Dreamcast suddenly stopped reading controller input

[razorbeamz]

My Dreamcast suddenly stopped reading any sort of controller input. It boots up to the "input date and time" screen and will not read either controller I have. It worked just fine yesterday. Is this a known problem with an easy fix?

[bikingjahuty]

Eee, that's bad.


This is a relatively common problem with Dreamcasts. I forgot the exact cause of it, but I will research it a bit and see if there is an easy fix. Luckily, if the system is bricked or the fix is a complex, DCs can be had for $30 or less pretty easily.

[foxhack]

Sounds like a third party pad blew the controller port. Sometimes original controllers will do that too.

It -can- be fixed, but requires a bit of soldering.

[dreama1]

Funny you were just talking about the dreamcast not long ago.

[razorbeamz]

Sounds like a third party pad blew the controller port. Sometimes original controllers will do that too.

It -can- be fixed, but requires a bit of soldering.

I think I might just sell it cheap to someone who can fix it then and just go get another one. Unless of course someone can repair it for me for less than $20. I have absolutely no soldering skills.

[dreama1]

Sounds like a third party pad blew the controller port. Sometimes original controllers will do that too.

It -can- be fixed, but requires a bit of soldering.

I think I might just sell it cheap to someone who can fix it then and just go get another one. Unless of course someone can repair it for me for less than $20. I have absolutely no soldering skills.

Did you try holding the plug socket in a upper position?

[ciberseba]

Is the controller panel. In Dreamcast systems is one of the most frequent issues.
If you can get a Dreamcast with other type of issues, you can use it and replace that. It's easy to change it.

[Jakandsig]

My Dreamcast suddenly stopped reading any sort of controller input. It boots up to the "input date and time" screen and will not read either controller I have. It worked just fine yesterday. Is this a known problem with an easy fix?

Take a damp cloth or paper towel, wipe the edge of the controller insent. and the port on the console itself, plug it in and shake it up and down a bit for static, turn the device on. Might take two times. It works most of the time until you unplug the controller. Not a permanent fix.

[cobraseph]

one of mines had the same problem. i just open it and clean it. the control ports can be disconnected. i just did that and after cleaning it connect it back. all four ports worked fine. i did saw that the controllers can get grimy and also get rust on the terminals. try cleaning them too and add a needle amount of anti rust gel. and if it doesn't work all the internal parts can be purchased and almost anything need soldering.

[crabhammer]

I have had to fix the controller board on every Dreamcast I've had my hands on. It's more involved than just solder and you have to have a certain type of fuse resistors. If I remember when I get home from work, I'll look up the part number for the resistors and post pictures of what needs to be replaced. It's a simple repair, if not an irritating one.