Pinbot help - credit issue

jehuie

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So I've been trying to get this Pinbot working and now it comes up and appears to work nicely. Except that the start button and coin-credit switches appear to do nothing at all.

When I insert coins it doesn't acknowledge them in any way. When I press the start/credit button on the front, nothing happens. Also, when I go into the adjustments menu I can scroll through the various options but pressing the credit button doesn't change the settings as I believe it should. It just sits there.

At first I was getting "Adjust failure" errors so I swapped out the battery holder and those have gone away but this problem still persists. I've checked continuity from the credit button all the way back to the board and it's ok. I've also double checked the interlock switch on the door and the credit button and they are working right.

Any other ideas? I'm stuck. Thanks!
 
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So I've been trying to get this Pinbot working and now it comes up and appears to work nicely. Except that the start button and coin-credit switches appear to do nothing at all.

When I insert coins it doesn't acknowledge them in any way. When I press the start/credit button on the front, nothing happens. Also, when I go into the adjustments menu I can scroll through the various options but pressing the credit button doesn't change the settings as I believe it should. It just sits there.

At first I was getting "Adjust failure" errors so I swapped out the battery holder and those have gone away but this problem still persists. I've checked continuity from the credit button all the way back to the board and it's ok. I've also double checked the interlock switch on the door and it's working right.

Any other ideas? I'm stuck. Thanks!

Did you check for any loose wires in the coin door?
 
Did you check for any loose wires in the coin door?

Yeah I checked it over pretty good. There is a large ground strap connected to the inside bottom of the cab that doesn't go anywhere and I can't tell what it's supposed to connect to on the other end. But everything else on there appears good.

The three menu buttons inside the coin-door work fine.
 
Looks like you've lost column 1 in your switch matrix. Can you get it into test mode and check all the switches?
 
Not to run the tests, just cycle thru the audit/adjustment menu like you already have.

As've you found, to actually change a setting you would need the credit button - but it shouldn't be a factor in performing the switch test.

The other things on column 1 (beside the credit switch) are the coin chute switches and the tilt/slam switches. Physically close the ball roll, plumb bob and slam tilt switches, and if none of them work at least you've got a place to start.
 
Not to run the tests, just cycle thru the audit/adjustment menu like you already have.

As've you found, to actually change a setting you would need the credit button - but it shouldn't be a factor in performing the switch test.

The other things on column 1 (beside the credit switch) are the coin chute switches and the tilt/slam switches. Physically close the ball roll, plumb bob and slam tilt switches, and if none of them work at least you've got a place to start.

Yep, none of those switches are showing any signs of life. I'll take a look. I'm a total newb at pins so this is interesting.
 
I've got a Pinbot too, so it's a good learning experience for me also....

My read of the manual (take w/ grain of salt) is those switches run to connector
IJ8 Pin 1. A green/brown wire.

Check that connector as a whole, and also that specific pin for visual signs of damage. Reset the connector, making sure pins are aligned properly (should be a key on that connector I believe).

You've checked continuity of the wire from the credit button, so that would appear OK. The credit button looks like the 3rd physical switch in that column and you've got non-working switches on both sides of that switch, so unfortunately wouldn't appear to be a simple break in the wire.

If it's not a connector problem, the next step is to see if it's a CPU or playfield problem. Pgs. 29-30 of the manual list out the switch matrix. Page 30 specifically gives instructions for removing a couple connectors and jumping a wire across pins to simulate a switch closure. If you are in the switch edge test - you jumper the proper pins - the display should show closure of that switch. If it doesn't, it further isolates your problem down to the CPU board. If switch closure shows in test when you jump the pins, that indicates your CPU is fine and there is some problem on the playfield or connectors, most likely a wiring or short issue.

The manual gives you a decent example of which pins to jump for certain switches. If you need help for your particular problem, let me know and I'll see if I can figure it out with you.
 
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Ok, ran the switch test and, interestingly, none of the problem switches failed. But it says these have problems:

40 Enter Ramp
41 Not used
42 Not used
43 Not used
47 Visor open

So I'm not sure what it means when the ones that aren't working don't show up but switches that aren't even used do.

EDIT: Just saw the post above (was posted while I was writing this I think) and it's good info...thanks!
 
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OK, time to step back

you ran the "switch level" test, which shows you the current state of all switches in your machine.

So switch 40, the first switch on the left side ramp - probably misadjusted and stuck closed so you'll need to check that out.

The "not used" switches are well, not used. So the test is just reporting back that nothing is connected to that part of the switch matrix. Normal and no problem.

The "visor open" - just telling you the switch that signifies the status of the visor is closed. Hopefully that corresponds to the actual physical state of the visor, i.e. it's open and you can see into the eyeballs?


What you want to do is the next test in the diagnostics - the switch edge test. This allows you to physically manipulate the switch (with your finger for instance) and that switch name and number should be displayed when you do that.

Put it in edge test and push down on the wireform in one of the outlanes. You should see that switch name/number displayed. Now do the same for the problem switches - credit, tilts, etc. Do you see anything being reported by the display when you close those switches?

As an aside, I'm curious why your ball trough switches didn't register as closed during your first test? Balls in the game? If balls are in the game, those switches should report as "in use" when you run the switch level diagnostics.

I know some of my games won't start if the correct # of balls aren't present - I'm not sure if Pinbot behaves the same. Hopefully somebody else will chime in. But if your trough switches aren't registering, it's something to consider, even if you know you have 2 balls in the game.
 
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