How do you begin troubleshooting?

[lustreking]

I'm working on an Outrun machine.  I got it knowing that it didn't work.  On the inside you could tell that it was submerged in water at one point, and I replaced most of the parts in the bottom of the cab.

When I power it up, I don't get any sound or video.  The only thing that I personally know that works is the 5vdc power supply.  The Turbo Outrun pcb that I currently have in it is supposed to work, but I can't say for sure that it does.

How do I begin troubleshooting this machine?  I would think that if I knew that the monitor was working, that would help.  Is there any way to tell if a monitor works, without having a known working game pcb?

Should I start somewhere other than the monitor?


Thanks!

-S

[SirPeale]

Having a working monitor is kinda essential to seeing if the whole shebang is in proper order.

Turn the screen control (on the flyback) all the way up while it's on.  Does the screen go white?  If so, that's a good indicator that *something* is going your way.

Coin the game up.  Do you hear anything?  Another good stepping stone.

[Kevin Mullins]

Start with the manual if you don't already have one:
http://www.arcadedocs.com/vidmanuals/O/outrun_manual.pdf

Try and verify if you have the "battery" version:
http://www.arcadecollecting.com/dead/dead.html

Check all ribbon cables connecting stacked boards for good connections.
(re-seat all connectors)

You should be able to play the game "blind" even without the monitor working as mentioned before. Everything should still function.. sounds, game play, etc, even if you can't see it.
So I would check that the game boards are actually working first.

Check voltages from the transformer for what looks like 35V, 11V, and 100V.

Water damage can create lots of bad connections and corrosion..... fuse holders and connectors as well.

[RayB]

There are a couple basic things to look for:

1. Do you hear the monitor crackle, indicating it's powered on? If not, check all power to the monitor. (Also look for an orange glow in the neck when powered on).

2. Measure voltages from the powersupply WITH A LOAD, and measure at the game board too. If a board needs +5v then it needs that AT THE BOARD, and sometimes it may even need a little higher, like +5.4.

3. If monitor doesn't work but the board does, you should be able to hear sounds by starting a game "blindly".

[RayB]

(PS is it JAMMA? I think one of the first thing to do is confirm the monitor works....This might require using a whole other game board that you know works)

[lustreking]

Thanks for the replies everyone!  I've been pretty busy, and haven't gotten much time to look at it.

I did, however, play with the screen control, and it does go white, so that's at least one thing.  I tried coining it up, but I didn't hear anything.  I still haven't gotten to check all the connections.

I do have one question at this point.  The original fan was missing, and I scored one at a yard sale this weekend.  Which direction do they blow?  Intake or exhaust?  There's only one fan, located above the monitor.

Thanks again!
-S

[SirPeale]

Start measuring voltages.  Start at the power supply, then move to the board.

Oh, the fan (if it's on the upper part of the cab) should point out.  Heat rises, after all.  Get it out of the cab.