If you have continuity between the pad and and via near the CPU, how could the trace between under the cartridge slot be broken?

You may want to use this btw:
http://blog.gg8.se/wordpress/2013/01/28 … lcome-rom/
It can be used to check the buttons if you want to experiment with things. It also plays notes (a different one for each button) so you don't have to have access to the screen to use it.

No I meant I checked the trace that is right below the cpu. I just tested the trace that runs behind the cartridge slot and it is indeed the culprit. Now I just need to rig a wire from one side of the board to the other. Thanks so much for helping me troubleshoot the problem!

If you have continuity between the pad and and via near the CPU, how could the trace between under the cartridge slot be broken?

You may want to use this btw:
http://blog.gg8.se/wordpress/2013/01/28 … lcome-rom/
It can be used to check the buttons if you want to experiment with things. It also plays notes (a different one for each button) so you don't have to have access to the screen to use it.

We use it over at the game store to test old gameboys that people bring in.
It's awesome.

You may want to use this btw:
http://blog.gg8.se/wordpress/2013/01/28 … lcome-rom/
It can be used to check the buttons if you want to experiment with things. It also plays notes (a different one for each button) so you don't have to have access to the screen to use it.

I really appreciate all the help!!

Incorrect assumption. It's not actually just the area around the D pad that matters. If the connection is severed at any point on the way, the button will not work. The copper pad under the down button has two connections. The right one pad goes to ground whereas the left pad has a trace that goes up to the CPU. The right pad should have a solid connection, and is probably not where the problem lies.The left pad has a trace that goes up and changes side a couple of times. Here are two images where I've traced out the path of this trace. Note that the trace is covered by the cartridge slot on the front side.

Back:

Front:

Try testing for continuity using a multimeter between the left copper (actually probably gold plated) pad of the down button and the topmost spot on the same side. Ie, the via (as the connections between the sides are called) above the 03. You may to wiggle slightly with the probe to get contact.
If you find that this connection is broken, do not solder a wire directly to the pad where the button goes, but instead to the test pad named P03 near the button pad. Do this using as thin wires as you can get and route it all the way to a point along the indicated path which has a good connection the rest of the way to the CPU. Route it in such a way that the wire doesn't block any of the other buttons.

Good luck. (Hey wait, I'm supposed to be condescending.) Yeah, "good luck", I guess.

Teh D3th St4r wrote:

Talk to Nitro about it. He's a little condescending, but he's usually right.

I think he's just condescending when someone is wrong about something and doesn't know it

Of which I have been... more often than I'd like to admit...

Talk to Nitro about it. He's a little condescending, but he's usually right.

I think he's just condescending when someone is wrong about something and doesn't know it

I got nothin' man.
Talk to Nitro about it. He's a little condescending, but he's usually right.

I appreciate all the help, hopefully someone else can provide more insight. I would hate to have to chuck this thing because the dpad won't work properly!

Denatured Alcohol.
I'm going over some schematics to see if something might be burned out or if the gameboy is just bricked.

Thanks for the help! If you find anything please let me know.. I should mention that the power jack doesnt work (I haven't even messed with diagnosing the problem on that, been using batteries to test it) but I don't know if that would have any effect on the down on the d-pad.

Pardon my ignorance but what is "DNA"?

I'll dig out a CGB, and see if I can come up with any other possibilities.
Nitro might be more helpful than I am in this department.

Good luck.