Six Million Dollar Man Switch Issue ??

[plong]

Hey Guys looking for some advice for my 6 Million $ man. Spent weeks getting this machine up and running ,had a member go over the boards fitted new rectifier and had it running almost %100  till the following started.  I appear to have a switch situation where there are 4 things on the playfield that are not functioning (kick out hole for next ball ,a stand up target,1 bumper and the switch in the saucer which activates the ejector and pops the post save up between the flippers . These 4 things are all common to the orange wire which all have continuity between them and back to the J2 plug (switch strobe and switch return) on the mpu.I have fitted new connectors in this plug no different. Cheers Paul

[Mr Pinbologist]

Maybe a capacitor or diode on one or more of those switches 
 
Have you tried putting the game into test mode and checking what happens with those switches?

[Strangeways]

OK - The boards all worked fine and the game worked fine for a short time. I would be checking continuity from each of the switches in that row / column. It is not clear that you have done that. It could be a capacitor on one of the switches, but that would give you phantom switches in the self test - which as suggested by Mitch is the next thing you should try.

[plong]

Hi guys thanks for the replies. All solinoids fire correctly on the diagnostic test, In switch test mode 0 comes up on the ball No display which from what I read in the manual is correct. When I manually activate the 4 things I referred to in my initial post there is no sound, no score, The drain hole does not count down the bonus
Nothing at all.

[ralph67]

In switch test, does the correct number appear in the display? ,when those 4 switches that are causing problems are activated. you need to hold them on for a short time and the number will show up on the display. Note in "switch test " the switches will not score of make any sounds ect, if you know what i mean...

[plong]

My god it's all gone to pieces all the display numbers are on, some lights on playfield are on all the time during attract mode the 4 switches I referred to initially still dont work it just seems to have turned into a nightmare after what seemed a simple task of getting this game working correctly which I did . The game still fires up can get credits up not that you can tell on the display as every digit is displayed as either 5s or 7s or 1s You can start the game and play but the 4 switches are still not activating and the play field lights are up the sh-t. in test mode All the lights flash except the ones that are on all the time, solenoids all fire correctly don't know about switches or free game scores because of displays on constantly. Help

[Strangeways]

Sounds like a couple of new problems. Don't let it discourage you. The lamp issues could simply be connector issues on the Lamp Driver board. Just reseat the connectors and if there's improvement, then that will be the issue.

Every digit is a "5" or "7". Hmm.. Could be the connectors on the MPU board.

Looks like a CLASSIC case of connectors on the boards or pins within the connectors.

[plong]

Hi Strangeways this is a learning curve I have reseated all connectors numerous times checked for cracked solder on pins found 2 reflowed those pins no difference. Its amazing that I get the game working 99% then 1 problem occurs and snowballs.Am I right in assuming that every board needs repining and new connectors.

[Strangeways]

Hi Strangeways this is a learning curve I have reseated all connectors numerous times checked for cracked solder on pins found 2 reflowed those pins no difference. Its amazing that I get the game working 99% then 1 problem occurs and snowballs.Am I right in assuming that every board needs repining and new connectors.

Not always - you just need to narrow it down. for example - if the playfield lights are playing up, then you can jiggle the Lamp Driver connectors until you isolate the faulty lamps. Clean the connector pins with some sandpaper 400 Grit and then refit. That will confirm the problem is THAT connector. Replace the connector and pins and then see how you go.

[plong]

Hey guys i'm back. Gone over machine again and again discovered that if you turn off switches 8,16,24 and 32 on the MPU all displays and playfield lights work correctly. Tested across all 32 switches on the MPU and only these 4 switches show a reading of 1140 one way with the MM on diode mode with all switches off ,all other switches dont show a reading. Secondly the 4 switches I mentioned in my 1st post still are dead. I checked the switch matrix schematic and these 4 switches are on the same row with the orange wire common to them all which has continuity between them and back to J115 and to the resister on the MPU which would eliminate a bad pin connection. Finally when I start a game without the ball I press a few things to score then press the trough switch and nothing no bonus count etc as this is one of the 4 switches I mentioned earlier,but when you open the switch again it registers a tilt and then thats it. The score stays up,still says 1st ball,tilt light comes on all playfield lights are as they were but nothing working as far as game play is concerned. I know bugger all about electronics but common sense seems to prevail as far as finding the problems but fixing them is another ball game. I am stumped and would appreciate some guidance Cheers

[Marty Machine]

The switch matrix is controlled by U10 the 6820/6821 PIA chip.

Since the wire has continuity from the switches back to J2 etc, have you measured continuity right back onto the actual PIA chip-pins too?

You may need to change the PIA chip, (which is a pain if it's not in a socket) as they can go faulty and lose function on just 1 (or more) pins, which might happen to be the row you're missing....this is often the case when wiring/connectors has been proven to be continuous from switch-to-chip-pins.

If it *is* in a socket, you may also have dodgy socket connections, and need to replace the socket too.

MM

[plong]

Hey Guys I followed everyones advice to the end and came to the conclusion it was an mpu problem but ran out of  timeas it's my sons 21st tonight so ended up buying an alltech mpu  on Wed got it Thurs fitted it and machine runs spot on. I will get get the u10 chip and try it though  Marty . This is my !st ss machine and what I have learnt is unlike an EM common sense and logic can only get you as far as the boards because from there on you cant see whats happening with out the knowledge to test and understand how they work. Thanks guys for your advice I have learnt a lot and cant wait till my next machine. Cheers Paul

[Marty Machine]

Oh well, at least with the Alltek you've proven the plugin connectors to the MPU are ok.

You might still find the pins on the original MPU board are dirty/corroded & need replacing, but then again they might also be quite clean and usable...

Yep, SS boards are a big step from 'relays' in an EM....it takes time, but soon you get to realise that all the chips are nothing more than a collection of small relays ;-)

MM