I never knew you could change the batteries. I thought my silver and crystal versions were lost forever. I didn't know my yellow version could die on me too. This is great news. Thank you!
Thanks for the vid! Didn’t use solder or anything like that. Just put a piece of tape and plastic washer to hold the battery tightly against the conductors. Absolutely no issue.
Hey guys! Thank you so much for the video, I will be buying pokémon cristal soon and know the internal battery won't do the job. This video makes the repair seem very easy, so I'll give it a try and see how things work out. Thanks for the tutorial and greetings! :D
Finally, someone who does it right! I must say though: I’d be worried about shorting the brand new battery with that clip since there could be contacts with the opposite charge on the other side.
My copy of Yellow version is the latest for the battery to die on me, joining my original copies of Gold, Silver and Crystal so this is nice to have a step by step video on how to replace the battery. Now i just need to find an affordable price for the right batteries that will fit correctly.
As someone who may have to replace the DS Lite Power Switch because I broke it like a dunce, I might have to learn soldering soon, so this is quite handy, and I'm glad JoeR is there to ask the questions I totally would've asked! Probably gonna try this on my Pokemon Yellow since I don't need to worry about it draining itself over 5 years like GSC does.
I actually fit a 2032 in my copy of Crystal. You have to make it very flush to the board so you have enough room. Also make sure to hold the soldering iron on the metals you want to connect for a couple of seconds; then feed in the solder, and then when you're done adding solder; hold the soldering iron there for a second longer and then pull away; that will heat up the metals well and the solder will follow the heat and coat them for a good connection. Also gently turn the screw to the left until it clicks into place, and then right after screw it in. That will prevent the screw from making new threads in the plastic and will set it to the original threading.
I always use 2032 on RBY and GSC then 2025 on RSE. 2032 on RSE is too big and causes the cart to bulge. Avoiding generic tabbed battery sets from eBay and AliExpress helps massively. A genuine 1616 from Digikey will outlast an eBay 2032 due to the genuine ones being of the correct capacity for that size.
@@driverdis3488 How did you manage to fit a 2025 in a gba game? I tried with a copy of Metroid Fusion and it would not close even though it seemed very flush. I could've maybe forced it, but I didn't want to risk breaking anything, so I settled with a 1616.
Perfect! Very informative and right to the point! I appreciate you guys! Liking and subscribed after seeing the vid for Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald! Thank you so much! Should be easy to get my Crystal and Emerald all situated and what not with some new batteries. Again thank you for the vid :D
What temperature should the soldering iron be? i found using even around 620 degrees F couldnt keep the old solder hot enough. When i used the soldering wick, it kept on just getting stuck and not sucking up the old solder.
I've finally decided to try this after successfully putting a learner kit together, since I hadn't touched a soldering iron before. So far, I'm still unable to hold a save file, but I'll crack it open and see if I can find where I messed up.
i just did this to my gold i just bought and soldered new battery that was 2025 with 3.3v and doesn't save and 2 that ive put in are now 2.8v and 2.634v as they are draining only played to get to saving to test so havent actually played the game, what could be the issue if the batteries are good and something on the board being the issue?
Is it okay to shake the cart a little? I noticed putting my first battery in a few shakes proved the contacts weren't accurate. By the way definitely one of the best guides on youtube with information. A lot of things are left out on others you clearly gave us.
a retro game technician changed the battery of my pokemon silver cartridge but it's still not keeping the save. Did he solder the battery with inverted poles?
How long do these last? I’m looking to purchasing one with a new battery but seller says it will last at least 2 years. My original one lasted at least 6-7.
It depends, but fresh batteries should last 10 years. Mine lasted 15 years approximately and I played a ton as a kid. Gold and silver will last for less usually, figure around 10 years.
@@joervintagepokemon6976 thanks, the seller message me back and said it’s a 2 year guarantee but should last up to 12 years if stored correctly so that lines up with your reply :) Maybe my original one did last longer than 7 years, hard to know when it even died as went decades without playing it.
Great video, thank you! Do you by chance have a specific brand of CR1616 battery that you would recommend for a Pokémon Yellow replacement? They seem readily available, but I want to try and match The OEM battery as best as possible. Thanks again!
How do you know that the game is out of battery? My game can save and when i shut it down and turn it on again, sometimes the safe file is still there, but sometimes, the game just erases itself, is this a battery problem?
you should have waited for longer with the console off to check if it saves, as my game with 0.01mv battery holds the save for about 20 seconds before losing it.
