Author Topic: broken gamecube...suggestions? (Read 7934 times)

monk72 · « **on:** May 20, 2003, 01:22:23 PM »

Well, I have had the GC for a little over a year. Never had a problem, and actually have not used it much.

It is clean, the games are perfect condition, and I have plenty of ventilation.

Last night playingg Mario Sunshine I got several "can not read disc" errors. Thought maybe it was getting heated up, even though I has pnly played for 20 minutes. So I let it cool over night, tried it today, and is was progresivly getting worse. Had the same errors on other games.

Called Nintendo, and got 1 option: send it in for a minimum of $75!!!! No other options.
This GC has been taken care, stored clean, lots of breathing room, no additional parts are on it, and inly 1 adult user, and the customer service dick tells me it is $75 or buy a new one"
Sound like crap to me, and I've heard lots of good things about nintendo service. I am very annoyed by this.

Any suggestions?

SuperLink666 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2003, 02:20:03 PM »

Dude same thing happened to me. I am just waiting until June to get a black gamecube, GBplayer, free game for $240 Canadian. I have 13 gamecube games i cant play for like 40 days. It really sucks .. my brother might send it in tho later on but not for awhile dont want to get stolen in the mail..

monk72 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2003, 02:54:41 PM »

They also started it would be a 2 week minimum turn arounf time.
This is frustrating dealing with customer service that could not care less.

Class action lawsuit anyone? (this was a joke ...sort of)

I have been reading some additional message boards investigating this, and LOTS and lots of people have had the exact problem.

I won't be buying another one.

Rocafella · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2003, 04:06:18 PM »

Just buy the new deal with the two free games( I think ) and the GB player then you casn try and sell them at a game store to get some money back and it will be less then 75 dollars.

joeamis · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2003, 04:08:45 PM »

there have been far more ps2 with this problem (including mine)
I cannot play any cd based game (theres alot of good cd based games)
and can only play dvd games on my ps2.

I've had absolutely 0 problems with the Cube

DRJ · « **Reply #5 on:** May 20, 2003, 04:10:35 PM »

Nintendo Manufacturer warranty sux. I would recommend buying electronics from Best Buy or some other big store that offers their own warranty. I got GC at Best Buy and got a 3 year warranty for 10 bucks. Same thing with the GBA SP I just got. That was if it breaks I can take it there and get a replacement.

What also sux about sending in for a replacement is that besides the fees to mail it they also charge way too much. I see used GC for 80 bucks at GameStop so why even bother sending it in.

I have had good luck with Nintendo, but my Dreamcast blew a fuse on the controller card (common problem appearently) and it was like 65 to have it fixed plus shipping. I was like what the hell I can get another one on ebay for 35 with some games. I wound up fixing it myself since there were numerous faqs availble from people with similar problems.

I would say just wait and buy another one with the free Gameboy Player and save the broke one, maybe use for parts or try to fix it yourself.

teh1337h4x0r · « **Reply #6 on:** May 20, 2003, 05:38:58 PM »

My gamecube did the EXACT same thing. Nintendo screwed up somewhere. I had to get mine fixed for 80$

Matrix · « **Reply #7 on:** May 20, 2003, 07:08:53 PM »

I had the same problem as you. I got my GC at launch, and it broke while still under warranty. Though, to be fair to Nintendo, once they fixed it, it never broke again.

You don't have to send it to Nintendo, btw.

When mine broke, I went to their website, and I ended up here:
http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/repair/repair_locator.jsp
Use it to locate a Repair Center.

If you live in Canada, use what I used:
http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/repair/repair_canada.jsp

It doesn't say how much it costs, though. I imagine it costs the same price, if it isn't still under warranty. I can understand you not wanting to pay 75$...

Gamefreak · « **Reply #8 on:** May 20, 2003, 07:21:45 PM »

That's funny...
I've never heard of any Nintendo system screwing up aside from on forums. Maybe only makes perfect hardware for where I lived

yellowfellow · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2003, 05:59:39 AM »

i can tell you what i did... though i don't know if i should mention it here
email me:

dsfs_8@hotmail.com

Cube323 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2003, 07:18:20 AM »

This post is a strange one. My friend Chris, who lives in Upstate Ny, was having the same problem that author of this thread was having. (disc read errors) Anyway, he called Nintendo and they said that his particular GC was part of an early batch that was later discovered to have an inherent defect. Nintendo then pointed him to a local authorised repair center (Lake Electronics, in Albany, Ny). He took his GC in and they fixed it for FREE. Not only that but they also delivered it to his home AND they replaced the refelctive disc on the systems lid saying "it looked a little scratched!"

The funny thing is, 10 years ago I had a similar problem w/ my first GameBoy. My screen was really messed up, I actually had lines running through my lcd display, so I called Nintendo. They sent me to an authorised repair center in the middle of Los Angeles (in Korea Town). When I returned to pick up my system they had not only fixed it for free, but they also replaced my screen saying "it looked a little scratched." Lol!

