So I have a broken Wii U with a blinking red light when you turn it on, no video output. I haven't found any reliable source online of what causes this problem or how to fix it. The most I've found is to make sure there's no dust in the console and to make sure the power supply isn't dead. Which is just general this electronic thing doesn't work 101. I figure if it's a power issue the console wouldn't try to start at all, especially if the PSU is fine. Of course there could be less obvious other power issues. If the console overheated and has been the subject of solder cracking would the combo CPU/GPU be the only culprit or would the RAM be suspect as well? Or perhaps the firmware is corrupted? Also anyone know what causes the "blue light of death"? If that's known that could initially rule out some things. Thanks peeps!
Doesnt a constant red light mean that the Wii U has not powered on? If you can try another power supply that would be ideal (does a friend have one you can borrow?) Have you tried turning it on via the Power Button and the Wii U Controller? did either make any difference?
Assuming you've tried to discharge it by unplugging both the console and power supply from anything for a good while? I'm asking because although this is the Wii U, I saw this a TON on the original Wii. For whatever reason it would just stay on the red standby light, people would even unplug the system and PSU and try it in other outlets in their house, same thing. They'd bring it into us (I worked at a game shop at the time), we'd test it out and it all worked perfectly fine. If you haven't completely disconnect the PSU and console from anything for a day and see if that helps at all? I had the same issue on a Wii of my own but that was because I was using a cheap and poorly made power supply.
I've measured the voltages of the PSU and they're fine, and it works turning on other Wii U's. I've also had the Wii U and PSU unplugged from anything for probably a couple of weeks as well. Unfortunately the Wii U is currently not paired to any gamepad I own so I can't turn it on that way or see if anything manages to show up there. Also oops I said constant when I meant blinking lol, thanks 3AM.
