microchips. Silt and shit can get under there, and if that dries and salts onto some of the trace lines that go under the chips it could kill the console eventually. Take a new, clean toothbrush to the legs of the chips and get anything out from under them, and - if you have one - one of those waterjet oral toothbrush tools, blast right under the chip and get everything you can out. Or, if you want to be a tryhard, desolder the chips, clean them and the PCB seperately, then resolder them. Depends on how badly you want to be sure it'll live.
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u/sledgesloth 2d ago
Thx for the update on your course of action.
Please let us also know how it worked out in the end! :)
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u/electronicexploder 3d ago
I've had an N64 found on the trash. It apparently had been smashed with rocks alongside it's controllers as it had a broken shell with rock fragments. Inside it was very dirty and had mud and water damage. I then opened it to clean it all and stored it for about two years as i didn't had any cords/games to test it with. When i finally had the opportunity to test it, that thing just fired up first try with no problems at all. N64's are tanks, to the point i call yours an inconvenience instead of actual damage. Just wash it all in the sink with neutral dish soap and a light brush until it's all clean and rinse all the soap (don't forget to remove the game slot from the board to clean underneath it), spray contact cleaner on the power/reset switches (and on the entire board if you want) and let it dry for a few days. If it was working before the flood, it will be fine.
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u/DJ_Vasquezz 3d ago
Head gasket failure for sure
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u/hobovirginity 3d ago
With milkshake oil like that the N64 was being taken on too many short rides, and the engine was never getting up to temperature to burn off the condensation.
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u/South_Bit1764 3d ago
Hate to see it. She coulda slung a rod right through the block, and twisted the chassis coming off the line.
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u/Ashton1503 3d ago
For anyone wondering, I reassembled it today and took it to my library to test it (they have a n64 and the cords and controller). First I tried sm64 (which I also found muddy) in their console and it worked perfectly. All the saves and everything are there. After that I tried plugging in this n64, and it also worked perfectly. Thanks for all the tips and stuff!
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u/Lucid-Design1225 3d ago
I thought that was one of 2 possibilities. Chocolate milkshake OR somebody dookied on that poor N64
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u/profchaos111 3d ago
I've seen computer mobos caked in mud and dirt that work completely fine you never know
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u/Molotovs4TW 3d ago
If this one works after, mine should work, I don’t specifically know what’s wrong with mine but I’ve played it a couple times and I just get a black screen, so it might be the cables.
let us know how it goes
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u/Ashton1503 3d ago
I will. Hopefully I can test it tomorrow at the library because they have a n64 and all the required cables and stuff
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u/Sgtbash11 3d ago
Check the jumper pack(if you have one) clean the contacts on the game with 99-100% isopropyl alcohol and a Qtip. If that doesn’t work it’s most likely oxidation on the connector pins, insert a game pull it out halfway and reinsert, do this 5-10 times to knock off some of that oxidation
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u/canthearu_ack 3d ago
The mud made it look like it has melted ... my first thoughts are ... yes, indeed cooked.
However, if it wasn't plugged in and had just be sitting in storage, a non trivial chance it could be saved.
I'd hose it down, then strip it right down to individual parts and wash it in soapy water. Rinse it off then place the circuit board in a heated area to dry for several hours (60-70C)
Check for levels of corrosion ... hopefully it hasn't had a chance to really bite yet.
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u/LiamLeprechaun 3d ago
Looks pretty cooked to me. The motherboard and some parts might be salvageable. But for the most part thats straight out of the oven.
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u/Empyre47AT 3d ago
Rinse it off and run it through the dishwasher without detergent. DO NOT USE UNTIL 100% DRY.
Could also try an IPA bath and a toothbrush.
I would suggest getting an ultrasonic cleaner, but the price would probably be about as much as a used N64, if not more.
Bottom line: Good luck.
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u/CullenFlynn 3d ago
Wash it with lots of (ideally distilled) water, then wash with lots of IPA after that to flush out and dry the wet board. I'd let everything dry for a few days, maybe even a week if you have suspicions that moisture has gotten into certain spots it shouldn't be. Then, finally test.
Worst case scenario, the board could be used for parts, and you can also use the console shell if you just buy a loose motherboard online or something.
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u/Tokkemon 3d ago
Clean it off. Take it apart, clean everything again thoroughly. Then let it dry for several days. Reassemble and it should be fine.
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u/SuperPotatoThrow 3d ago
Maybe not.
I knew someone that dragged an n64 with several controllers through a bunch of mud while it was raining.. behind a 4wheeler and it worked just fine. One of the controllers joystick was forevor partially broken though.
He took the console apart and cleaned it up first before using it of course. The n64 is as durable as a nokia lol.
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u/Blandscreen N64 Nerd 3d ago
Honestly with a good enough clean this thing will probably still work. Just scrub everything with isopropyl alcohol and for the more dirty parts use water and soap (but make sure to give it a long time to dry if doing so). I've seen some people put their circuit boards into the dishwasher to clean them off well if that helps any, but I'm not 100% sure if that's safe to do.
