Atari 2600 Cartridge Troubleshooting

[RetroJames]

I tested the following carts on a working console.  Many other carts worked fine on the same system.  They had the following symptoms, any ideas?

Top of picture, seems to be score board area, was shifted about a half inch to the right:  Games still very playable

Defender II
Asteroids
Football

On left side of screen, there were 1/2 inch horizontal black lines about 1/4 inch apart.  Games still very playable

Ms. Pac-Man
Jr. Pac-Man

These seemed to come up fine, but neither joysticks nor paddles seemed to elicit any response.  Also tried selecting games and resetting game with no luck.  I just couldn't control anything.

Frogger
Secret Quest
Canyon Bomber

No picture at all on these

Stampede
Maze Craze

[Edgedamage]

Try cleaning the edge connector on the cart with a q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol.

[GroovyTuesdaY]

To expand on that tip, when i find that my games aren't reading like that in ANY of my systems (nes, snes, atari etc) i will get a cartridge fairly wet on both side with alcohol and put it in and out of the console several times, then clean the cartridge.   Repeat this as many times as needed until the Q-TIP is showing very light if any grey or black gunk.
Aslo, remember that when you are cleaning your catridges only stroke the q-tip in one direction otherwise you will get little slivers of cotton coming off on the contacts. NOT GOOD LOL.
It sucks,to have to do it so often, but as contacts get more and more worn, its necessary.

Good luck!
Groovy~