Need some help troubleshooting 'Prog None' tilt code on this WMS

[Jzeron]

Howdy folks!

I got a Williams Lucky Streak dotmation slot machine that is giving me the tilt code, 'prog none' which refers to 'No Progressive Controller'.  Any help / advice is much appreciated! 

I'm a bit confused  ... since the jumper for Progressive play is in the 'off' position .  I looked at the back of the CPU and IO boards to see if maybe I had some bad traces - but they all look good.

Here are the some of issues I've found - but I don't think they are related to the problem:

(1) it takes the machine a good hour or so to warm up and the power supply levels to get to threshold voltages before it will actually boot - I'm planning on doing the power supply fix, soon.  Once she's warmed up, good to go.  I don't think this is the root of the problem causing the 'prog none' tilt code...  but would be good to know if this is normal or not, or others thoughts if this could be causing me problems.

(2) there are three loose wires in the back right hand side (see pic) that do not terminate to anything. I'm not sure what function they serve, but when I connect all three of them together I get a the tilt code 'drop open' (cashbox door open).  When they are not connected, I do not get the error.  Two of the wires are black and white stripe, the other is black with green stripe.  The cashbox door does not have a key on it, so maybe that is why they are hanging there loose.

After days of troubleshooting and no progress, time to call in the troops !

 

[Jzeron]

I'm still scratching my head ... 

The machine boots up fine, but goes straight to this tilt code.

I also verified that the setting for progressive protocol using the DIAGNOSTICS feature in Sequence 1 is set to "NONE" - indicating that it's not using a host system.   This in addition to verifying that jumper setting on bank 2 DIP switches, position 8 is set to OFF (progressive disabled) - I'm really confused what's happening here!

It was working not too long ago.  Hopefully, I don't have to Hard RAM Clear - I don't have the chips to do that...

Any help greatly appreciated!  This is 1 of 3 slots machines that I picked up that I'm hoping to get running again ...

 

[Jzeron]

More investigation but still no answer

What I’ve Checked:

Dipswitch Behavior:
The bank2 dipswitch position 8 is connected to pin 17 of a DM74LS244 chip (tai-state buffer) - (2A4).
When the dipswitch is in the off position (meant to disable the progressive feature), pin 17 (2A4) floats at 5V - measured.
When the dipswitch is in the on position, it pulls pin 17 to ground, as expected.

DM74LS244 Measurements:
Pin 3 (2Y4) is the corresponding output to pin 17 (2A4), and it measured 5V when the dipswitch was off as expected.
Pin 20 (Vcc) measured 5V, confirming proper power supply.
Ground on pin 1 was verified.
Pin 2 (2G*), which is the enable pin for this group of buffers, appears to be floating (neither tied to ground nor Vcc).

Downstream Circuit Investigation:
Pin 3 (2Y4) is connected to two other ICs: (1) ST16C552CJ and (2) ST16C2550CJ, both UART chips.
I'm not able to troubleshoot these UART chips further due to their programmable logic.  But I did pull one of them out and try to start the machine and the machine wouldn't start up.  I'm guessing that these chips are probably okay - need to look further downstream.

Findings:

The DM74LS244 appears to be functioning correctly based on the measurements. It is passing the 5V signal through when the dipswitch is off.
The issue is likely further downstream.

 

[playklax01]

While I have not seen this specific problem before, due to your lower supply beginning to fail it could cause odd problems like this.  However, the manual states:  Progressive Tilts - Progressive tilts disclose communication failures between the slot machine and progressive system. To clear progressive tilts, open and close the Main Door.

For S&Gs, have you tried that?

[Jzeron]

Yes, I've tried that - opened and closed the main door.  But not clearing!

I was also wondering if possibly the power supply might be going bad and causing weird issues! But everything else seems fine, and voltage levels measure good ... and this error is the persistent error, so I'm thinking it must be bad logic on some pin somewhere that the program things the progressives are active.

So I'm back to the IO board tracing dip-switch position 8 to where goes and checking voltages, hoping that maybe I missed something the first time around and if so, maybe I can manually set the logic with vcc or ground

If I only could find a schematic for the IO board, that would make things a whole heck of a lot easier to troubleshoot! 

[Jzeron]

Update:  I think we're getting closer!

Conducted another test:

(1) set the Dipswitch position 8 to the 'on' position
(2) placed test lead on pin 17 (2A4) of the DM74LS244 (this is where dip switch position 8 trace goes to)
(3) placed test lead on pin 3 (2Y4) which is the corresponding output to pin 17 on the DM74LS244
(4) measured:
      Pin 17: low (0 vdc)
      Pin 3: high (5 vdc) !!!!!

I was not expecting Pin 3 to stay high - it stays high whether or not dip sw 8 is on or off (progressive enabled / disabled).

I suspect the DM74LS244 chip must be the problem.  I ordered a replacement one from DigiKey, should arrive by Thursday ....

That's a long time to wait!!  Good thing I have two other slots in non-working condition that I can divert my attention! 

This could be the issue, or it might not be the issue - I guess we'll have to wait and see - if anyone has other ideas please let me know!!  Or better yet - if you have a schematic for this I/O board 

 

[Jzeron]

Well ...

I got the IC and replaced it.  No change.

I followed the instructions to upgrade to ATX power supply for the 5vdc,12vdc, and -12vdc in the forums.

Unfortunately, I'm still battling the the error PROG NONE.

If anyone has any idea - please please please let me know what to do next!!!  I'm running out of ideas.  Hoping there's someone out there who can help!!

Thank YOU!!!!

[Jzeron]

Does anyone have a hard ram clear chip for this machine?  Maybe that's what I need to do since I can't clear this 'prog none' error..

Does anyone have any other ideas??

[Jzeron]

Posting another update ...

I pull out the reels and inspected the backplane board ... there was two old quarters back there and a screw, but nothing lodge behind the board where it could make contact with bare traces.  Cleaned up.

I cleaned the pin connectors for the I/O Board and CPU board where it plugs into the backplane board.

I blew compressed air around the main connectors that the boards mate on the backplane (in case anything small and conductive lodged behind the connector, possibly shorting out pins) but only dust came out.

Crossed my fingers and booted up.

Unfortunately - nothing but same old tilt - "Prog None"

I can't seem to clear the error.  I'm not able to force soft ram reset ( I don't think it lets you unless there it detects a ram error ).

I don't have a schematic it's difficult to trace and pin down if there is a faulty component.

I'm not sure what to do next.  needing some help 

[Jzeron]

Another update - found schematic ( in NLG downloads section )!

Verified all connections where Jumper 8 on bank 2 dipswitch goes ... it goes a lot of places ... everything looks good.

So I'm thinking we must be dealing with a ram issue or something that needs to be cleared - just guessing since I don't know much about these slots (yet!).

If an experienced person could help give me some pointers, ideas, what they would do next ... that would be much appreciated! 

 

[playklax01]

A hard clear RAM chip is only like $30 on ebay.  It's more than worth a shot. 

[Jzeron]

That was it!  I just needed to clear the ram.  I got the ram clear chip from Ron Ball.