Busted Game gear

[Scias]

I got a free game gear last summer with games, a carrying case etc.  The game gear doesn't work.  I forgot all about it till today.  When I turn the thing on, the screen turns on for one second, then shuts off.  It's usually green, or has a line through it, then turns off.  No matter if I use batteries or the ac adapter.  I've tried alot of games and stuff too, so I know it's not the games.  I haven't had the time yet to get my DMM after it, but I figured I'd see what ya'll had to say first.  I was thinking it seemed like maybe a short somewhere, cause it seems like the games get pretty warm for being in there just a few seconds.  

[viletim!]

maybe a dodgy cartridge slot

[ido8bit]

I've had several Game Gears with bad electrolytic capacitors. I've fixed a couple by replacing the obviously leaky capacitors.  In one case I also had to replace the audio amplifier IC.  It's not that difficult, just be careful not to lift in traces from the PCB when removing the old capacitors.