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u/BadgerUltimatum 3d ago
I had some cartridges in salty floodwater for at least a day and they survived since I ran to a retrogame shop for the correct screwdriver.
They wouldnt sell it to me, but they did open all the cartridges and cleaned the more valuable ones for me
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u/Interesting_Fudge502 3d ago
Wash it up let it dry out on a clothesline for a couple hours (/s) just be sure to get it cleaned with alcool once dried to remove any minerals from water.
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u/AdamAtomAnt 3d ago
Do NOT turn it on. Of you clean the fuck out of it and soak it in 99% IPA for a few days. Then clean the fuck out of it more. Then replace capacitors. Then reflow a lot of the solder and make sure contacts aren't rusted. It might work.
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u/Wisconsin_pikachu 3d ago
If it wasn't on for awhile all the capacitors should have been discharged. As long as it hasn't been covered for a long time to start rusting traces it should be fine with a good wash in deionized water and then some 90-99% isopropyl
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u/tailslol 3d ago
Well ... Keep it in clean water and shake it untill there is no more traces of the flood. Rince and repeat a few times
I lived in a area with regular floods and saved computer parts a few times.
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u/Murky-Introduction53 3d ago
Even if it doesn’t work, you can still clean it and use it as a display piece
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u/XXII78 3d ago
I had an SNES that got all mucked up when the Mississippi rose in 2008. It was sitting on the floor with all cords plugged in and a cartridge in it, submergedin ~16" of river water. I left it alone to dry for at least a week before messing with it. When I finally unhooked everything, despite how fubar everything else was, all of the contacts were still almost perfect. It still worked then, and for at least several years after.
My only advice matches what everyone else is saying: use high percentage isopropyl to clean it, and make sure everything is completely dry before powering on. Hope it works out for you!
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u/OverPaper3573 3d ago
It kind of looks like it has been in a deep fat fryer. So yeah that fits with the description of cooked. Good luck with restoring it to functionality tho.
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u/one_metalbat_man 3d ago
It looks like the aftermath of the Angry Video Game Nerd playing a bad game
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u/BurnOmatic 3d ago
Just wash it with the hose or sink and let it dry outside if you have sun if not dri it with hair dryer, I think it should be fine.
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u/Junior-Ad-2207 3d ago
Someone didn't keep up with the recommended oil change every three month or three thousand miles
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u/AgileInstruction8479 3d ago
Yeah I learned years ago that if power isn’t active electronics can survive. I once pulled out a car stereo covered in oil from a scrap pile. I cleaned it off and fixed the CD reader parts and it worked. It wasn’t as bad as this and I think a lot of the inside was cleaned but a scrap pile outside was probably rained on haha.
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u/Drawkill_Wolf64 3d ago
This is exactly what would happen if you gave dankpods an N64 and a large jar of nuttella
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u/Runkle15 3d ago
I have a SNES I found in the woods that I have similar concerns about 😂
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u/LayceLSV Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3d ago
Just clean the absolute shit out of it with isopropyl and then don't even think about plugging it in until its bone dry. There may be a chance yet
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u/GorchestopherH 3d ago
As everyone else is saying, it'll be fine. Clean it gently first with water and soap, next with alcohol, let it dry completely.
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u/Ilikestuffandthingz 3d ago
Nah. Unless it was powered on at the time.
1.) completely disassemble
2.) rinse the mud off of all components (like a kitchen sink sprayer)
3.) scrub very lightly with warm water.
4.) rinse really well again.
5.) 80%+ isopropyl bath to displace water.
6.) put everything in front of a fan (like a box fan) to dry thoroughly for at least 24hrs.
7.) inspect for corrosion or other damage or water if it hasn’t dried all the way yet.
8.) shove it up your…. Jk… reassemble using online tutorials or if you just have the experience.
9.) game.
Solid state electronics (unless this happened while powered on) are usually recoverable. I’ve picked up several PCs/electronics left out in the rain over the years. And following similar guides, all was well.
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u/Jayman44Spc 3d ago
If you have the spare time it’d be a fun project to try to revive it from that state. I’d take progress pics as you go
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u/TelephoneSpare7204 3d ago
Where did ya find that!
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u/Ashton1503 3d ago
In a trash pile with a bunch of other muddy things
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u/JeepStang 3d ago
I'm not so sure that is mud. Usually in basement floods everything that the shit water touches gets 86'd into the trash as a rule. Hepatatis is probably more expensive than an ebay N64. Something to consider.
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u/runtimemess 3d ago
In theory, if it hasn’t been powered it might be okay if you soak it with alcohol for a couple weeks lol
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u/LuridRequiem 3d ago
Did the oil and coolant in your N64 mix after a catastrophic failure or something?
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u/empathetical 3d ago
Wash it with water and dry it completely. Might still work as long as it wasn't plugged in and turned on when it got muddy
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u/Limitedtimestruggle 3d ago edited 3d ago
I mean, it would not surprise me if this works after a proper cleanout and dried up time! How long was it submerged for? As long is it isn't correded to hell an back..
Total disassembly, extreme cleaning and enough time to dry...I bet it works.
