Did you change connectors on the driver and MPU boards? Especially the power connector on the upper left of the MPU board and the lamp connector on the driver board? If you've swapped sockets and ROMs and 40 pin, those are next on the list.

viperrwk

On my Firepower I changed sockets and 40 pin and did the pull-up resistor mod on U14 and still had problems. It was all better once I changed the header pins at 1J2 and the connector on the harness to that plug. In fact, I changed the header pins first and still had problems. Once I changed the connector is was all good.

Same thing for the lamps - had to repin the connector and new header pins at 2J5 since it was damaged from the batteries leaking at one time.

Oh and I did do the display connectors as well since they were flaky too. As they say with these machines, "connectors, connectors, connectors."

viperrwk

If it's booting and the LEDs go out and blinks with Leon's ROM I don't think you need a new IC1. You can try disconnecting 1j4 for the coin door diagnostic and see if it still cycles. If it doesn't you have a problem with the switch. I assume it passed leon's memory test. If so could be batteries or diode for the memory.

Also did you do both sides of 1j2 - header and connector?

viperrwk

I'd change it. The original header pins are short and the connection isn't great even when reflowed. And there's only one pin for the unregulated 5v so it doesn't take much for that to go bad. Remember "5v for the reset pins of the MPU ICs is created on the MPU from the +12v unregulated supply" (this from PinWiki.)

I'd also check TP7 - should have 4.3v with power on and 3.9v with the power off.

Finally, I'd check the diode at D17 - it's a 1N4148. If that shorts that could be causing a reset problem.

viperrwk

Thinking about it some more, Leon's ROM doesn't care about or test the diagnostic switch/memory protect circuit. Since your board passes his tests you can assume CPU, memory, PIAs and addressing are all good, which would include IC15 (74LS139 address decoder.)

If you can, you should double check the ROMs (since Leon's can't verify the game or flipper ROMs.) If they check out, I'd look at IC7, IC12, IC24 & IC27, with particular attention to IC27 (4071 Quad input NOR) as all are part of the memory protect circuit.

viperrwk

The 6821's can pass boot up checks and still be bad causing issues.

Yes, but he said he checked the PIAs with Leon's and they were all good.

viperrwk

Posting before enough coffee will do that.

Has your PSB been upgraded connectors, cap, and tying 5v and grounds?

My Blackout started getting flakey after 10 years. Replacing the 40 pin m+f and rebuilding the PSB calmed it down.

Memory protect circuit. IC7, 12, 24 and in particular 27 if you are confident in the ROMs.

viperrwk

Are you sure you don't have a stuck coin door Advance button. What you are describing is what you do to change game settings except that you are not doing them manually. Here is an example for setting to free play.

-From the game over mode set the auto up / manual down to switch to auto up and depress the advance button to advance the diagnostics to test 04.

-operate the Advance button to until the function 18 is indicated in the ball in play display.

If you kept hitting the Advance button it would cycle through all the settings (maybe 40) don't have my firepower up right now.

Let us know,

Good luck, Kenny

I fat fingered and sent that. I meant to add feel free to email/PM me for more details.

It seems that people with a lot of points have already responded so not sure if I can help you.

I am not sure if you have battery damage or some of the crazy things that make this happen, but my random uneducated opinion is that you are booting to audit mode and then the coin door switches are taking over.

Kenny

It boots the audit than crashes consistently? Have you tried a new 5101 ram?

IC24 looking suspect.

From Clive:

http://webpages.charter.net/coinopcauldron/memprot.html

viperrwk

Sorry - shouldn't answer tech questions before coffee in the AM.

You say you get no pulsing but what logic levels do you get on IC24?
With the coin door open IC24 pin 8 should be low. Close the door and pin 8 should go high.
Pin 6 on IC24 should be high until you press the diagnostic switch on the MPU - then it should go low. If you're not getting this then IC24 is bad.

viperrwk

Ok - IC24 is ok.

Let's look at IC12 next. With the coin door open, IC12 pin 8 should always be low. If it pulses or is high, its bad.

For IC27, with the power off, pin 2 & 3 should be high. If they're not, and assuming the batteries are installed and working correctly, then IC27 is bad.

viperrwk

Glad it is working now. Honestly, not sure what it would have been since your numbers showed the memory protect circuit working. If it shows a problem again, try Andre's test ROM as it seems to be more exhaustive in testing than Leon's exercising both the MPU and driver board including PIAs and blanking.

Best,

viperrwk

I got the ball stuck pretty good at one point in the firepower, pounded on the side of the cabinet to unseat it, and the previously broken display came back to life and hasn't had a problem since. Very picky machines they are.

Linked from this post - http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/andre-test-rom-v2-in-action

viperrwk

Having same exact issue after replacing 5101 with a socketed NVRAM. Took NVRAM out and put 5101 into the socket and same issue.
Swapping in a Rottendog combo board and game runs normally. It acts like the CPU thinks the test switch is stuck on.

Did you remove the battery holder? If so, insert a piece of wire and solder in the upper right hole where the battery holder was installed. Make sure you have connectivity from one side of the board to the other. This is the ground trace and if connectivity is lost from one side of the board to the other through this hole, the 74LS02 to the left of that hole is not grounded and can cause this issue.

Awesome! That fixed this issue.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving..... THANKYOU!!!! =)

Awesome, you are quite welcome! Congrats on the fix!