It only runs on the charger, or it will not charge at all

94MER / Repair Guides / Charging

Charging · Symptom guide

The console dies within minutes, only runs while plugged in, or refuses to take a charge at all.

Two different parts cause this and they need different fixes. The lithium cell loses capacity with age whether you use it or not. The charging port is a mechanical connector that gets levered on every single time you plug in, and its solder joints crack.

Do these first. They cost nothing.

Check this before you buy anything

  1. Wiggle the plug while it is charging

    If the charge light flickers on and off as you move the cable, the port is loose and the battery is probably fine.

  2. Look at the battery

    A swollen pack pushing the cover out is finished. Stop charging it, do not puncture it, and recycle it properly.

  3. Try a different charger first

    Cheap chargers fail constantly and cost the least to rule out.

  4. Time how long it runs on a full charge

    Dies in twenty minutes but charges normally? Battery. Will not charge at all but runs fine on the cable? Port.

If every one of those comes back clean, now it is worth buying a part.

If that did not fix it, here is the part

GBA SP Charging PortGBA SP Charging Port$3.99DS Lite Charging PortDS Lite Charging Port$3.99Game Boy Advance SP BatteryGame Boy Advance SP Battery$9.99Nintendo DS Lite BatteryNintendo DS Lite Battery$9.99Nintendo DSi BatteryNintendo DSi Battery$9.99Universal Handheld ChargerUniversal Handheld Charger$9.99

Before you order

Charge ports are solder-in and need an iron. Batteries are a screwdriver job. Every model takes a different battery, so check whether you have a DS Lite, a DSi, a DSi XL or a GBA SP before ordering.

What this is not

If the console will not power on even with the charger connected, neither of these is likely your fault.

Related faults

Your PSP is dead, or will not hold a chargeYour handheld is cracked, yellowed or just ugly

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