Trouble modding Japanese MD2

[samnunn92]

I have been trying to region mod a Japanese MD2 (following mmmonkey's guide but using a 3 pole switch instead of 2x2 pole ones) and for some reason I can't get the video system to change from 60Hz to 50, so am unable to play any PAL games. I have checked pin 46 is isolated correctly but even before I attach anything to the switch I'm still reading just under 5V so the video system remains at 60Hz. I've even tried wiring directly to ground and still no luck. Is there something fundamental that I'm missing? I've modded quite a few consoles before successfully so don't think it's the method or my execution of it but am at a total loss, and would really appreciate any input from the smarter modders here!

Thanks very much

Sam

[Segaedge]

Which MD2 board revision is this?

[samnunn92]

It's a VA1 - sorry, I should have included that in the original post!

[Segaedge]

It's a VA1 - sorry, I should have included that in the original post!

Do you have any pics of your board with the work you've done so far?

[samnunn92]

I've taken a pic of the entire board as it currently sits: http://tinypic.com/r/2rmmy6b/8
This is the area where I've taken ground from (green wire) and the line to pin 46 (blue wire) http://tinypic.com/r/2hq8as7/8
And here is the trace that I cut to pin 46: http://tinypic.com/r/x4i5xe/8

Sorry the pics aren't great but hopefully you can get the picture from them. I've checked continuity to pin 46 from the blue wire and it's fine. I soldered the green ground wire to the middle pole of the 3 pole switch and then the other two one on either side and I can only switch between Japan and USA regions. Thanks for taking the time to have a look!

[Segaedge]

Is that an on-on sliding switch or an on-off-on switch? if its the first, then the blue wire (pin46) should go in the middle of the switch.

[samnunn92]

It's an on-off-on switch, the same as I use for all my Mega Drive region mods, and wired the same too. I've used it on a Japanese MD1 with no issues so don't understand why it isn't working in this console.

[DemVil12]

I see the FC-1004-X chip, it means you're not able to change video mode in this particular console. It's only appears on some japanese Model 2s, and nowhere else.
Be shorter, if you open the console and see the chip with "X" mark, you are out of luck today.

[samnunn92]

Dang! It does have that chip, you're right. I had wondered if the console for some reason might physically not be able to switch but had no idea it was dependent on that certain chip. Well, thanks very much for your help (both of you), I'll know for next time!

[chessage]

It's only appears on some japanese Model 2s, and nowhere else.

Not true. I have a North American VA1.8 with one.

[DemVil12]

Sorry for that. I've had a lot of Model 2's including a 4 USA va0-va1.8s and 2 PAL EU + PAl ASIA, but never seen that one. But saw that on 2 of 5 japanese MD2s i've had. Plus i've seen some forum topics across the internet with the same problem, and mentioned units was Jap MDs.
Now i know that it's on usa md2s also. I wasn't going to disinformate the topicstarter.