WMS BB2 printer comm error

[Border01]

Suddenly developed a printer comm error on my BB2. Until now it has worked perfectly. When I power it up it has the error, however, it will continue to cycle through the printer and after about 15 minutes it will function properly. If I leave it powered up I have no issues. But if I turn the power off the same issue occurs. The only other machine I have to swap parts is a BB1 but it appears to have very little parts compatibility. Anyone know why I have this issue?

[Stayouttadabunker]

It sounds like a possible bad solder joint, flaky interface board or loose ground pin connection.

To begin with, I would be unplugging and thoroughly checking that printer harness from one end to the other end.

I'd clean every pin with deoxidizing agent.

Then I would place the printer interface board under a magnifying lamp and checking out each and every board IC component.

The printer itself, I'd be totally dismantling it and checking that printer head as well.

After that, I'd be running test after tests to make sure it powers up and prints correctly until I am certain that everything works perfectly....but that's just me....

[Border01]

Would disabling the printer pin point definitively whether or not the printer is the issue and needs to be replaced?

[Stayouttadabunker]

Not really....all that you are doing is turning it off.
How is that supposed to fix anything?

[Border01]

Unfortunately I’m not overly tech savvy. I just thought deactivation of the printer would possibly point me towards just ordering a new printer. I’m not sure maybe it’s not the printer?

[Stayouttadabunker]

The error that's displaying says Printer COMM error.
Basically what that means there's something wrong with the communication between your printer and the CPU.
Any of the components I mentioned above in Reply #1 could be problematic.
Buying and installing a new printer may not solve your printer's comm error.


Here's a simple thing to do which really isn't that much tech.
Turn the power off.
Unplug the printer connector from the backplane and plug it back in.
It will be the second one on top, on the left on the backplane board under the main CPU box.

Follow that harness towards the printer....unplug those two big white Molex connectors that has the black plastic between them and plug them back in.
You may not be able to reach up behind the printer plug so leave it alone if you cannot get it off to unplug and plug back in.

Turn on the machine and let us know if this helps.


What you're doing really is trying to make better contact inside the white Molex housing pins.
Never unplug or plug in stuff with the power on and always depress the connector latch fully and always wiggle/pull on the housing body....not the wires.

[Border01]

Followed your instructions and now it appears to be functioning perfectly. Thank you so very much for the simple fix.

[idhgamer]

I don't see the thread anymore. Do I need to start a new thread? Not sure if I did something wrong.

I could not get the printer to print on start up.  It would roll the paper back out of the machine.

[Stayouttadabunker]

I don't see the thread anymore. Do I need to start a new thread? Not sure if I did something wrong.

I'm guessing a moderator wanted to split topics so you'd have your own Topic instead of hijacking this one...maybe they lost it? 
But yeah...go ahead and start your own new Topic here in the WMS section of NLG.