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Williams Funhouse Start Game Issue

What happens if you disconnect the right sling, not 100 sure with switches in a circuit, but assuming the machine will mark it as a fault. At least it should then eliminate that.
 
As a quick test can you disconnect the flasher / coil loom connectors from the power driver board. Then see if it will start a game (ie music start etc..) obviously no ball will pop out, but will point in direction if some coil loom / switch loom short maybe?
 
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Reactions: DRD
Hello everyone!

Bottom Line: Still not able to start a game.

Here is what I've done recently:

1. bridged the appropriate pins on J206/J208, acted like it did on the old board, in that it did not start a game-but did register as a start button push during switch tests.

2. bridged J212 pins 1 & 7; it did add service credits but did not start a game.

3. i tested continuity between appropriate pins on J1 and J212, tests passed.

4. took off the coin door interface board, cleaned it and checked it again, checked continuity between all of the appropriate pins, and nothing seems amiss. Checked all diodes with MM, re-replaced the diode I used yesterday with the exact correct replacement (1N4004) checked with MM, all the diodes are behaving as they should. Reconnected leads in the machine; made no difference, behaving exactly as before.

5. checked start button assembly and connections; replaced both the button assembly, and the switch itself, and re-terminated a didgy connector at the end of one of wires. Appears to be wired properly, I get a solid cluck, and it is still showing up properly on switch tests.

6. checked coin door switches and coin mechanism all seem to be working properly and nothing seems stuck.

Looking at the CPU now, seeing as I've checked and/or replaced damn near everything else.

At this point, I really don't think it's the start button or wiring/connections to the start button, because I've tested and checked that several times, replaced most of the components, and the switch continues to operate correctly in the tests.

Since I have replaced the board, the only components that haven't changed yet are the ASIC and the EF68B09 (U6), which weren't included with the new board.

I've ordered a new ASIC, and am looking for a replacement for the EF68B09.

If those don work, I don't know, the power driver board is just about the only thing left. That, or there is a short somewhere that is causing the system to fail its pre-game check.

Thanks again to everyone for your help so far! Welcome further ideas!
 
I don't know what else it could be at this point, seeing as I've checked or replaced damn near everything.

At this point, I really don't think it's the start button or wiring/connections to the start button, because I've tested and checked that several times, replaced most of the components, and the switch continues to operate correctly in the tests.

I don't own nor do I have access to any other machines, unfortunately. All I can do is focus on things that I haven't changed out yet.

Since I have replaced the board, the only components that haven't changed are the ASIC and the EF68B09 (U6), which weren't included with the new board.

I've ordered a new ASIC, and am looking for a replacement for the EF68B09.

If those don work, I don't know, the power driver board is just about the only thing left. That, or there is a short somewhere that is causing the system to fail its pre-game check.

Thanks again to everyone for your help so far!
DRD said:
Did you sort out the solenoids so they are firing correctly in the solenoid test ?
Click to expand...
Yes, the solenoids are firing correctly in the solenoid tests, and I haven't had any weirdness with the right slingshot in a while.

The new ASIC came today, and I swapped it out. Boots up great, but the same problem: won't start a game.
 
I don't know what the bare minimum requirements are to start a game.

You will need a good 5v feed to power the mpu.

But could you disconnect literally everything other than the display ? Or everything other than the sound ?

ie remove the connectors for the lamp matrix, switch matrix, solenoids, general illumination etc etc

Strip it right down - use the jumper wire to act as the start button to see if that will start a game - as evidenced by the display panel or sound card

If finall does start a game, repeat this procedure after replacing connectors one by one until you find the connector associated with the problem ?
 
AlanJ said:
have you replaced the game rom(s)?

it still feels like a switch matrix error to me, to be honest.
Click to expand...
Have replaced the game ROM, yes.

I think it could be a switch matrix issue, but I wonder why nothing comes up wrong in switch tests. Is it possible for each switch to pass the onboard checks, but still have a short somewhere that prevents switch recognition outside of the test mode?
 
Have you tried starting a game with one of the balls in the shooter lane ?

Also what happens if you drain a ball into the outhole, does it get fired into the trough or stay in the outhole?
 
DRD said:
I don't know what the bare minimum requirements are to start a game.

You will need a good 5v feed to power the mpu.

But could you disconnect literally everything other than the display ? Or everything other than the sound ?

ie remove the connectors for the lamp matrix, switch matrix, solenoids, general illumination etc etc

Strip it right down - use the jumper wire to act as the start button to see if that will start a game - as evidenced by the display panel or sound card

If finall does start a game, repeat this procedure after replacing connectors one by one until you find the connector associated with the problem ?
Click to expand...

Finally a breakthrough!

Problem is not fully solved yet, but at least I've got some direction now.

DRD, your suggestion was the turning point. Today I changed direction, and unplugged everything on the driver board from J126 to J138.

Hit the start button, and it started a game! A win!

Of course, no lamps, rudy etc. So I plugged stuff in, connector by connector, bringing systems back online one by one, and after each tried to start a game.

By this process of elimination, I've isolated the problem to the lamp matrix that plugs in at J133. With everything else plugged in except for the lamp matrix, I can start a game with the start button. With J133 plugged in, my playfield lights work normally, but it will not start a game. As it stands now, I can play games, or have the playfield lights running, but I can't do both.

So, with this new knowledge, what should I do next? What is the relationship between the lamp matrix and the power button? Am I looking for a short or bad connection somewhere, or is this an issue with the driver board? Voltage regulator, maybe?

Thanks to everyone for your help so far, and for bringing me a lot closer to a solution!
 
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