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Multiple Memory, Socket and Color Faults After Reversing Ms. Pac-Man Modification
Repair Case Summary
This page documents a firsthand Multiple Memory, Socket and Color Faults After Reversing Ms. Pac-Man Modification repair case.
It is intended for technicians and collectors troubleshooting original Pac-Man or Ms. Pac-Man arcade PCB hardware.
- Date: 2019-03-15
- Board: Original Pac-Man PCB previously modified to play Ms. Pac-Man without daughter card
- Category: Boot / memory / color / socket
- Symptoms:
- After reversing the old Ms. Pac-Man modification, the board would not boot.
- After initial memory replacement, further problems remained.
- On the diagnostics screen, the dark-blue ghost appeared orange/dark blue and the cherry appeared white.
- Diagnostic observations / tests:
- ABC Diagnostics found three of four color RAMs at 2A-2D bad and all 2114 scratch memory bad.
- After replacing those parts, the sweep holding the 283 was found loose and not making connection.
- After replacing the sweep, diagnostics passed except for incorrect colors.
- Further investigation found 4A and 7F incorrect or bad.
- Components / locations investigated: 2A-2D color RAM, 2114 scratch memory, 283 sweep/socket, 4A, 7F
- Root cause: Multiple faults: bad color RAMs, bad 2114 scratch memory, poor 283 connection, and incorrect/bad color devices at 4A and 7F.
- Repair: Replaced the color RAMs, all 2114 memory chips, the loose sweep for the 283, and the devices at 4A and 7F.
- Result: The documented faults were corrected through the listed replacements.
- Search terms: Pac-Man modified Ms Pac-Man; will not boot; 2A 2B 2C 2D; 2114; 283 sweep; wrong ghost color; white cherry; 4A; 7F; color RAM
- Evidence: Physically verified repair / firsthand repair log
How to Use This Repair Record
This is a firsthand physical repair case. The same symptom on another Pac-Man or Ms. Pac-Man PCB can have a different electrical cause. Use the documented diagnostic observations and tests to guide troubleshooting rather than replacing a component solely because it repaired this board.
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