I hope ths is a small and quick fix but I'm just not sure. I picked up an N64 about a week ago from the goodwill. It played well the 1st day but since has come up with a kinda "glitch". The console will reset itself after about 15-30 minutes of gameplay. Every time it does that the next reset will come sooner and sooner. I have heard the issue could be that its dirty (which is a strong possibility) or to remove the expansion pack or  that the ac plug is no good anymore. Should I open the console and clean it well or just go ahead and purchase a new ac power box? Or is the console damaged? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance. 

Sounds like an overheating problem, but I really couldn't say for sure.

If it is overheating, what would be the fix/solution?

Turn it on, then throw it in a bathtub full of water. Make sure you are standing in the water otherwise it will not be successful.

In all seriousness, there probably isn't much you could do without opening it up. Even then, n64 are very finicky and easy to fry. It may sound silly, but I would probably stick it in my freezer while playing and see if it doesn't reset, or at least extends the amount of time before it resets.

Thanks Brad, the one weird thing is that the console or even the ac unit do not get "hot" at all. I would figure that if it were an overheating problem it would at least be slightly hot to the touch, shouldnt it? I think i'll open it up and clean it out as best I can and then try a new ac adapter (unfortunetly I don't have an extra one handy). Hopefully someone has had this issue with one of their N64 consoles, and may have a first hand experience as to what he/she did in this situation.

If you do have the tool to open it up (4.5 mm security bit), I highly recommend opening it up and blowing it out at least with canned air. You'd be surprised what can accumulate in one of those over the years.

I have never had an issue with an N64 but supposedly the hardware is just iffy.  Not XBOX 360 quality, but not the greatest.  Ben Heck was quoted as saying its too troublesome to work with due to its unreliability so.....being that he is the modder of all modders when it comes to consoles, I would have to take his word for it.

The AC adapter is fused, and that is likely your problem. I had one that did that all the time. I picked up another adapter, and never had the problem again.

Thanks for all the input guys and thanks for the insight Chad, I think I'll go ahead and do that.

I had the same problem, and got a new AC adapter... it worked well for some time, and went back to reset every 5 minutes. My final solution was to put folded pieces of paper underneath the adapter (in the space between the adapter and the console), so the adapter fit tightly. I even put tape to stick the console to the adapter, to secure it even better. Now my console never resets.

Check if the adapter's connector, and the console's connector are firm. If they aren't, I guess that's the problem. I can get you a pic of my "fix" if you want.

Thanks for the info Jorge, yeah I'd like to take a look at a pic of your solution if its not too much of a hassle.

not too fancy, but it gets the job done.

Thanks Jorge, I think i'll give that a try.

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I just today decided to break out my N64. It had worked fine for many years, and then I stashed it in my closet for several more. So when I hooked it up to play some Doom 64, it started randomly resetting on me. I clean EVERYTHING inside and out, including the cartridge slot, memory expansion slot, and the cartridge itself. None of it helped the issue, yet these were all the reasons listed on the internet as to why this was happening. Then I find this thread in the archives of good 'ol NA, and guess what? The power interface connection was EXACTLY the problem! I put a shim in the gap beneath the adapter "cartridge" and it completely stopped the random resetting. I shutter to think at how many people were given bad advice in all the other threads I looked at!

Nercoposter!

Ah well good to see this fix still works if the.situation arises.

Going by this thread and past experience, resetting can be caused by a dirty reset button, a bad PSU or loose power connections. I guess try resolving each of those. Use a toothbrush and alcohol for the reset button. Don't try powering the N64 until the alcohol has evaporated.

About overheating, one can install a fan inside, the N64 has a +12v source on the AC adapter.

Some things to try:

Check caps.

See if any chips get hotter than normal.

Try to determine if the whole system goes down, or just one chip.

Guys this thread was bumped by me. Read my post.

IT'S A TRAP!

He said how to fix the overheating problem, not how to fix the n64 is working problem

This is what comes of necroposting, I believe Joel is behind this somehow.

First off, I know this is an older thread recently revived. However, I just was given a gold copy of Ocarina of Time, as my original gold copy was stolen years ago. Well, I am now getting the system resetting issue. Google has page after page of "ideas" on how to fix it. But it was only this thread I've found that seems to have actually fixed the problem. I played for like 2 hours without a reset. So thank you to the person with figured out the folded paper trick. Hopefully this will have completely solved it. I think word needs to get out about this fix. BTW, I signed up just to say all this, as I am happy to be able to play my N64 again, as it is 17 years old after all.

I've been having a resetting problem with my N64, and I couldn't get more than 15 minutes of gameplay out of it without a reset. I found this is a simple, tape-free solution that resulted in over 2 hours of consecutive gameplay that ended with me quitting (sorry, I don't know how to make pictures appear here).

https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/h...

Just wanted to thank this thread! Bought an n64 for the missus for Christmas with Zelda and this resetting kept happening. I've now wedged some cardboard under the power pack and its been fine for over an hour now. Thanks!

You know what works like a charm in some cases? I personally vouch for this method since I have now ZERO ressetting on my old console: Don't push the power switch all the way. Push it only the necessary to switch on the console, it must hold around the middle (it requires careful pushing so that it stays in place).