If your save file is gone and it only says new game as an option and it can not hold a save then it must be changed. The battery will always die eventually so on average every 10-15 years it needs to be done approximately depending on battery quality.
this makes me feel more comfortable doing it for my first time, should i be doing this in a garage or it's ok to do inside my home, i dont have work bench like u . also do we wear ppc or it's ok, the man did not wear glass or gloves
Since you are working with small parts, gloves can get in the way. As long as you do not touch the soldering iron tip you should be fine. The solder cools and drys instantly so do not worry about burning yourself unless you touch it immediately after heating it up. Inside the house is completely fine but place your iron on something to avoid damage in case solder drips. There will be a tiny bit of smoke but this is normal as seen in the video. Just make sure you are careful and have a steady hand. It’s really quite easy. Having the equipment is the only issue, but it’s pretty cheap. Please like and subscribe for more!
@@hugh_dancy sounds like it is not hot enough, but the old solder does have a higher melting point than the new solder you use. Try turning it up or check that the tip is actually hot.
@@joervintagepokemon6976 so there is no hope of saving the game file when you discover the battery needs replacing? Even if you continue playing you will eventually need to turn it off at some point
CR2025 is simply the incorrect size for yellow. If you can "make it" fit then it is probably fine. But inside is designed for the other battery technically.
Hello mate, I'm changing my Pokemon Silver battery, but I've got the Pin Tab Battery (CR2025) instead the wide tab one, do you think I can make it? I mean, is it impossible or only more complicated?
You can actually go up to CR2032 as they fit fine inside these cartridge shells. Infact CR2032 is recommended for MBC3 games like Crystal as these games are known to drain the battery much faster, and you will get extended life over a CR2025. The reason Nintendo used CR2025 and CR1616 instead of simply going with CR2032's was for 2 reasons. 1. Cost. It's cheaper to use lower capacity batteries. 2. Nintendo only really intended for these carts to have around a 10 year life cycle. The CR1616 and CR2025 respectively were adequate for this task.
If you replaced the battery, you won't have a save any more. You will need to start a new game and create a new save. If it still doesn't work, check you installed the new battery in the correct orientation.
@@joervintagepokemon6976 Successfully repaired my Crystal cartridge. Sad that I lost the 300 hrs I had put into the original save, but now I get to start again. Thanks for the help!
Anyone trying to keep their save good while swapping batteries there's a lot of tools out there. Personally I prefer the Joey Jr but there are plenty of options out there. Make sure you save your save before you remove the battery.
@@AndehX I understand what you are saying, but it's also a bit annoying desoldering the battery when it's dead, so I prefer tu use the 1616 battery holder and it's battery.
Well... fuck. I just got an old copy of Crystal but the battery is dead. I knew original Gameboy games required soldering to replace the batteries but I hoped Crystal would be different since it's newer. There's no way I'm gonna throw more money away on a soldering iron, solder, special screwdriver and new battery just to risk destroying the cartridge by trying to replace the battery (not to mention potentially injuring myself). This thing is getting sent right back for a refund. Sure, I might have been able to replace it but it'd be a total gamble since I've never soldered anything in my life. I'd rather get my money back than waste even more trying to fix it (especially when there's no guarantee that I would be successful).
There are services that will do the fix for you, but you will need to send them your copy and trust they do it well. Sometimes local game shops will do repairs as well. Good luck!
Defeated yourself before you even tried... must be some kind of major neckbeard... it would only take a few moments. Id say ask a friend to borrow their tools but with this kind of comment I doubt you have many, if any friends.. lol
I never knew you could change the batteries. I thought my silver and crystal versions were lost forever. I didn't know my yellow version could die on me too. This is great news. Thank you!
Thanks for the vid! Didn’t use solder or anything like that. Just put a piece of tape and plastic washer to hold the battery tightly against the conductors. Absolutely no issue.
I know I’m 2years late but thank you so much for making this video ❤ and having him clarify everything 💯
Really wish I watched this prior to replacing the battery on my Silver cartridge. Great detail, especially on the varying tabs.
This is an excellent video, thanks! Was planning on replacing the batteries for Gen II carts I've bought/plan to get! Thanks!
Hey guys! Thank you so much for the video, I will be buying pokémon cristal soon and know the internal battery won't do the job. This video makes the repair seem very easy, so I'll give it a try and see how things work out. Thanks for the tutorial and greetings! :D
Best of luck! Should go smoothly brother!
