Data East Hook Back Box GI not activating???

[jamjampin]

Hi Everyone 

I'm working my way through some minor fixes and updates to my Hook and i'm stumped on something.

All my Back Box bulbs (Flasher & GI) all work when i go into diagnostics and turn them all on. But....
When machine is in standby mod or playing a game. Only the Flashers in centre of glass work. The rest of the Back box is dark 
I have changed all the GI to new LED's (even before changing the original bulbs had the same issue, so not that) and i have just tested all fuses and everything is fine.

Had a general look around back box and couldn't see any loose wires but will check again if someone can tell me where exactly to look.

Machine has the latest rom sets. Plus everything else works with the machine.

If anyone can help or point me in the right direction, i would appreciate it as i don't know what i should do.

Cheers

James

[ajlaird]

Check adjustment 35 in the adjustment menu for starters.

[jamjampin]

Yep thanks. I checked that and it's set to normal.
I might try and put to dim & off then normal again.

Will post what happens.

[jamjampin]

Tried adjustment and had no effect.

New twist

None of the back box GI light come on now. Only flashers.
I have changed all globes and checked all fuses.

Does anyone know what controls the GI in back box on Data East and what might have happened.

Thanks

[ajlaird]

To begin with, download the manual for the Hook from http://ipdb.org if you haven't already and have a read through it as it will let you know how the different boards in the backbox interact.

Then try reseating connectors from the main CPU to the driver board for the GI (assuming this exists). Also, check the fuses as the fuse may have blown.

[mildflame]

I'm not sure but could there be a stuck/sticky relay?
there should be about 2 or 3 realys i think. one of them would be for Backbox lights... maybe try flicking them

[jamjampin]

More of an update.

I've replaced the fuses for GI and checked for loose connections to the boards. All fine.

Left the translate off and did some more tests and noticed something i missed last time.
The GI build DO WORK.....   BUT... not very bright 

When i did my checks before, i always put the translate back in place but the bulbs are so dim that they don't shine through! Only the flashes shine through.

So with this new info i looked further.
While leaving the power on so all GI's are working. I took one out and the others got brighter. The more i took out the brighter the remaining ones got.

So intact they have been working all along....but not very well.

I then started looking around for other bad connections and found this burnt wire connectors.
Hopefully the pic attaches below as not done this before.


Trying to order new connectors to replace burnt ones.
Do you think this is the problem or with this new info is it something else causing the dim GI?

[ajlaird]

A burnt connector definitely won't help! If the GI is dim it is because not enough power is getting to them. There are a number of potential causes but I would start with the connectors.

[jamjampin]

Thanks,

will let you know what happens once connectors arrive.

[studley67]

james,did u order idc or crimp type conectors?

[The pinballist formally known as Dean Morgan]

Will be the connectors for sure, I had similar looking ones in my DE Star Trek and no GI.

[jamjampin]

Ordered idc connectors

[studley67]

hope you bought or have the insertion tool.a screwdriver just wont do the job.

[jamjampin]

That was going to be my next question when they arrived about how to insert them.
I was hoping screw driver 

Is it something I can easily get? Bought connectors from RTBB
What do I need?
Easy to use??

[studley67]

rtbb should sell the propper tool,just send greg an e-mail