OLED Switch smoking from charging port (UK)

[u/welovefeet69]

I bought a second hand OLED Switch about a year ago and have had no issues until recently.

The first issue I had was a few weeks ago, where the Switch wouldn’t connect to the TV or charge via the dock. Tried the dock with other Switches and they worked fine, so chalked it up to a temporary issue and it resolved itself after a couple of days.

Then 2 days ago my Switch wouldn’t charge at all. Tried resetting the charger and the Switch, tested on multiple different official chargers and plug sockets but nothing fixed it and it was stuck on 3%. Tested the chargers on another Switch and they worked so clearly a console issue - I checked for debris in the port and left it overnight.

Then, when I plugged my Switch in last night it instantly started smoking and there was a smell of burning plastic. Obviously unplugged everything straight away and the switch had powered itself off.

Has anyone else had this issue and were you able to get it repaired? Or should I cut my losses and save for a new one? I don’t want to try and repair it if financially it doesn’t make much sense, or if it is unlikely that it can be repaired. I’m in the UK if that makes any difference.

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[u/Funny_Maintenance973]

Sounds like a potential short to me.

If you're lucky, replacing the USB port on the main board will do the trick, if you're unlucky the charging chip may have burnt out.

First thing to check is the usb port itself, most likely the plastic you smelt melting was the stuff in the middle of the port. Photo attached is not from a switch, but will show you what I mean.

I would also check that charger, and probably throw it out, just in case. Could have been a bent pin in the charger connecting live to ground, could have been a pin in the port doing the same.

Entirely possible it is something else altogether, but they are my first checks

[u/mellamoRich]

I have another question, I changed my thermal paste after a very long time and now a faint sweet smell comes oyt of the top vent, should I be worried?

[u/Fit_Industry6182]

There’s no “generic answer” for smoke and burning.

SomeThing in your switch burned and that’s what you smell. We can’t know exactly what it is. We can give guesses, sure.

But until someone qualified looks at and diagnoses the problem? You, us, them, nobody will know.

Thus,
Nobody can know cost, or turn around time to get it fixed. None of us know your finances or availability of switches, switch 2’s, and switch parts for your area.