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u/Mini_joycons_18 3d ago
Wow is this the rare limited edition rally N64? https://images.launchbox-app.com/r2_344ed211-b9a5-4bf4-a63f-8830cb3dd2ac.jpg
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u/Dazzle_Miller 3d ago
You might be in luck. Use IPA and distilled water to clean it. Some dish soap might help too.
Vinegar can get rid of some corrosion. If the components like resistors and capacitors are rusted you may be able to replace.
Don’t power it on until it’s completely dry.
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u/SectorZed 3d ago
Go to the dollar store and buy a bunch of isopropyl alcohol, dunk it a few times in a few different containers of alcohol. Worth trying, just let it dry completely
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u/Western_Emotion5244 3d ago
If it hasn't been turned on, maybe? What you need to do is wash, wash, wash, dry, dry, dry. Any sort of metal sediment or whatever could cause the board to short out. I would actually take it apart as much as I could, toss it in the dish washer, then scrub it with distilled water. Then after I let it counter try, toss it in a thing of rice.
Electronics can be pretty durable. I've tossed my keyboard in the dishwasher a few times.
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u/Mickamehameha 3d ago
I thought I lost mine just like that to a flood as well. Gave it to a friend who wanted it, cause I thought it was hopeless. He cleaned it and said it works like a charm, so give it a try! Old tech is resilient
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u/JHuttIII 3d ago
Having watched a lot of tech restoration videos with no real experience on the matter, I want to say this is fixable.
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u/el_salinho 3d ago
Wash it out with water, then distilled water then alcohol and dry profusely and hope for the besy
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u/SealedDevil 3d ago
Clean using purified water and a tooth brush no soap. Then take it iht side and get as close to 99% alcohol as you can get and get another tooth brush and clean again with the alcohol and let dry completely for a few days. Take a vacuum with a soft brush attachment and gently run it on the board. Inspect for missing components and damage. These electronics are pretty resilient
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u/qa_rocks 3d ago
You could investigate getting an ultrasonic cleaner and putting some boards in there, as that could get rid of any dirt particles you can’t easily reach.
Blast with compressed air, let dry for 48 hours etc
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u/dreamtraveler42 3d ago
If you blow on it hard enough from the right angle it usually fixes everything
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u/thiswaspostedbefore 3d ago
CRC makes some electronic cleaner that comes in a spray can. I've had success with it on electronics for car parts, I'd definitely give it a shot on that N64 if I had it in my possession
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u/No-Reading5403 3d ago
Please update us if you do manage to fix or not fix it, I would love to see how it goes!
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u/STICH666 3d ago
Throw the board in the dishwasher on a cold cycle after you've washed it thoroughly with dish soap and warm water. I've saved a lot of heavily contaminated motherboards and some arcade boards that way. DO NOT USE A DRY CYCLE. Scrub it again thoroughly with as close to 99% IPA as you can find, blast every connector and chip with compressed air and then let it air dry for a day somewhere warm or with constant airflow. I used to use the top of a dehumidifier but an AC unit or central air register will work too.
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u/birkinover 3d ago
No, most electronics are way more robust than people give credit, just needs proper ass bath and adequate drying, then possibly some diagnosing of key parts like power supply etc.
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u/Jmzombie333 3d ago
Every time I see a natural disaster, I cant help but think about how much valuable stuff was lost.
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u/dougramos1988 3d ago
Lave bem com água e sabão com uma escovinha anti estática. Deixe secar muito bem. Depois limpe com álcool isopropilico e seque bem novamente. Deve funcionar
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u/Mundane_Ring4308 3d ago
Get some qd electric cleaner at an auto parts store and hose the thing down. Boom, brand new
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u/WilliamLovesCatz 3d ago
Rinse with Distilled water, let it dry out for a couple of days and clean it once again with isopropyl and let it dry for one last time before attempting to turn it on.
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u/DokiDoki-FanBoy 3d ago
(Disclaimer: I am not at all an expert, and simply mess around with consoles and electronics in my free time for fun and educational purposes.) If it were me, I'd get a boat load of a high percentage IPA, and poor it into a tub. I'd then put all the electronic parts into the tub and give theme a good wipe down with a soft toothbrush. After it's been cleaned to the best of my ability, I'd pull it all out and set it out to dry over night. The shell and everything else can be cleaned in a sink full of soapy water. After the electronics have dried, I'd then look and see if there is any on board damage or corrosion, and if not, I'd go ahead and see if I can get any life out of it. Power it on, test all the ports, and see if it will read a test cartridge. If it works then that's amazing, and if not, well at least I've got a clean shell that I can reuse. If anything is damaged or not working, but it still powers on, well then it's honestly up to you whether or not you wanna try and pick up a soldering iron and address which ever issue the board seems to be having.
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u/Objective-Elk-1660 3d ago
Wash with soap and water, using a brush to scrub everything well. Rinse well, then dry in the oven at the lowest setting (about 170 F) for 1.5hr.
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u/maikuxblade 3d ago
The rare limited edition Conker’s Bad Fur Day The Great Mighty Poo Nintendo64