Williams Hurricane Coin Door Buttons Not Working

[Christopher Moffatt]

I am trying to fix my cousin's Williams Hurricane pinball machine. The Service Credits, Volume Up, Volume Down, and Begin Test Switches are unresponsive. Also the coin switches are unresponsive. The coin insert slots are not lighting up.

I've used a voltmeter to measure across the switches. I get about 12 volts across each switch.

Would anyone have any advice on how or what to troubleshoot?

Thanks,
C.L. Moffatt

[John Robertson]

Post by Christopher Moffatt
I am trying to fix my cousin's Williams Hurricane pinball machine. The Service Credits, Volume Up, Volume Down, and Begin Test Switches are unresponsive. Also the coin switches are unresponsive. The coin insert slots are not lighting up.
I've used a voltmeter to measure across the switches. I get about 12 volts across each switch.
Would anyone have any advice on how or what to troubleshoot?
Thanks,
C.L. Moffatt

Just to start with the obvious, make sure the coin door is plugged in to
the cabinet connector...

Then, look for broken wires on the push buttons and other items that
aren't working.

Does the display on the game light up? Does the game start when you
press the Start button?

Are the lights busy (flashing in patterns) on the playfield after you
turn the game on?

John :-#)#

[Christopher Moffatt]

I'm guessing that you're referring to the wire harness coming of the coin door and plugging into the board just inside the cabinet. Yes, this harness is plugged into this board.

I'll look again for broken wires. I found the wire pulled out of the connector on the coin door open switch. I also found a pulled out wire on the Start button light. These have both been fixed.

The display lights up as does the display.

The game does not start because I cannot give the machine credits. Neither the Service Credits switch nor the coin slot switches are working so I cannot add credits. When I push the Start button, it does register by making a 'dohing' noise; so the button is working.

The playfield does light up.

I was originally just going to replace all the rubber elements but I wanted to make sure the game worked electronically before going through all that trouble. This is when I discovered that the service button/switches weren't working.

[John Robertson]

Post by Christopher Moffatt
I'm guessing that you're referring to the wire harness coming of the coin door and plugging into the board just inside the cabinet. Yes, this harness is plugged into this board.
I'll look again for broken wires. I found the wire pulled out of the connector on the coin door open switch. I also found a pulled out wire on the Start button light. These have both been fixed.
The display lights up as does the display.
The game does not start because I cannot give the machine credits. Neither the Service Credits switch nor the coin slot switches are working so I cannot add credits. When I push the Start button, it does register by making a 'dohing' noise; so the button is working.
The playfield does light up.
I was originally just going to replace all the rubber elements but I wanted to make sure the game worked electronically before going through all that trouble. This is when I discovered that the service button/switches weren't working.

Thanks for the above information.

Have you checked the MPU board in the headboard of the game? I'd be
checking for battery corrosion at this point - as the switch circuits
are just under the battery holder.

If that appears good then you can try faking a switch by using a diode
and, using the switch matrix diagram, put the game into self test using
said diode and putting it across the plugs at the bottom of the MPU such
that the diode connects the same two pins that the test switch would,
and make sure the diode orientation if the same as the switch matrix
shows relative to said MPU connectors! Any diode you have lying around
should suit, but a nice new one with long legs works more easily - or
use some jumper wires that have tiny clips that will only connect to one
pin of the switch matrix connectors on the MPU at a time.

John :-#)#

[Christopher Moffatt]

The batteries on the MPU board have been removed and an external battery holder was installed. So I do not see any corrosion.

I don't have access to a diode at the moment and it being Thanksgiving, I won't be able to obtain one today. I'll see what I can do on Friday.

[Christopher Moffatt]

I have checked the continuity for all of the harnesses. I have continuity between the J116 & J119 connectors and the J2 connector. Same with the J212 & J205 connectors and the J1 connector.

I have continuity between the J6 connector and the wires it connects with (Col. 1, Col. 2, Col. 3, Front door switch, Start button, Plumb bob switch, and the Start button lamp.

I have continuity between the J3 connector and all of the coin door switches (the four push button 'admin' switches, the three coin slot switches, and the slam tilt door switch). I also have continuity for the coin slot lamps.

When powered up I get about 11.5 VDC across all of the switches. I do not appear to get any voltage for the coin slot lamps.

The push button 'admin' swtiches and coin switches are unresponsive.

Unfortunately, I am leaving on Sunday and I'm trying to fix this before I leave. I was unable to find a diode today.