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Aussie Pinball Forums => Technical Matters => Pinball Repairs / Problems & Assistance => Topic started by: Integrated on April 13, 2017, 01:01:41 PM

Title: X Files Pin Scores Glitch & Service Menu problem
Post by: Integrated on April 13, 2017, 01:01:41 PM
Hey guys, much appreciation in advance for any support. I have just purchased my very first pinball machine (Sega X Files) and there is a situation with the scoring glitch and the service menu portals malfunctioning. Is there someone who can help me find what the problem is? I have just taken a few photo's of the components and boards etc. I will also need to purchase a few lamps, 4 x good quality pinball balls and mylan protection patches and also a mew FBI trapdoor lid and potentially the central filing cabinet part if they are even available?
Title: Re: X Files Pin Scores Glitch & Service Menu problem
Post by: Integrated on April 13, 2017, 01:05:42 PM
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Title: Re: X Files Pin Scores Glitch & Service Menu problem
Post by: Integrated on April 13, 2017, 01:17:21 PM
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Title: Re: X Files Pin Scores Glitch & Service Menu problem
Post by: ralph67 on April 14, 2017, 03:42:46 AM
 Try Resetting the audits,
 Possibly try doing a factory reset may help . although You would have to set the game again how you like it , ie 3 or 5 ball  , free play etc
Have you put new batteries in the game?  Btw change the batteries with the game turned on , make sure there is no corrosion in the battery holder too.
Go into diagnostics , then into Into technical alerts, to see if there is any switches stuck or not working .
Title: Re: X Files Pin Scores Glitch & Service Menu problem
Post by: Strangeways on April 14, 2017, 09:36:39 PM
Try Resetting the audits,
 Possibly try doing a factory reset may help . although You would have to set the game again how you like it , ie 3 or 5 ball  , free play etc
Have you put new batteries in the game?  Btw change the batteries with the game turned on , make sure there is no corrosion in the battery holder too.
Go into diagnostics , then into Into technical alerts, to see if there is any switches stuck or not working .


Factory reset should do the trick as Ralph advised
Title: Re: X Files Pin Scores Glitch & Service Menu problem
Post by: Integrated on April 17, 2017, 02:27:45 PM
Hi Ralph and Strangeways, I appreciate you guys trying to help me out. I changed the batteries with the machine on but it didn't fix the problem so I did the factory reset and also the audits reset but the same problem still exists. I did manage to enter into the diagnostics menu and cycled through the testing procedure and everything seemed to be operating, I then went to the "Technician Alerts" function and it said "#48 super vuk", and "#65 not used".
I'm not sure what that means but I am super keen to fix the glitch with the score malfunction/corruption because when playing every game the digital score system glitches and also when in the service menu when the selection button is pressed it keeps jumping to the wrong options (I ascertained this is not the portals buttons malfunction as when I use the flippers and start button instead during the service menu the exact same problem occurs).
Do you think it could be the Game Rom or Display Rom that needs to be replaced or is it more likely to be a faulty switch or loose wire under the playfield?
Thankyou for any guidance you can provide.
Title: Re: X Files Pin Scores Glitch & Service Menu problem
Post by: Integrated on June 17, 2017, 03:07:23 PM
Hey guys, I'm sorry to say that I am still reaching out for help regarding the digital glitch with my X Files pin. I replaced the ROM's and also installed an NV RAM chip hoping that it would fix the problem but to no avail. One thing that may give a clue towards the problem is when I go into the Service Menu it seems to malfunction and jump to the wrong function and all the factory settings are scrambled (this is regardless of whether or not I use the flipper buttons and start button instead of the portals switches). If I persevere enough in the service menu I can eventually do a Factory Reset & Audits reset etc but when the machine boots up the glitch is still in the system. I'm wondering if it is due to a corruption in one of the other RAM chip's or if there is some kind of wiring problem/short in the Portals assembly or something else. I noticed the data ribbon cable and plugs that goes from the CPU board to the DMD boards was quite twisted and old looking, I wonder if this could cause these kinds of problems?
The game still plays well (apart from the glitch and some of the flashers not working even though I put new bulbs in them).
I have enjoyed adding all the new mods and have also cleaned all the playfield and ramps and install the entire LED light kit and new rubbers throughout.
I just need to sort out to the weird data glitch problem. Are you able to give me some ideas of how to potentially fix it?

