(Topic ID: 186729)

Congo Help, can't start game, direct switches not working

By Tsskinne

7 years ago


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Topic Stats

  • 27 posts
  • 7 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 7 years ago by Tsskinne
  • Topic is favorited by 3 Pinsiders

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#1 7 years ago

So I just got my Congo back from a 10 month vacation it took to a friends house. They shopped it out while it was gone. Went and picked it up the other night and played it a bit and everything was great. Loaded it in car, drove home about 500 miles, set it up and now I can't get it to start a game. The only thing that I changed was that I installed new batteries, and I forgot the power cord at their house so I used a different one that was laying around at home. Not sure if either of those issues are related?

None of the direct switches are working, no test buttons, coins, anything so I can't credit up,can't get into freeplay, can't start a game. I checked the j205 connector on the cpu and followed the wires and couldn't find any issues but will keep looking. Any other advice or sugguestions?

http://pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Williams_WPC#Direct_Switch_Problems

I've used this to start with but hoping someone may have a suggestion or similar experience to offer help. Thanks.

#2 7 years ago

For what's it's worth, I bought an early stern of an operator that wouldn't boot. They had their best techs check it out and they couldn't chase down the problem since all voltages were good. I ended up getting it super cheap.

I am not a very good tech by any means, just lucky. First thing I did was replace batteries with NVRAM. Game fired right up. I think its worth looking at the batter holder and making sure it's connected without any breaks to the board. Also batteries are correctly place in the right way. Good luck, Congo is an awesome game.

#4 7 years ago
Quoted from zacaj:

No acid damage on the MPU?

Nope MPU looks great. I have had the game over 3 years and no problems so just seemed odd, I mean literally used all those buttons the night before when picking it up to lower the volume and go into test menu. I'm assuming a wire break somewhere but like I said was hoping someone had similar experience and could just offer an easy solution.

#5 7 years ago

The connector on the coin door harness to the coin door interface board is good?

#6 7 years ago

It appeared to be, I reset it as precaution and nothing changed.

#7 7 years ago

I'm guessing a broken wire, after reading through the pinwiki closer I'll use the jumper test this evening to see if I can narrow it down to wire or board issue.

#8 7 years ago

I suspect the coin door interface board since the dedicated switches and the start button are both acting up. Reseating J1 & J3 is where I would start. Might as well test your cord for continuity too although I'd be very surprised if it's the source of your problem.

#9 7 years ago
Quoted from YeOldPinPlayer:

I suspect the coin door interface board since the dedicated switches and the start button are both acting up. Reseating J1 & J3 is where I would start. Might as well test your cord for continuity too although I'd be very surprised if it's the source of your problem.

Thank you!

I guess I'm just assuming something would happen when pressing the start button even if there are not credits like a call out or something, I know the flipper buttons still activated some sounds when pressed.

#10 7 years ago

The 2 bottom left MPU connectors are seated well? I would reseat them to see what happens.

#11 7 years ago
Quoted from PinballManiac40:

The 2 bottom left MPU connectors are seated well? I would reseat them to see what happens.

Yep I've done both of those as well as pretty much all connectors just to be certain.

#12 7 years ago
Quoted from Tsskinne:

Yep I've done both of those as well as pretty much all connectors just to be certain.

If you can add coins to the game then maybe the back of the start button switch assembly just fell out so it is not registering? I had this happen on a JD. Some snap in place and some twist into the Start Button housing. You could pull out the back of the switch and then see if you can manually push on the small start switch.

#13 7 years ago

Nope can't add coins at all, none of the direct switches are working, the start button could very well be working but I can't tell because I can't credit it up at all.

Direct switches include:
Left coin chute
Center coin chute
Right coin chute
4th coin chute
Service Credits/Escape (referred to as "escape" here)
Volume down/Down
Volume up/Up
Begin Test/Enter

#14 7 years ago

In that case, you must be missing 12 volts on your power driver board. Can you locate the test point and test this? Fuse for 12volts may be just blown, but could even be a shorted diode that caused a blown fuse.

#15 7 years ago

From Pinwiki, 12 digitial should be the issue. Is F106 blown on the power driver board?

LED100-TP100 is where you can measure.

Normally lit. Indicates presence of regulated 12VDC. AC voltage is rectified to about 18VDC by D11-D14 and smoothed by C11 and C12. D1 and D2 are used to drop the voltage by 1.0 to 1.4V and then the voltage is further regulated down by the LM7812 at Q2. This 12VDC power is shown as "+12V Digital" on the schematics.

http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/images/0/0c/WPC095_power_summary.png

#16 7 years ago

Hopefully J101 did not come unplugged if LED102 is lit up.

#17 7 years ago

I went through all the LEDs on CPU and Driver board and they were all lit correctly according to manual.

#18 7 years ago

Got it to credit up using jumper wire

IMG_0978 (resized).JPGIMG_0978 (resized).JPG

#19 7 years ago

I had a similar issue a while back and it happen to be a ground wire that came off on the coin door. I would look around there and make sure something didnt get pulled off or disconnected in shipping.

#20 7 years ago

Yes have tracked it down to ground wire between coin door harness and coin door interface board.

#21 7 years ago
Quoted from Tsskinne:

Yes have tracked it down to ground wire between coin door harness and coin door interface board.

Yeah, not sure how common that is but I remember the control buttons not working and it took a bit to pin point where the issue was, glad you found it!

#22 7 years ago
Quoted from Tlamb:

Yeah, not sure how common that is but I remember the control buttons not working and it took a bit to pin point where the issue was, glad you found it!

Yeah still haven't found its exact location but for now got it set up on free play and got all the setting to where I want it so just going to enjoy it for the time being, and will dive into it after PATZ this weekend as I'd like to put it on location soon and will need to get those switches working for that to pan out

#23 7 years ago

Gotcha, I will be there Saturday. Will have to check it out.

#24 7 years ago
Quoted from Tlamb:

Gotcha, I will be there Saturday. Will have to check it out.

Sounds good man, looking forward to the show its my favorite every year.

#25 7 years ago

I ended up having corrosion on the connector from the coin door to the coin door interface board. Repinned that connector and everything was good to go, got the game set up on location last night. Thanks for all the help everyone.

#26 7 years ago

oh yeah, See post #5!

#27 7 years ago
Quoted from Chet:

oh yeah, See post #5!

You nailed it, thanks.

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