Coleco Drama: In Need of Repair Help

[Morkai2]

Hello everyone,

 

I am in some need of direction in regards to my poor old ColecoVision. First off, let me say that I have/had a bad power supply. I found that the +5 was reading 0 when i tested it on a voltmeter. I went ahead and resoldered the connection and now the Coleco powers on. However, there is a nasty hissing sound and the graphics are horrible (rolling, glitches, random resets, etc.). I know, I know...check the power switch! Yes I cleaned that sucker up nice with some dielectric grease and all that and I fit the cap back on nice and snug and it has made no difference. So my question is could the bad sound and graphics still be caused by a faulty power supply? If not, then what else should I look at? Help me Atariage...you're my only hope.

 

Thanks in advance,

[+5-11under]

First of all, welcome to AA... .

 

With the CV on, are you getting each of the 3 voltages?

[Morkai2]

Thanks for the welcome and the reply. I just assumed that I was getting the right voltage since the CV powered up. Is it possible that it is still not and that is the cause of the problems? I will have to run to school and test it tomorrow since I don't have a voltmeter on hand.

[Coolhand20th]

should be +5 -5 +12 and ground for the voltages on the power supply

[SKELETOR68]

Welcome to the site, sorry I can not help, just game player myself.

[Morkai2]

Hi All,

 

It's me again. I have to wait until Saturday to test the voltage on that stupid power supply. Do you think it's possible that the CV could still power up like mine does with a faulty power supply? Mine powers up but the graphics roll all over the screen and the system usually either resets back to the bios screen or crashes when changing screens (i.e. after the game select screen, when mario dies in donkey kong etc.). Also don't forget the horrible hissing sound. The reason I'm still suspect of the power supply is because of the resets during screen changes. I figure that it's not getting the volts it needs and so resets or crashes...if that makes any sense. Please give me your two cents!

 

Thanks Again

[Armonigann]

Mine was doing similar things, and when I used a different power out, everything cleared up, wish I would've tried that shit before I opened some carts to clean them.

 

You should probably contact Yurkie if all else fails, he the Coleco God around here.

[kelrodjr]

From the symptoms you are describing, it sounds like the -5 volt line might be spotty. The video ram needs a stable -5 connection or else all bets are off. You might want to check that first.

[Morkai2]

Ok,

 

So I finally got around to testing the voltage on the power supply again. I got an almost perfect 12v, and -5v...but the +5 is now reading almost 10v. Is this the source of my problems or do you think it's something else.

 

Thanks

[+5-11under]

I wouldn't be testing that power supply with the ColecoVision anytime soon!

[Morkai2]

Well I ordered a new power supply and it should be here mid week. I'll let you know how it works out. I really hope this will clear up my problems with this dumb thing. I should just tell you CV heads that I am from Amsterdam, NY where ColecoVision was manufactured. The factory is still standing albiet vacated, However there is one building that still clearly says COLECO on it. I'll see if I can take a picture for you all next time I visit my parents out that way. I've met a few people who had jobs working in the factory back in the day. I remember one guy saying that his job was to test out the Expansion Module #1's on an assembly line. He would basically pop an Atari cart in and flip the switch on and off to see if it worked.

 

Thanks again for the help. I will keep you informed of my progress.

[kelrodjr]

Well if you are getting bad voltages from the +5V line then I would say that that particular voltage regulator is bad. I know you are getting a new power supply but if you feel adventurous you could try to replace the +5V voltage regulator.

 

I should just tell you CV heads that I am from Amsterdam, NY where ColecoVision was manufactured. The factory is still standing albiet vacated, However there is one building that still clearly says COLECO on it. I'll see if I can take a picture for you all next time I visit my parents out that way.

 

No need to take a picture when it's in Google street view

 

http://maps.google.c...,114.28,,0,-2.5

 

http://maps.google.c...6.08,,0,-3&z=17

Edited April 1, 2012 by kelrodjr

[Morkai2]

Wow,

 

Thanks for the pics. Those would have been pretty much the exact pics I would have taken. Yes, Coleco lives on in the hearts of many Amsterdam residents!

 

In regards to the first pic, that is now a beverage center where you can go to fulfill all of your beverage needs! The house in the second pic is what I was thinking of when I mentioned the building with a COLECO logo. I'm really not sure how COLECO would have used that house, but I've always wondered. Probably some offices.

 

No, power supply yet. I'll keep you updated to whether the new one solves my problems or not.

 

Thanks again!

[Morkai2]

Well I am feeling incredibly frustrated with this thing at the moment. Let me explain. My new power supply came in and now there are no more graphic glitches and the games are fully playable. However I still had the static sound, so I opened up the CV and messed around with the little screw adjustment thing on top of the RF Modulator. Lo and behold it worked. The only problem at this point was that the screen was still rolling slightly and there was still a bit of a staticy hum. So I put it all back together and after firing up a few games I get scrambled rolling discolored junk on the screen. I highly believe that there is some sort of loose connection or fault within the RF unit now. Maybe when I was messing with the screw to adjust the sound I agravated it to the point where giggling it around won't correct it. So, now I am at a loss of options. I really don't know what to do or how to go about fixing the RF unit. Any suggestions or advice would be so appreciated.

[Morkai2]

And just a quick followup...After giggling the rca cable around the rf output a bit the CV bios screen apeared for just a split second before disolving once again into garbage. So again this leads me to believe there is some sort of loose connection. Any ideas how to fix this? Thanks!

[cOLeCoHiTMan]

At this point... I'd be thinking about getting Yurkie to do a refurb! If you check the link thread there is a link to the technical repair manual coleco used.

[Yurkie]

And just a quick followup...After giggling the rca cable around the rf output a bit the CV bios screen apeared for just a split second before disolving once again into garbage. So again this leads me to believe there is some sort of loose connection. Any ideas how to fix this? Thanks!

 

I'll be happy to work something out with you to get your ColecoVision working. Send me a PM if interested.