Game Boy Advance Battery Corrosion Repair

£35

No fix, no fee · 12-month warranty · Insured, tracked returns

Signs you need this repair

  • Won't turn on at all
  • Turns on, then cuts out when you move it
  • White or green crust on the battery contacts
  • Batteries were left in for years before it went in a drawer
  • Only works if you press on the battery cover

AA batteries left in a Game Boy Advance for years tend to leak. What leaks out corrodes the battery contacts and can creep along the nearby tracks on the board. The result is a console that won't turn on at all, or one that works intermittently and cuts out when you move it.

This is often repairable, depending on how far the corrosion has spread. I open the console, clean the corrosion off the contacts and the board, and check the tracks. Where a contact is too far gone, I replace it. Where a track has been eaten through, I repair the connection. Then I test it on my bench on batteries, with a game running, before it goes back.

This service is for the original Game Boy Advance, model AGB-001. The SP has a built-in rechargeable battery rather than AAs, so this repair doesn't apply to it. If your SP won't turn on, the SP charging and battery services on the Game Boy Advance hub are the place to look.

There are some honest limits. Very corroded boards need a look first, so if the corrosion has spread well beyond the battery compartment, get in touch before booking. Corrosion can also affect the power switch and the parts near it, and I check those while it's open. If I can't get it working, there's no repair fee, and I refund what you paid, less return postage.

Before you send it, it's worth trying a few checks yourself. GBA won't turn on: what to check walks you through them. Once it's working, take the batteries out before you put it away, or look at a USB-C rechargeable battery mod so there are no AAs to leak.

Game Boy Advance Battery Corrosion Repair

Frequently asked questions

Can every corroded GBA be repaired?
Not every one, but it's often repairable, depending on how far the corrosion has spread. Very corroded boards need a look first, so get in touch if yours looks bad.
Will it still run on AA batteries afterwards?
Yes, it runs on AAs as before. Take them out before you put it away, so they can't leak again.
How do I stop it happening again?
Take the batteries out before putting the console away, or have a rechargeable battery mod fitted so there are no AAs to leak.

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About this service

How does your mail-in repair service work?
Three steps: book and pay for your repair online, post your item to me using the packing instructions I email you, and I repair it, test it, and send it back tracked. You'll get updates as it moves through each stage.
What is your no-fix-no-fee promise?
Payment is taken upfront at booking. If I can't fix your item, there's no repair fee — I refund what you paid, less £4.99 return postage to send it back to you. Assessment bookings work differently: the £4.99 covers return postage and comes off the repair if you go ahead, but isn't refunded if you decide not to or it can't be repaired.
Do your repairs come with a warranty?
Yes. Every repair carries a 12-month workmanship warranty against the same fault returning. If it does, I'll put it right.
How long will my repair take?
Most repairs are completed within 3-6 working days of arrival, then posted back by tracked post. If a part needs ordering, I'll tell you as soon as I've diagnosed it and give you a realistic date. Diagnostic-led jobs take a little longer if I'm waiting on your approval of a quote.
How do I package my item safely to post it?
I send clear packing guidance when you book. In short: wrap the item well, use plenty of padding, and a sturdy box — the return leg is insured and tracked, and good packing on the way in protects your item too.
Where do I send my item?
Your postage address is included in the confirmation email after you book — you don't post anything until you've booked, so your item is always matched to your order.
Do you cover the whole UK?
Yes — I run a mail-in repair service, so you can send your item from anywhere in the UK. There's nothing local you need to find.
What if my item turns out to be unrepairable?
I'll tell you honestly and, where the fault allows, offer an alternative. If I can't fix it, there's no repair fee — I refund what you paid, less £4.99 return postage to send it back to you.