Finally, someone who does it right! I must say though: I’d be worried about shorting the brand new battery with that clip since there could be contacts with the opposite charge on the other side.
My copy of Yellow version is the latest for the battery to die on me, joining my original copies of Gold, Silver and Crystal so this is nice to have a step by step video on how to replace the battery. Now i just need to find an affordable price for the right batteries that will fit correctly.
first time ever doing any of this, works and saves perfectly. that desoldering wick was clutch af, get it if you can! thank you!!
As someone who may have to replace the DS Lite Power Switch because I broke it like a dunce, I might have to learn soldering soon, so this is quite handy, and I'm glad JoeR is there to ask the questions I totally would've asked! Probably gonna try this on my Pokemon Yellow since I don't need to worry about it draining itself over 5 years like GSC does.
Very Informational thank you for this video. also awesome card packs in the background!
Thanks - this was helpful. Fixed my crystal & gold... time for some indulgent nostalgia!
I actually fit a 2032 in my copy of Crystal. You have to make it very flush to the board so you have enough room. Also make sure to hold the soldering iron on the metals you want to connect for a couple of seconds; then feed in the solder, and then when you're done adding solder; hold the soldering iron there for a second longer and then pull away; that will heat up the metals well and the solder will follow the heat and coat them for a good connection. Also gently turn the screw to the left until it clicks into place, and then right after screw it in. That will prevent the screw from making new threads in the plastic and will set it to the original threading.
2032 lasts longer?
@@oliverleonard7730 If there's nothing wrong with the battery; it should last longer since it's a bigger capacity and is still 3 volts.
I always use 2032 on RBY and GSC then 2025 on RSE. 2032 on RSE is too big and causes the cart to bulge.
Avoiding generic tabbed battery sets from eBay and AliExpress helps massively. A genuine 1616 from Digikey will outlast an eBay 2032 due to the genuine ones being of the correct capacity for that size.
@@driverdis3488 How did you manage to fit a 2025 in a gba game? I tried with a copy of Metroid Fusion and it would not close even though it seemed very flush. I could've maybe forced it, but I didn't want to risk breaking anything, so I settled with a 1616.
Perfect! Very informative and right to the point! I appreciate you guys! Liking and subscribed after seeing the vid for Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald! Thank you so much! Should be easy to get my Crystal and Emerald all situated and what not with some new batteries. Again thank you for the vid :D
I Just Got A Working Crystal Version Today. And it really looks cool.
What temperature should the soldering iron be? i found using even around 620 degrees F couldnt keep the old solder hot enough. When i used the soldering wick, it kept on just getting stuck and not sucking up the old solder.
From our master mechanic: “Depends on solder but i usually start at 700°F and move up if need be.”
I'm new to soldering but I learned very quickly that not using flux is like driving your car without using the brakes.
CR2025 work with Yellow fine.
Just replaced the CR1616 with a CR2025, save works perfectly
When I was a kid I would just tape the battery back in place when it fell out of place and it would work just fine.
Nothing wrong with that, but this is a more permanent fix with no risk of disconnect
@@joervintagepokemon6976 can you get the battery out without soldering it?
@@bahamianheatle4180 no. It is a bad idea as you may break something. You should take it out with solder
@@bahamianheatle4180 no. It is a bad idea as you may break something. You should take it out with solder
What temperature do I set my iron too?
Wow great video guys. Very detailed on what you are doing with tips to make the process nice and easy. Thanks guys I'm subscribed!
Joey Hartnell appreciate it. That was the aim!
Thank you for the video! I also like the shirt!
I've finally decided to try this after successfully putting a learner kit together, since I hadn't touched a soldering iron before. So far, I'm still unable to hold a save file, but I'll crack it open and see if I can find where I messed up.
Silly me put the battery in backwards. I feel like a mad scientist reviving the long dead. Thanks so much!
i just did this to my gold i just bought and soldered new battery that was 2025 with 3.3v and doesn't save and 2 that ive put in are now 2.8v and 2.634v as they are draining only played to get to saving to test so havent actually played the game, what could be the issue if the batteries are good and something on the board being the issue?
@@moonpig660 it’s possible if you are not the original owner.
Is it okay to shake the cart a little? I noticed putting my first battery in a few shakes proved the contacts weren't accurate. By the way definitely one of the best guides on youtube with information. A lot of things are left out on others you clearly gave us.
Thanks. I would shake it as much as you want. You want to make sure the solder job is good. It should not come lose for any reason.
a retro game technician changed the battery of my pokemon silver cartridge but it's still not keeping the save.