What a comany. When my first PSX died (what else would you expect) $ony pretty much told me to stick it up my a$$.

Hemmorrhoid · « **Reply #11 on:** May 21, 2003, 07:38:05 AM »

yeah 1 year warranty sucks, but within that warranty time they are very fair
atleast you get a whole year of warrantly, xbox has like 3 months I think

Cube323 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 21, 2003, 08:17:13 AM »

Wait, i forgot to mention that my friends GameCube and my own GameBoy were both beyond their warranty! Yet, still Nintendo fixed them for free because they openly addmited that the problems in both was their own fault.

monk72 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 21, 2003, 12:06:07 PM »

No, the guy at nintendo was an arrogant snotty whiner. He flat out said "uhh...no, no we have NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE...it's...it's ugh a strange one".

I have a solution to this problem. I will get the GC repleaced, and will not buy it, or steal it.
And it's all on our good lil' buddies at nintendo

Epitaph · « **Reply #14 on:** May 21, 2003, 01:29:17 PM »

Could be your laser isn't aligned anymore and in that casse you either need to replace that whole part which as they told you is pretty expensive. Or you can just get it fixed by another place. I remember this problem with psx cause it would wear down parts and they slowly fixed em up to psone. You can maybe just put a brass sheet under where it rubs but that requires opening it and other stuff. So i don't know.

monk72 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 21, 2003, 02:54:23 PM »

Thanks for the tip epitaph, but there is no way it worn out. I am not a hardcore gamer...well, only hardcore in the quality of games I perfer, not in the time spent with gaming.

Also, there are no repair centers in many parts of the country.
It's kinda funny (not) to see how widespread, and well-known this problem is...and yet the service center has never heard of it.
Lying is offensive.
Cheers to all!

Gamer Donkey · « **Reply #16 on:** May 21, 2003, 03:27:43 PM »

You might want to try calling again. You may have just gotten a jerk this time, if you call again you might get some one who actually wants to help people. I've heard of many occasions where this worked, even once myself with my satellite.

Epitaph · « **Reply #17 on:** May 21, 2003, 05:03:45 PM »

I just hate how you need a special screw driver to open the consol, I mean if people want to screw stuff up so be it. If I ever need to fix my gamecube like i had to for my playstation, damn spindle was missing all of its balls. But ya its realy usefull to be open your consols. Im not that much of a crazy mod but I wouldn't mind starting, first attempt will be my computer casse. I just hate to pay people to fix my broken stuff. I mean most problems arn't that hard to see when you open the thing up. Loose chip, lazer, cable. Like seriously electronics arn't as complex as people think people just seem scared to damage it and I guess I kinda see it.

Tael · « **Reply #18 on:** May 21, 2003, 11:49:30 PM »

Epitaph - The point of using GameBit or other security screws is that there are no user servicable parts on the inside. It's not like you can go down to Radio Shack and find replacement parts for a GameCube. In a way they're protecting the consumer by discouraging them from opening it up and breaking something.

monk72 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 22, 2003, 03:13:56 PM »

I wanted to follow up.
NOA called me tonight after I sent some brutal, but honest e-mails detailing what I had learned about these "unknown" problems.
Without further adue, I got the extended warrenty + free shipping (I ORIGINALLYTHOUGHT = see below).
The service guy was not real thrilled with my existence, but hey when "da man"z gut yer balls....SCREAM"
Thanks for the input.

EDIT: I have to revise this, as it looks as if I had jumped the gun. FedEx had some details on this, Nintendo is paying for shipping, and it lookslike the repair will bee paid by me, or partially by me (maybe parts=me, labor rate=nintendo).
I think Nintendo deals with people on an individual basic, so explain to them this "disk read" error, and that you KNOW they have had MANY repairs of this nature. It looks like it may due the part supplied by IBM, and it seems like the intitial batch of indigo cubes should have had some sort of recall.
Thats my theory anyway.

It's always the guys who preorder and jump right on buying the new system at full price when it comes out that get screwed...the most loyal people...ironic.
Good luck...

SuperLink666 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 22, 2003, 05:47:23 PM »

What exactly did you say to get them to give you extended warranty and free shipping because my gamecube is also broken and still not fixed. I hate not being able to play it .. buying a new one if i cant get this fixed somehow and cheap. Same problem you are having I think too.

monk72 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 23, 2003, 05:33:53 AM »

Superlink, I will have to revise my previous post. When FedEx showed up for the pick up I got some extra details that I either misinterpreted, or musunderstood.
It willl not be a free of charge traditional warrenty deal. I am paying for the parts, or something. I need to look into it further to see what exactly is happening.
In the meantime, I can help you through email.
If your email is not in your profile, let me know what it is, and I'll be in touch.

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Author Topic: broken gamecube...suggestions? (Read 7934 times)