The display works for around five minutes, then goes blank.

Dot matrix display goes blank after a few minutes

Cause: Worn .156" connector pins on the +5 V feed to the display controller, or on the 5/12/high-voltage plug from the power supply to the display. Worst on the large displays.

Checks

• Look for darkened or loose pins on the red and black +5 V plug at the controller and on the display power plug at both ends.

Fix

• Crimp new trifurcon terminal pins onto the wires and fit new housings.

Systems

• Data East CPU Version 3
• Data East/Sega CPU Version 3b

Related tips

• Display not working: check +5 V at the controller first
• The dot matrix display has its own computer
• Dot matrix controller boards and processors by game
• Display shows "Command" numbers instead of animations
• Dot matrix controller CPUs by display size
• The three Data East dot matrix display sizes
• Voltages a small or medium dot matrix display needs
• Checklist for a dead small or medium dot matrix display

Source: Repairing DataEast 1987 (Laser War) to Sega 1995 (Batman Forever), Part Three, Clay Harrell (pinrepair.com)