Did he solder the battery with inverted poles?
if you solder looks shiny after its good, if i looks dull and wrinkled to cold. The right flux makes all the difference.
Not necessarily. Non-leaded solder will usually look dull.
@@inputfunny …especially when mixed with lead solder but that’s also a bad thing. Mixed solder chemistries are typically brittle and go bad over time.
How long do these last? I’m looking to purchasing one with a new battery but seller says it will last at least 2 years.
My original one lasted at least 6-7.
It depends, but fresh batteries should last 10 years. Mine lasted 15 years approximately and I played a ton as a kid. Gold and silver will last for less usually, figure around 10 years.
@@joervintagepokemon6976 thanks, the seller message me back and said it’s a 2 year guarantee but should last up to 12 years if stored correctly so that lines up with your reply :)
Maybe my original one did last longer than 7 years, hard to know when it even died as went decades without playing it.
Great video, thank you!
Do you by chance have a specific brand of CR1616 battery that you would recommend for a Pokémon Yellow replacement? They seem readily available, but I want to try and match The OEM battery as best as possible.
Thanks again!
Can you replace with cr2032 instead of cr2025? Would it still work?
How do you know that the game is out of battery?
My game can save and when i shut it down and turn it on again, sometimes the safe file is still there, but sometimes, the game just erases itself, is this a battery problem?
Sounds like the battery. Try saving, removing the game and give it a few minutes. Check and see if the save is there. If not, then its the battery.
@@stephenburgoyne312 thanks! Ill try it!
@@pandacubes1949 How did it go?
you should have waited for longer with the console off to check if it saves, as my game with 0.01mv battery holds the save for about 20 seconds before losing it.
Still saving 2 years later but thanks for the input! :)
@@joervintagepokemon6976 it's good to keep in mind the latent power in the system.
I have a Pokémon Yellow but it won't start I have cleaned it I just can't get it to play got any recommendations
Can’t say. Might be corrosion inside. Depends how it was stored
@@joervintagepokemon6976 well i had it opened up and cleaned now I got to get someone to put a battery in it and redo the connections
@@brandonjester9942 try a local game store or tech repair shop, but make sure they do it right!
Can you use a CR1616 in Gold?
I think you can but the correct size is the cr2025
How do I know the battery needs a change? And does it always need a change after a period of time?
If your save file is gone and it only says new game as an option and it can not hold a save then it must be changed. The battery will always die eventually so on average every 10-15 years it needs to be done approximately depending on battery quality.
this makes me feel more comfortable doing it for my first time, should i be doing this in a garage or it's ok to do inside my home, i dont have work bench like u . also do we wear ppc or it's ok, the man did not wear glass or gloves
Since you are working with small parts, gloves can get in the way. As long as you do not touch the soldering iron tip you should be fine. The solder cools and drys instantly so do not worry about burning yourself unless you touch it immediately after heating it up. Inside the house is completely fine but place your iron on something to avoid damage in case solder drips. There will be a tiny bit of smoke but this is normal as seen in the video. Just make sure you are careful and have a steady hand. It’s really quite easy. Having the equipment is the only issue, but it’s pretty cheap.
Please like and subscribe for more!
@@joervintagepokemon6976 help !! I turned the solder on but the old solder isn't melting, my temperature is set at 230C . What am I doing wrong ??
@@hugh_dancy sounds like it is not hot enough, but the old solder does have a higher melting point than the new solder you use. Try turning it up or check that the tip is actually hot.
@@joervintagepokemon6976 whats the max temperature to have before it gets too much for board
@@hugh_dancy The master mechanic uses 750 Fahrenheit typically.
Hi! On that pokemon crystal there is a replacement sticker with the 'metalic' effect? im looking for those stickers someone can help me pls? :(
how hot should i have my soldering iron
From our master mechanic “Deoends on solder but i usually start at 700°F and move up if need be”
If the battery dies does it erase the previous file?? Or does it just prevent you from saving any further?
The game will no longer save but you play as long as you keep the game on. Once turned off the entire file will be gone.
@@joervintagepokemon6976 so there is no hope of saving the game file when you discover the battery needs replacing? Even if you continue playing you will eventually need to turn it off at some point
@@Ampraa correct. It must be replaced with a new battery
@@joervintagepokemon6976 I’m going to be replacing my battery before I start a new game lol thank you so much for your help with this🙏🏼
@@Ampraa master mechanic george is who you wanna thank!
