Modchip problem

[themanfromsaturn]

I recently dug out one of my old PAL Saturn consoles fitted with a modchip (the one from consolegoods; it's marked EMSIC7-1), but now the system won't recognise discs (burned or originals) with the modchip in place.

When the system starts it goes straight to the CD player and at least one of the 'orbs' representing the left or right speaker always appears as a big red ball.

I thought this could be due to a bad connection, so I removed all of the cables, cleaned them and the connectors with IPA and re-seated everything, but the problem remains.

If I remove the modchip and connect the CD drive directly to the motherboard, original discs boot without a problem.

Is my modchip just dead or is there something else I can try?

[themanfromsaturn]

Update:

I think I fixed the problem. I performed continuity tests between the motherboard end of the ribbon and every pin on the connector on the modchip. It turns out that one pin was not making contact.

Looking at it closer it seems the connector has widened near this pin, possibly caused by it being under tension over time, so the ribbon no longer sits snug against the connector near this pin. I don't have the appropriate tools to do a clean job of replacing the connector, so I've tinned the appropriate wire on the ribbon cable to raise it slightly and now it works  .

Sorry for creating the thread, but for anyone else with similar issues, hopefully this might help them.