The cartridge slot for my SNES won't open. It sorta opens half the way, but not enough to insert a game. Could I just buy tools on ebay and remove the whole cover? Or perhaps try to fiddle with it? Wo

I had just repaired two of these with the same problems, and ran into two different solutions! First solution is too check with a little flash light inside the game cartridge area where you insert the game for bent pins that may contact each other when the game is inserted, the solution is to take apart and repair the bent pins by straightening them out, or buy a new cartridge holder from ebay to solder on the board. This fixes no read and shut down of ds, and is a permanent fix, until someone jams a cartridge back in and bends the pins again.

The other fix, is to buy a new motherboard I found that one had a circuit malfunction which caused this issue.

Most likely and a lot of times it is in fact bent pins causing this because when inserting the game into the cartridge area over and over with force or putting it in backwards and forcing it by someone that doesn't know any better will create the problem and that leaves you two options I stated above: If you can fix the bent pins you might have success, if you can solder, you can replace the game cartridge on the motherboard, and or replace motherboard if that failed. If you don't do none of these you have the option to get it repaired, sell it back on eBay.
The pins are fragile and can be bent in ways not repairable in that case you would safe time and effort to buy a game cartridge on line, cheap few bucks, and solder it onto motherboard to fix your issue.
Just look for game cartridge slot reader for your type of ds on eBay! Good Luck!

Sounds like a cleaning issue. If you have a game that you really don't like, I say this because it may be ruined afterwards, apply Windex to the connectors of the game and insert it. Take the cartridge out and slide it back in a few times.

You could also use a Doc's Gameboy cleaning unit. I also did a eBay search and they have one specifically for Snes cleaning. Link below.

Official

remove the cartridge and blow the cartridge slot of the SNES console. and also blow the cartridge its self. reinsert game cartridge and try to play it.

The front slot is made for NES games such as mario/duckhunt, and the back slot is made for SNES games. Make sure you put them in the right direction as well.

Good Luck,
Rodrick

Maybe the one that is not turning on to play game is broken then. Ensure that you have a known-good game cartridge inserted before powering on the SNES console. Most older, cartridge-based game consoles don't boot without a game installed.
Does the power light to the left of the controller ports turn on when you turn on the power switch?
If not, check your power adapter and outlet for functionality and good connection.
Check that the reset switch is not stuck. Wiggle it back and forth through its range of motion a few times. If something sticky gets in there it can get jammed in the reset position, which will prevent any game from booting.
You mentioned that there is no image. Are you getting any sound from your games after waiting a few minutes with everything connected and turned on?
If you hear game sounds or music from the SNES, but see no picture and you've already (really and truly) ruled out the cabling and TV, then you might have a bad main board in the console.
If you don't get any video or sound, then it's not booting your game. You can find other recommendations about how to clean game and console connections, but usually inserting and ejecting a game 10-20 times will knock loose or grind off enough gunk to get a game to boot. Try this, and be sure to use the eject lever instead of ripping the game out to avoid console connector damage. If it's still not working, repeat with another game.

Try cleaning the cartridges, DON'T USE RUBBING ALCOHOL!!!!!! This can ruin the cartridge, there is a cleaner that you used to be able to buy (haven't look for one in a while). Check with your local game store or on ebay.

Well to fix the gray bock you would need to by a broken SNES console off of ebay to find the needed part if you find a broken SNES console with a working motherbaord you might be able to swap the parts then. And will need a bypass plug from radio shack to hook it al toghter then. Its not an easy task and has an 8 out of 10 chance of not working if you don't know what your doing then and a 4.5mm tool bit to open up the SNES too.

This is an attempt to try to fix this. Im willing to bet that one or more leads on the console arent fully contacting the game cartridges.Do this at your own risk... try to dis-assemble it enough to get to the contacts inside the console with a rubber eraser and use that to really clean off the leads. Blow off the dust with a good breath and try again...from what it sounds like is that the game is trying to work...(hence a reaction from pressing buttons) but the video leads from the cartridge arent responding. as for the other games....they probably use those leads for game processing and thats why they dont work at all.You might be able to reach without taking it apart, but if you really want to clean it good...you are gonna need real access. this is just a blind shot to help you out...i hope it works.

To owner of question, you will have to clean out the DS Lite Cartridge Slot since there must be too much corrosion on the pins or dust inside the Cartridge Slot. Try using rubbing alcohol and a q-tip to clean the inside of it. Then use a dry q-tip to dry the rubbing alcohol. To Guest - If you open up the DS Lite, you will see that the cartridge slot is covered with metal. You can't get into it without breaking it apart. Your best bet is to buy a replacement Cartridge Slot off of Ebay, desolder the old one, and then solder the new one on.

try blowing inside the game cartridge and then the slot the game inserts into. I had this problem on my snes with some games and this helped. Other to that it may be the console is on its way out.

Ebay sell some really cheap snes consoles now. I picked one up for £15.00 with games.