With appreciation,

 ~ Mick
Title: Re: X Files Pin Scores Glitch & Service Menu problem
Post by: Strangeways on June 18, 2017, 10:50:34 AM
Try going into the switch test and activate every switch manually and cross reference with the switch matrix diagram in the service book. We are looking for a row or column that may point to the issue. I have seen crimped wires on a door shorting to ground when the door is closed, but not when it is open. I think it could be something like that.
Title: Re: X Files Pin Scores Glitch & Service Menu problem
Post by: Integrated on June 20, 2017, 06:47:53 AM
Try going into the switch test and activate every switch manually and cross reference with the switch matrix diagram in the service book. We are looking for a row or column that may point to the issue. I have seen crimped wires on a door shorting to ground when the door is closed, but not when it is open. I think it could be something like that.
I will be sure to try this. Thankyou
Title: Re: X Files Pin Scores Glitch & Service Menu problem
Post by: Integrated on June 21, 2017, 10:09:53 AM
After some perseverance I was able to enter into the Diagnostics section of the Service Menu function and did a thorough testing procedure including lamp test, coil test and switch test. I will write the results here in the hope that someone with tech experience can see what's going on and point me in the right direction. Thank you in advance for any assistance.

SINGLE LAMP TEST:
* when initiating some of the single lamps, one of the pop bumper lights comes on at half power?
e.g.

#13 'Bonus Times 2' (Yel-Grn : Red-Blk) also lights the Bottom Pop Bumper
#14 'Bonus Times 4' (Yel-Blu : Red-Blk) also light the Right Pop Bumper
#29 'Double Jackpot' (Yel-Grn : Red-Yel) also lights the Bottom Pop Bumper
#30 'Extra Ball' (Yel-Blu : Red-Yel) also light the Right Pop Bumper
* in total I've identified 12 cases of this and it is always a pattern of a consecutive two
* another thing to note is that the #52 Top Pop Bumper light (Yel-Blk : Red-Vio) has never worked since I purchased the machine (even after I installed the new bulb)

SINGLE COIL TEST:
* the Right Ramp Top Flasher Light does not work (even after bulb replacement)
* when the #F6 Flash Rt Ramp Top is tested, the Rt Ramp Bottom Flasher goes on instead
* when the #F7 Flash Rt Ramp Bottom is tested, nothing lights 
* another thing to note is that even though both of the Left Ramp Flasher Lights do not work during gameplay but they do work in test mode.

SWITCH TEST:
* when going into this testing mode it is nearly impossible to see whats going on as it goes crazy with the options cycling through fast (maybe due to one of the  switches being stuck on or some other kind of glitch or cross-wiring situation?
* After a while of watching the various switch matrix diagrams cycling across the display there is one that keeps showing up as the culprit but it says #95 (Grn-Gry : Wht-Vio) NOT USED

* I was also able to enter into another diagnostics section of the service menu titled Dr Pinball TECHNICIAN ALERTS:
An alert comes up as 'CHECK SWITCHES'
#46 Magnet Opto
#34 NOT USED
#36 NOT USED

And the other alert comes up as 'SWITCH STUCK OPEN'
#34 NOT USED
Title: Re: X Files Pin Scores Glitch & Service Menu problem
Post by: Integrated on June 21, 2017, 01:04:28 PM
* Update at this stage is that I have fixed the Right Ramp Top Flasher Light (discovered a wire had been dislodged from the plastic plug)
* And I may have discovered a possible clue relating to the 'CHECK SWITCHES' alert for #34 and #35. I cross-referenced with the Switch Matrix Grid Chart in the game manual and it has those two 'Not Used' switches associated with the Grn-Blk wires (on the Drive column).

I then searched through the wiring under the playfield and discovered some of that associated wiring may have been tampered with by the previous owner.

i.e. as can be seen in the attached pic, there are three Grn-Blk wires soldered together (with no insulation) plus also another single Grn-Blk wire looks like it has previously been slotted into a plug but now isn't (some tape had been put over the area where it had previously been attached).
I have also included a pic from further away so any X Files owners can see the location of the wiring in question, and can maybe have a look under their playfields for me to double-check how it should be?

Many thanks for anyone who can assist.
Best regards,
~ Mick