SNES Recap

£55

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

Signs you need this repair

  • Sound is quiet, crackly or missing
  • The picture looks dim, wavy or unstable
  • The console sometimes fails to power up
  • You want the ageing capacitors replaced on a SNES you play

Old consoles use electrolytic capacitors, small components that dry out over decades. As they age, they can cause quiet, crackly or missing sound, a dim, wavy or unstable picture, and sometimes no power at all. A recap replaces them with new capacitors of the right values.

For £55, I remove the old capacitors from the SNES board, fit new ones and test the console for sound and picture before it goes back, insured and tracked. The recap has a 12-month warranty. This is skilled board work, done carefully so the board and its tracks aren't damaged. The price is fixed, so you know the cost when you book.

Here's the honest part. A recap is not a cure for every fault. Poor sound or a bad picture can have other causes, and on some consoles a recap is rarely needed. If your SNES won't turn on or shows no picture at all, the SNES repair assessment is the better place to start, because the fault could be the power supply, the power socket or the board. If you're not sure a recap is right for your console, read is recapping worth it? before booking.

A recap also won't sharpen the picture over RGB. For the soft or noisy RGB picture that later SNES boards (known as 1CHIP) can give, look at the SNES RGB picture fix instead. If your SNES powers up but struggles, send the power supply with it so I can rule that out too. If I can't complete the recap, there's no fee: no fix, no fee.

SNES Recap

Frequently asked questions

Does every SNES need a recap?
No. A recap replaces capacitors that have dried out with age, and it's not needed on every console. If your SNES sounds and looks fine, there's no need to book one.
Will a recap fix a SNES that won't turn on?
Possibly, but a no-power fault is often the power supply, the power socket or another part of the board. Book the repair assessment for that, and send the power supply with the console.
Will a recap improve the RGB picture?
It can help if ageing capacitors are making the picture unstable, but it doesn't fix the soft or noisy RGB picture on later SNES boards. That's the separate RGB picture fix.
Do I need to send the power supply?
Not for a recap on a console that powers up. If it's struggling to power on, send it so I can rule it out.

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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.