cheapshot
Offline
Tokyo, Japan

Hi all,

so my backlit gba sp (AGS101) doesn't want to charge anymore, I put the charger in and the orange lamp comes on for one second before going out and not returning. After having had a "s pecialist" have a look at it for me, I was told that it's probably dead inside somewhere.

I don't really want to buy another backlit SP cos they are pretty expensive, so I was wondering if it would be feasable to buy a cheap frontlit SP (AGS001), and put the screen from my backlit model into that.

Anyone know if such a thing is possible?

Thanks in advance

/cheaps

capcomposer
Offline
Eugene, OR

are you sure you don't just have a dead battery?

cheapshot
Offline
Tokyo, Japan

From what I was told, it's not the battery's fault.

Also, I plugged the charger in, took the battery out to see if the SP would run of external power and it didn't start up.

I know it's not the chargers fault too, cos I tried a friends charger that works on his DS and that had the same effect - orange lamp on, then off instantly.

strange, i know. I'm gonna give nintendo a ring tomorrow to see if they can fix it for me.

/fingerscrossed

capcomposer
Offline
Eugene, OR

I don't think you can put the backlit screen in the frontlit model because the PCB is different.  Not by much but it is different.  For one the button on the frontlit one turns the light on and off and on the backlit model it changes brightness....

cheapshot
Offline
Tokyo, Japan

Thanks for the reply.

I rang the Nintendo service centre out here in Japan, and they told me to send it in for repairs. /fingers crossed they sort it out and send it back to me.

I'll keep you informed.

TmTgr
Offline
Melbourne, Australia
cheapshot wrote:

Also, I plugged the charger in, took the battery out to see if the SP would run of external power and it didn't start up.

I'm pretty sure I read that SP's can't run from external power like that
Edit: Confirmed by testing.

Last edited by TmTgr (Jan 26, 2010 11:51 pm)

cheapshot
Offline
Tokyo, Japan

Ok, I have sorted this out. It isn't perfect or necessarily practical, but this is what happened:

I sent my SP to Nintendo (cash on delivery - nice guys) and they said they could fix it, but it would cost around 4,600 yen. But, because I m in Japan and my SP model was the backlit American model, they said that they didn't have the parts and that it would become a frontlit Japanese model. (basically, they were gonna send me a brand new Japanese SP.)

I didn't want to give up my backlit model, so i had them return it to me, unrepaired.

This is how I have worked it out:

I bought a cheap Japanese, frontlit SP for 3,000 yen and am using that as a battery charger.         thats the solution... hahahaha.

I charge the batteries up in the frontlit model, and then put them into my backlit model. Not perfect, but I got two batteries now.

Nintendo Japan also sent my GBA SP back free of charge. It's a shame they couldn't fix it, but the service was ★★★★★anyway.

Last edited by cheapshot (Feb 7, 2010 12:47 am)

arfink
Offline
Minneapolis

Hmm. If you ever have another AGS 101 stop charging, I'll buy it from you. smile I need one for a little... project I'm working on.

cheapshot
Offline
Tokyo, Japan

ill bear you in mind wink

TmTgr
Offline
Melbourne, Australia

If the SP can't charge and the battery is still fine, I'd say its a fuse inside that has blown. As to which one or where to find the replacement, I have no idea.