Help with a Sega X-Files

Alaskanzen

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Hello folks. So of course, the first pinball I purchase needs work! I hear this builds character so perhaps you guys can give me some ideas. My issue is as follows: When the pinball is powered up, the game will turn on, do what looks like a rom check (ie the game name and version flashes on the dmd), and then the dmd goes dark, and only the game lights (nd as far as I can tell with limited function sound) continue to function. When I purchased the machine, I noticed the 8 amp fuse was burnt out. I replaced this fuse but no change in function has been noticed. I have checked for the most obvious issues, ie burnt connections on the board, battery leaks (the battery holder seemed loose, but not broken. Would a loose soldering joint here cause this issue?) and the wiriing to the microswitch that activated the ball launcher and the wiring to the bottom speaker are both loose and disconnected. Otherwise, there is no obvious issues with the boards, fuses, wiring, etc. So I guess threequestions: Can you guys give me some direction on a decent troubleshooting guide, or documentation for this game (I have the sega manuel, but it is not the easiest read) and or some suggestions on what may help me identify what is wrong with this machine? It doesnt seem like the board would be dead in this machine, but if it is (or even if I need parts) do you know of a decent source for parts? Thanks for the help.
 
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its not getting data from the CPU/sound board, the display will show that initial screen pretty much no matter what as long as the DMD and DMD driver board are working

try reseating the CPU, ROM, RAM, PAL etc
 
I did try to reseat all of the connections. No dice. I should add that as far as I can tell the pinball still plays, i.e. I can get the game to accept a credit and kick a ball out. The music comes on, flippers work, etc. Even in this mode, the dmd screen remains blank.

My first thought is a faulty ribbon cable? Am I on the right track?

I have not tried to reseat the ram or rom's, I will give that a go tomorrow.

LED lights on the cpu and the driver board are all functioning and, at least going by the game manual seem to be getting proper voltage, signal etc.
 
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I did try to reseat all of the connections. No dice. I should add that as far as I can tell the pinball still plays, i.e. I can get the game to accept a credit and kick a ball out. The music comes on, flippers work, etc. Even in this mode, the dmd screen remains blank.

My first thought is a faulty ribbon cable? Am I on the right track?

I have not tried to reseat the ram or rom's, I will give that a go tomorrow.

LED lights on the cpu and the driver board are all functioning and, at least going by the game manual seem to be getting proper voltage, signal etc.

ok so yes probably a ribbon issue, maybe backwards?

if the game plays I don't think it would be a rom/ram issue on the cpu board
 
...Sounds like the U201 data latch is in a failed state on the cpu board. You can check by testing voltage at pins 2,5,9,12,15,16 and 19 on U201 while performing a display call in the diagnostics menu (yes with the display broken the diagnostics will still work) by actuating the flipper (this would normally move an icon on the screen in the diagnostics menu). If its bad you'll see something other then a clean 0 to 5v transition.

just a thought

:)
 
Sorry for the double post. This might be helpful to explain how data associated with the plasma display "leaves your board" by way of that ribbon cable (assuming the ribbon is good). The excerpt from the CPU/Sound Board Theory of Operation is as follows:

Plasma Interface: the path for communication to and from the Plasma Controller Board (thats the one attached to the back of the display itself) is 8 bits wide. There are seperate Input and output busses. The input bus from the plasma controller to the CPU/Sound Board comes in on CN8 [plasma control] pins 3-10 and is fed into U200 for input to the CPU's Data Bus. Data going out to the controller comes from the CPU's Data Bus through U201 and onto CN8-PINS 11-18. Status back from the Plasma Controller comes in on CN8-Pins 22-26 and is fed into U202 for input to the CPU's Data Bus. Two control signals that go out to the plasma controller are PRES [PLASMA RESET] and CN-8Pin 19 [PSTB-Plasma Strobe]. The Plasma Reset is software controlable through U216/B and also has a test point "Plasma Reset". The Plasma Strobe Signal to the controller is generated from U216/A and is used to latch data into the Plasma Controller.

...I suppose you could try the Plasma Reset as well before reading voltages.
Hope this helps!
 
AKDan, thanks! You nailed it:) I am orfdering a replacement tonight. It still could be that the ribbon cable has malfunctioned as well, but I will post again and let you folks know the outcome of this issue (others, elsewhere, have looked for a similar answer and have no obtained it). Thanks again mate!
 
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