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Repair guide

Clean up a leaked battery inside a handheld or cartridge

Leaked alkaline cells corrode contacts and traces. Neutralising and cleaning early can save the board.

Open the interactive checklist Tick off each step as you go. It saves in your browser.

Cleaning · Careful · about 45 minutes. Worth doing. Reports say this fix helps on many machines.

You are in the right place if: White crust or green residue around the battery contacts, or dead contacts after storage.

Before you start

  • Wear gloves and eye protection.
  • If traces are damaged beyond easy repair, stop and seek a skilled repairer.

Parts you may need

  • White vinegar. neutralise alkaline leakage Amazon · eBay
  • Isopropyl alcohol. final wipe Amazon · eBay

Tools

Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These links only search by name. Disclosure

Step by step

  1. Prepare the workspace Lay down paper towels to catch residue.
  2. Remove and dispose of the batteries Wear gloves.
  3. Disassemble the device Get access to the affected contacts.
  4. Choose a neutraliser Use white vinegar for alkaline leaks. A baking soda mix is for acid batteries.
  5. Soak removable terminals Leave them for about five minutes.
  6. Scrub the board Use a swab or old toothbrush with the neutraliser.
  7. Clean the case Wipe off residue.
  8. Dry and inspect Dry thoroughly and check vias.
  9. Test continuity Use a multimeter and repair broken traces with solder.
  10. Wipe with alcohol Finish with isopropyl alcohol.

Tips, tales and maybes

Found in write-ups and forum threads. These are other people's reports, not tested by us.

  • Tip (Medium confidence). ConsoleMods suggests checking for clogged vias and clearing them with a fine pin. Source
  • Tip (Low confidence). A video tutorial is linked from the ConsoleMods page. Source

Guides we used

We wrote the steps in our own words from these. They have the photos and the full detail, so please read them and support their authors.

Boards and models vary, so check what is in front of you. A repair can involve hot tools, chemicals and, on some machines, dangerous voltages. You do it at your own risk.

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