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After years in storage, lamp test shows full rows lit (sometimes several at once), and lamp columns 6 and 7 never strobe but sit at a constant 12 V. Coils fire at random and the game throws balls out of the trough.

Two lamp columns stuck on and full rows lighting in lamp test: failed U20 and U23

Cause: The lamp column driver chips at U20 and U23 on the CPU board had failed (U20 first, probably after playfield wiring faults, then U23).

Checks

  • Use lamp test to find which columns misbehave, and check those column outputs with a logic probe or oscilloscope.
  • Lift a leg of nearby diodes before testing them; in-circuit readings mislead.
  • Fix playfield wiring and lamp faults that may have damaged the drivers.

Fix

  • Replace U20 and U23 on the CPU board.

Systems

Games

Related tips

Source: Pinball Repair help group!! (Facebook group)