Noob has a problem

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Well i finally got my first game! It's a sit down Power drift. It works for a few minutes then shuts off. The game was very, very dirty so i cleaned everything and put it back together. I cleaned the boards and cleaned each connector one at a time so i wouldn't mess anything up. I did not pull any rom chips or any other chips out. Now when i power it up it makes a humming noise through the speakers and nothing comes on. All the red led lights come on when i power it up and they stay on also (is that ok?). I'm real new at this and i really need help trying to figure this out. Could anyone please help me? I would really be greatfull. I will put up some pics tonight.
 
I also should have said that the power supply was packed full of dust and dirt. I blew it out with an air hose but do you think that i might have scrwed it up by doing that or since the game was working for just a little bit at a time that the power supply was going anyways?
 
Blowing the dust out of it shouldn't have hurt anything.

But, first thing's first. Check the voltages on the power supply, make sure it's working.

-Ian
 
I will check the power supply tomorrow. I just want to say that now after checking all my connections and turning the game back on the speakers made the same humming and crackling noise and then just stopped. I can also hear the monitor running. Also when i shut the game off the screen turns white then shuts off.
 
I'm trying to check my power supply but the game keeps tripping my breaker. Right before it trips i get a reading of -5.3 and 11.8 to 11.7 Does this mean my power supply is bad?
 
I also get a reading of -4.7 too
 
I am now getting a green screan with lines going through it from left to right. There is a small glow in the neck tube.
 
bump. I really need some help guys.
 
I'm gonna take a guess that a lot of people are preparing for, or even flying out to CAX right now... Timing is just perfect to not get the typical responses you need...
z0tdntknw.gif
 
It was fine before you cleaned it, and isn't now. While it could be a component issue, most likely it's something you have put your hands on. Start there. If you have to go further than that, *do not* make assumptions about what you touched and didn't touch. That's a great way to waste hours troubleshooting. Assume ALL connections are suspect even if you know you put it back right. Check the schematics, check the cable, match up the right pins. Triple check and make sure you didn't put a connector on backwards. Or that the back of a circuit board isn't now touching something. Or that a +V/gnd wire didn't fall/break off and is resting where it shouldn't be. Especially check coin mech bulbs and switches for contact shorts. Blowing the dust off can on occasion cause a board to die from static, but it doesn't generally cause short circuits and blown fuses. You didn't use a vacuum did you?

Still haven't solved it, start labeling cables and breaking things down into sections.

First, disconnect the monitor (power and data) and power up. Does that change things? If not, leave it disco'd.

Next, disconnect the controls and power up. Does that change things? If not, leave them disco'd.

Next, disconnect the game from the PS (remember to LABEL) and check your voltages at the PS. Are they good? Does it blow a fuse? If so, suspect the supply, if not, suspect the board.

Move into the boards. Is there an audio or video board that can be disconnected. Label connection orientation and try disconnecting those one at a time. Does that change things? If not, leave it disco'd and move on.

Keep splitting and testing until you have identified the sub-system that is the offender. Once you have identified the problem child, start examining it closely for bent pins & components, ribbon cables that are off by one position, etc. If you've got a puller and you're comfortable, pull the socketed chips, clean the pins and re-seat them. Keep going through each item until something changes. And keep good notes....
 
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It was fine before you cleaned it, and isn't now. While it could be a component issue, most likely it's something you have put your hands on. Start there. If you have to go further than that, *do not* make assumptions about what you touched and didn't touch. That's a great way to waste hours troubleshooting. Assume ALL connections are suspect even if you know you put it back right. Check the schematics, check the cable, match up the right pins. Triple check and make sure you didn't put a connector on backwards. Or that the back of a circuit board isn't now touching something. Or that a +V/gnd wire didn't fall/break off and is resting where it shouldn't be. Especially check coin mech bulbs and switches for contact shorts. Blowing the dust off can on occasion cause a board to die from static, but it doesn't generally cause short circuits and blown fuses. You didn't use a vacuum did you?

Still haven't solved it, start labeling cables and breaking things down into sections.

First, disconnect the monitor (power and data) and power up. Does that change things? If not, leave it disco'd.

Next, disconnect the controls and power up. Does that change things? If not, leave them disco'd.

Next, disconnect the game from the PS (remember to LABEL) and check your voltages at the PS. Are they good? Does it blow a fuse? If so, suspect the supply, if not, suspect the board.

Move into the boards. Is there an audio or video board that can be disconnected. Label connection orientation and try disconnecting those one at a time. Does that change things? If not, leave it disco'd and move on.

Keep splitting and testing until you have identified the sub-system that is the offender. Once you have identified the problem child, start examining it closely for bent pins & components, ribbon cables that are off by one position, etc. If you've got a puller and you're comfortable, pull the socketed chips, clean the pins and re-seat them. Keep going through each item until something changes. And keep good notes....

I did use a vacume on some parts. I have this bad feelinf that i wasn't supposed to do that by the way you asked. Oh crap i hope i didn't screw this up.
 
I did use a vacume on some parts. I have this bad feelinf that i wasn't supposed to do that by the way you asked. Oh crap i hope i didn't screw this up.

Unless your vacuum is ESD safe it can create static from moving dust/air and that static can kill components. It's a good bet yours isn't ESD safe because they cost more $$$ and you would only buy one if you knew you needed it. That said, using an regular vacuum *might* have wonked your board, but that's not a given.

With a fuse blowing, I'm thinking improper cable connection, loose wire, or wire clipping where it shouldn't be.
 
Do these boards have a reset button on them anywhere?
 
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