How many watts and how much temperature does the soldering iron need?
Why can't you use a CR2025 in Yellow? why is it different?
CR2025 is simply the incorrect size for yellow. If you can "make it" fit then it is probably fine. But inside is designed for the other battery technically.
Super helpful, thank you!
Hello mate, I'm changing my Pokemon Silver battery, but I've got the Pin Tab Battery (CR2025) instead the wide tab one, do you think I can make it? I mean, is it impossible or only more complicated?
A pin tab makes a lot less contact so you risk it being disconnected more easily. It is possible, but not recommended for durability over many years.
@@joervintagepokemon6976 Understood, thanks!
Weird my pokemon yellow still works after all these years.
My pokemon yellow battery died like a few days ago
You can actually go up to CR2032 as they fit fine inside these cartridge shells. Infact CR2032 is recommended for MBC3 games like Crystal as these games are known to drain the battery much faster, and you will get extended life over a CR2025.
The reason Nintendo used CR2025 and CR1616 instead of simply going with CR2032's was for 2 reasons. 1. Cost. It's cheaper to use lower capacity batteries. 2. Nintendo only really intended for these carts to have around a 10 year life cycle. The CR1616 and CR2025 respectively were adequate for this task.
Do I need the one with the Metal Tabs on it? Cause I want the best quality better possible for my games.
Yes it is recommended otherwise the connection will be weak
Do you use lead-free solder or solder with lead?
i did everything and my save still does not even show with a new battery i put in that is pokémon crystal
Hard to say what the issue may be. You could have a damaged circuit board or simply a bad solder connection. I wish you the best of luck!
If you replaced the battery, you won't have a save any more. You will need to start a new game and create a new save. If it still doesn't work, check you installed the new battery in the correct orientation.
@@AndehX the one i had was damaged i returned it to the seller and got a better one that works and hold my saves
So do you lose your save if you change the batteri ??
Yes, sadly you do lose the save. It can not be helped...
You can keep your save file if you change the battery after turning on the console. You just have to save before turning it off.
Great video! Any chance yall could provide links to the products you used?
Video is pretty old and it was my buddy that purchased all the tools so I’m not really sure. Best of luck!
@@joervintagepokemon6976 All good! I'll let you know how it goes!
@@joervintagepokemon6976 Successfully repaired my Crystal cartridge. Sad that I lost the 300 hrs I had put into the original save, but now I get to start again. Thanks for the help!
Fun fact, you can use a CR2025 Battery in Pokemon Yellow its just a tighter fit.
can u just hold the battery in place with electric tape?
Strongly recommend not doing that. It’s not as secure and risk any bump dislodging it.
@@joervintagepokemon6976 will my save delete as soon as it dislodges tho?
It will 100% delete as soon as it comes loose. The circuit can not be broken.
It will 100% delete as soon as it comes loose. The circuit can not be broken.
Anyone trying to keep their save good while swapping batteries there's a lot of tools out there. Personally I prefer the Joey Jr but there are plenty of options out there. Make sure you save your save before you remove the battery.
Do the yellow one
Its a bit late, but spanish version of red and blue uses 1616, even the pcb says it.
it doesn't matter. As long as it's a 3v battery, it will work fine. CR2032 is recommended for the longest life span.
@@AndehX I understand what you are saying, but it's also a bit annoying desoldering the battery when it's dead, so I prefer tu use the 1616 battery holder and it's battery.
Didn't know what the point of those are
I have a few games I will probably have to this to someday. Too bad it will wipe the saves.
Save rip :(
Well... fuck. I just got an old copy of Crystal but the battery is dead. I knew original Gameboy games required soldering to replace the batteries but I hoped Crystal would be different since it's newer. There's no way I'm gonna throw more money away on a soldering iron, solder, special screwdriver and new battery just to risk destroying the cartridge by trying to replace the battery (not to mention potentially injuring myself). This thing is getting sent right back for a refund. Sure, I might have been able to replace it but it'd be a total gamble since I've never soldered anything in my life. I'd rather get my money back than waste even more trying to fix it (especially when there's no guarantee that I would be successful).
There are services that will do the fix for you, but you will need to send them your copy and trust they do it well. Sometimes local game shops will do repairs as well. Good luck!
Defeated yourself before you even tried... must be some kind of major neckbeard... it would only take a few moments. Id say ask a friend to borrow their tools but with this kind of comment I doubt you have many, if any friends.. lol