Simpsons PCB crashes when I change any setting in TEST MODE

[cvaniafan]

Somebody has or know about this problem with a Simpsons 4P version PCB ? Let me explain :
Every time I power the game on, there is NO error, the ckecking on boot up goes fine and the game starts. The error occurs only if I try to change ANY option in the Test Mode menu. For example: the game difficulty is set to "Normal" by default, so if I want to choose "Easy" or "Difficult", as soon as I press the A button to select my choice, the board crashes then resets endlessly with a "12C BAD" error. This problem happens the same if I want to set the sound to "Stereo" or to "Factory Settings", any change in Test Mode makes the board crashing. So I have to power off and re-power on the board, then the checking and "12C" go fine again, and game starts normally. In other words, it's like if the settings in Test Mode are locked, hence the board seems unable to save any change.

Any idea ?

[system11]

Switch it on with the PCB test button held down, release when it tells you on screen to do so. 12C stores nvram settings, holding down test erases them. Problems can happen if the code roms have been swapped.

[cvaniafan]

Thanks for the help mate
But I'm afraid I tried this many times... And when I release the test button, I get the 12C BAD error with screen upside down resetting endlessly, so I power it off/power it on, it's back to normal, but as soon as I press the test button and choose any option by pressing the A button, the board crashes again, and the same problem described occurs.
I also tried to use the test switch of my arcade setup instead, with no luck. I tried also the method used in older versions of Mame : "test button held down, then power it off, then power it on+release the test button simultaneously". No change. Boot Up goes fine every time I power the board, or goes bad if either I select any option in Test Mode OR if I power on the board with test held on then release on boot up

[cvaniafan]

Ok now I'm pretty sure it's a hardware problem, because I compared with both 4P sets in Mame, and unlike in Mame, when I hold down Test button I never get any message confirmation that the EEPROM is reinitialized: either I get some garbage on screen or only the "EEPROM test" message, but as soon as I release the test button, the "12C bad" problem happens.

[system11]

Could be that 12C is bad on your board and the game crashes trying to write to it? I couldn't find a good photo of a Simpsons PCB to check, but probably an ER5911 if it's like similar Konami games. I had to replace one on TMNT before.

[cvaniafan]

Could be that 12C is bad on your board and the game crashes trying to write to it? I couldn't find a good photo of a Simpsons PCB to check, but probably an ER5911 if it's like similar Konami games. I had to replace one on TMNT before.

Yes I could locate that "12C" chip on the board, indeed it's a ER5911

[IronGiant]

Any luck with this? I'd certainly try replacing the ER5911 first.