Williams "Sorcerer" small problem

jfruge

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Guys, I am quite new to pinball and I picked up a williams "Sorcerer"....

I replaced the rubbers and cleaned it up. Everything seems to be working except... the Sorcerer area...(targets)... it seems like the logic is working... if I hit all if the targets I get the bonus and it makes the correct sounds... problem is the letters don't light when hit so I have no clue what still neededs to be hit.

All other play field lights seem to be fine.

Any thoughts?

P.S. I love this Pin!

Thanks,
 
After downloading the manul, printing then reading it... It seems like this may be a simple fix. I hope to get some time to trouble shoot it soon.
 
Wish someone here could help you by now. I'am new so I'am no help, but I'am like a sponge looking to see what problems and fixes there is and solutions in case I come across with my own pin then I'll have an idea.
 
Guys, I am quite new to pinball and I picked up a williams "Sorcerer"....

I replaced the rubbers and cleaned it up. Everything seems to be working except... the Sorcerer area...(targets)... it seems like the logic is working... if I hit all if the targets I get the bonus and it makes the correct sounds... problem is the letters don't light when hit so I have no clue what still neededs to be hit.

All other play field lights seem to be fine.

Any thoughts?

P.S. I love this Pin!

Thanks,

Do those lights work in the lamp test?
 
So.... guys... please let me know if I am way off base... but my first thought is that the "Driver Trans" Q41 is bad (Sorcerer bank).
 
So.... guys... please let me know if I am way off base... but my first thought is that the "Driver Trans" Q41 is bad (Sorcerer bank).

I'm not totally sure that I understand which lamps are not working but if you're talking about the "SORCERER" lamps then I would suspect the driver transistor for the column in the matrix that those lamps are on. All of the "SORCERER" lamps are on a common column so if they're all out you can suspect the driver for that column. The schematic I was looking at is pretty fuzzy so I couldn't really tell the number but if the driver for that column is Q41 then that's the one I would look at.
 
I'm not totally sure that I understand which lamps are not working but if you're talking about the "SORCERER" lamps then I would suspect the driver transistor for the column in the matrix that those lamps are on. All of the "SORCERER" lamps are on a common column so if they're all out you can suspect the driver for that column. The schematic I was looking at is pretty fuzzy so I couldn't really tell the number but if the driver for that column is Q41 then that's the one I would look at.

That is correct. it is the "SORCERER" lamps that are not working.

I will take a look @ the driver "Q41"

Thanks,
 
You have tested the lamps by swapping a known working one in, right ? They usually look blackened when burnt out but sometimes look clear and the filament looks OK.
Also, with the pin off, find the lamp connectors on the board and unplug/replug a few times to clean the contacts.
Then you are down to driver transistors for the row or column or the logic chips that drive them.
 
You have tested the lamps by swapping a known working one in, right ? They usually look blackened when burnt out but sometimes look clear and the filament looks OK.
Also, with the pin off, find the lamp connectors on the board and unplug/replug a few times to clean the contacts.
Then you are down to driver transistors for the row or column or the logic chips that drive them.

I replaced the bulbs and also reseated the connector on the board. still nothing.
 
Folks, I am going to place an order for some pinball parts. I looked @ the driver @ "Q41" on my board and it has "cen479" on it. Does anyone know what a current replacement part would be for this? ALso should I order anything else to go with it?

As i stated before. The logic for the "Sorcerer" row seems to work fine. I.E. during play if I hit all of the targerts it says "Sorcerer"....other lights flash and it will light the "demon" light as it should.

So the only problem is that none of the lights in the "Sorcerer" row light when hit during play or during a light test.

Thanks again,
 
If they are all on the same row, then they should all have common ground or power (one or the other). Have you done continuity checking?

I'am like a sponge here :) ..some great info on this thread. Love this website and forums. Helping others is whats it's about.
 
If they are all on the same row, then they should all have common ground or power (one or the other). Have you done continuity checking?

Guys, I had a chance to look @ the Sorcerer today. I checked the common cables on this row. All 4 connections tone out to the connector going into the mainboard. I also removed the mainboard and looked it over. Everything looks clean and I can see nothing wrong (by looking).
I put everything back togeather and still no cahnge.
 
I picked up a sorcerer last weekend and am just now getting around to repairing the mpu board. Give me a week to get mine running and we can compare notes.
 
Hey John, do you know which lamp numbers on the lamp matrix are not working?
 
Well lamp column 2 is clearly not working for ya. Check the path of the YELLOW-RED wire from the laps back to the header 1J7-2. With the game off, use your meter in continuity mode to determine if there is an opening anywhere along the YELLOW-RED wire path to the 1J7-2 header. Might be a good idea to reflow the 1J6 and 1J7 connectors while you're at it.

For a quick test you could also swap the PIAs at U14 and U15 to see if the problem follows. If nothing changes then you'll need to work from U14-11 through U54-12->11, Q16 and Q24.

You're lucky the problem is so consistent and well defined.
 
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