S2000 Keeps repeatedly saying "Display passes self-test" but wont boot up ??

[murf2222]

Does the bill validator cycle when you turn on the machine?
When you say it displays "passes self test" repeatedly does it just stay on or does it cycle on and off?

Qbert - I know this is an old posting, but I am having exactly the symptoms you are describing on my machine......."Display Passes self test" flashes repeatedly, and the bill validator cycles too.   I even disabled my bill validator in the menu just in case this problem was from a bad validator, but nope - same thing.


My machine will work fine, but intermittently the problem happens.  So far it seems to happen when the machine is on, but in an idle condition for a long period of time.  ANOTHER clue I am testing out is that the problem may only be happening when the handle is pulled after the long idle period.  Everything goes haywire just as the reels are about to spin when handle is pulled.  So far I haven't been able to replicate when using only the buttons to play.


 When it happens, the only way I've been able to get it to come back to life is to use both the attendant key along with the white internal reset button.

[Stayouttadabunker]

I had this same problem last week...I fixed it.

[Display Passes self test] comes on even if there is NO MPU in the machine...

So if the VFD display doesn't get to the [Please Wait...Testing Memory...] message, this might be your problem & fix...>>>

http://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.php?topic=30398.msg160531#msg160531

[murf2222]

Yikes, so the problem is something burned-out on the main board?  Dang, soldering that tiny thing onto the main board may end up being beyond my pay-grade .


Did your machine quit completely when this happened, or was it an intermittent thing like mine?  I was hoping this was gonna be ticket or Bill validator related, and since I don't need either I could have removed them if possible to fix.

[Stayouttadabunker]

It just wouldn't get past the [Display Passes Self-Test] message on the VFD display at all...machine stuck on  "Uhh...Houston? We have a problem"

so I started looking at my MPU  under a magnifying lamp,
found a blown transistor, replaced it, and it has been working fine ever since!    


You gotta start looking around. 

Let me say this, the reason mine was blown was because...

I accidentally pulled out or installed ( I don't remember) my MPU.... while the power was on. 

That's a big no no on my part. 

[murf2222]

It just wouldn't get past the [Display Passes Self-Test] message on the VFD display at all...machine stuck on  "Uhh...Houston? We have a problem"

so I started looking at my MPU  under a magnifying lamp,
found a blown transistor, replaced it, and it has been working fine ever since!    


You gotta start looking around. 

Let me say this, the reason mine was blown was because...

I accidentally pulled out or installed ( I don't remember) my MPU.... while the power was on. 

That's a big no no on my part. 

Thanks!  (love the amination BTW ).    I've been busy and haven't had a chance to pull my board and start inspecting.....hopefully will begin tomorrow. 

[murf2222]

It just wouldn't get past the [Display Passes Self-Test] message on the VFD display at all...machine stuck on  "Uhh...Houston? We have a problem"

so I started looking at my MPU  under a magnifying lamp,
found a blown transistor, replaced it, and it has been working fine ever since!    


You gotta start looking around. 

Let me say this, the reason mine was blown was because...

I accidentally pulled out or installed ( I don't remember) my MPU.... while the power was on. 

That's a big no no on my part. 

Thanks!  (love the amination BTW ).    I've been busy and haven't had a chance to pull my board and start inspecting.....hopefully will begin tomorrow.

Hmm, I pulled my board and as you can see  by my photo, my Q1 looks normal and certainly not burned up like yours.

[Stayouttadabunker]

Keep checking transistors & IC components....you have other boards in your machine too.

All it takes is one blown up chip to throw the whole machine off.

You have boards on the door, the display itself, the backplane board, one on the MPU wall, etc etc.


I didn't re-read this topic but I have a question ...have you tried a different MPU yet?


That way you don't have to check all the other boards in the machine.

[murf2222]

No, I haven't tried another MPU yet.  Interestingly, I've got about 18 hours of the machine working without incident after blowing off the Board with compressed air before reinstalling everything.  Highly doubtful that it had anything to do with it, but worth noting I guess.

I'd reseated the MPU several times prior to pulling it out to take that photo, so I sure wouldn't have thought that reseating it this last time would have done anything.  So far a complete mystery and I'll give it another 24 hours before assuming whateve gremlin is gone