Game Boy:Cleaning up Battery Acid

Battery acid can cause significant corrosion to the battery terminals, and can even end up on the motherboard and corrode the traces. If you see any battery leakage, immediately remove the batteries and follow these steps.

• This tutorial assumes that the leaking batteries are standard alkaline batteries. This method will not work with other types of batteries.
• To prevent battery leakage, do not mix old and new batteries or mix types of batteries. Consider rechargeable NiMH batteries, as they rarely leak compared to alkaline.

Materials Needed

• Small cup or plastic container
• Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
• Distilled vinegar (higher concentrations may damage the board further)
• Screwdriver to remove screws on back of Game Boy (probably Tri-wing, but some early models use Philips)
• Very small flathead screwdriver
• Q-tips
• Paper towels
• Gloves (optional, the battery leakage may cause skin irritation)

Procedure

1. Mix 2 parts vinegar and 1 part rubbing alcohol in a small cup to make a cleaning solution.
2. Put the Game Boy on a paper towel.
3. Remove all the batteries from the Game Boy.
4. Use a Q-tip to apply a small amount of the cleaning solution to any area inside the battery compartment where leakage is visible, and wait until the bubbling has stopped.
5. Clean the battery compartment with a paper towel.
6. Remove the 6 screws on the bottom of the Game Boy.
7. Lift the back shell upwards towards the power switch, and disconnect the ribbon cable.
8. Use a very small flathead screwdriver to remove the 3 battery terminals that are connected together (top center terminal, both bottom terminals)
9. Bend the metal clip back into place if necessary, then soak the terminals in the cleaning solution.
10. Remove the screws on the motherboard, and remove the motherboard from the back shell.
11. Use a Q-tip to apply cleaning solution the battery terminals on the motherboard.
12. Use a Q-tip to apply cleaning solution to all the battery terminal slots in the back shell.
13. When the bubbling has stopped, use a paper towel to clean and dry every place you have applied cleaning solution, including the soaking battery terminals.
14. Reassemble the back case by reinstalling the motherboard and screws and the battery terminals.
15. Reconnect the middle ribbon cable, then reinstall the rear case.
16. Reinstall the 6 screws on the rear case.