It could be a broken trace on the "glue logic chip" If it's a TMSS megadrive it's the 315-5433 the chip is close to the cart slot and sometimes grime and dirt fall in, causing copper tracks to fail. Pinout here : http://wiki.megadrive.org/index.php?title=MegaDrive.org_Wiki:Current_events
It's not a TMSS. But i'll take a look at that chip in closer detail when I get back from work. EDIT: I've totally given up on this MD. Bought a replacement for Masterturk and I'm just going to use the old one for donor parts for my up and coming crazy MD mod project.