Game Boy DMG - full RESTORATION including screen fix and RETROBRIGHTING (retrobrite)

Can I fix and restore this original 1989 Game Boy DMG with multiple problems? No power, missing lines on the screen, battery corrosion and very discoloured.

Purchased from eBay for almost as much money as a fully working Game Boy(!), this handheld was described as 'not turning on'. The outer shell was quite yellowed and was missing the screen lens. The battery terminals and a small part of the circuit board were showing the common signs of leaky batteries. I cleaned these parts with white vinegar to neutralise the battery acid. I then cleaned the PCBs using isopropyl alcohol.

I treated the yellow plastic by 'retrobrighting' (retrobriting) it to restore its original colour. This process involves placing the plastics in hydrogen peroxide and then exposing to UV light for a period of time.

After cleaning the battery terminals, I tested the game by attaching it to my bench power supply prior to reassembly. The game now came on but there were multiple missing lines on the screen. I fixed this by running a soldering iron along the connection strip at the bottom of the screen. This melts the soldered connections and reflows them to make good contacts once again. This can be a time-consuming process but the end result is well worth it.

A quick polish of the buttons and with the shell restored to close to original colour, I reassembled this Game Boy and added a new glass screen lens, ready for a final test. Initially, the game cartridge did not load up properly and I realised that I had forgotten to clean inside the cartridge slot. I gave this a quick clean with isopropyl alcohol by brushing some onto the cartridge and then inserting/removing it quickly a few times and bingo, a fully restored and working original Nintendo Game Boy DMG from 1989!

No talking or music and possibly a bit of ASMR. Great for insomnia - if there's one thing I'm pretty sure I can do, it's make a video that will send you to sleep!

#gameboy
#repairs
#restoration
#asmr