DaiOuJou PCB broken (No backgrounds)

[pegboy]

Been playing DOJ on PCB (original, not the PGM boot cart) for about a year, today it glitched out and all the backgrounds went away (tuned to black). I rebooted it several times and the problem persists so it appears something has broken on the PCB.

The game is still 100% playable (all enemies, objects, sounds, etc) all work as normal but the background is pure black. Even the "use this only in japan" screen on bootup is all black (no text).

I know the main EPROM is good because I swapped it with another working one and it still has the same problem. Did not try replacing the BIOS EPROM but I can't imagine that could cause a graphical glitch like this?

It had previous battery damage (mostly repaired traces on the edge connector) that was repaired before I owned it so I don't know if this has caused additional damage or if there is something else going on. IF anyone one has any idea on fixing these PGM PCBs or can't point me to someone who knows that would be great.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The arcade pcb repair wizard/guru caius can fix your ailing IGS PGM based DDP-DOJ pcb. Check his older posts here on the Shmups.org site. He's based out of Italy and you'll have to pay for shipping and return shipping once the repair is done (but totally worth it in the end for "peace of mind" as with older & valuable arcade jamma pcbs -- it's a part of the arcade pcb collecting hobby, indeed).

Fellow shmupper Dave_K. repairs arcade pcbs as well.

I've never encountered such a DDP-DOJ pcb with the dreaded "no background scenery" present issue before and is the first time learning about this particular issue at hand (but it's good to learn about it in general).

Sure, I have both the IGS PGM DDP-DOJ pcb (converted to a DDP-DOJ BL with high score/high score initials saving functionality via Varta battery mod/upgrade) & DDP-DOJ BL IGS PGM cart running on an IGS PGM arcade motherboard setup.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[XtraSmiley]

Are you in Washington state or DC?

Can you post a picture of the prior repair?

[pegboy]

Washington state. The prior repair was just to a few of the traces near the edge connector. I can get a pic but I don't think it's really the issue.

[XtraSmiley]

I'm not saying the repair is the problem, I'm saying battery leaking all over the corner and eating traces can definitely be the problem.

You'll have to send it off for repair, but you can try arcade-projects.com for help, some members there have repaired these and could possible have you look at some spots.

Obviously you should try cleaning your edge and also doing a continuity test around a lot of those bad traces.

[pegboy]

Any idea who can repair this? At this point I think it's beyond my abilities, I don't mess with surface mount stuff.

[XtraSmiley]

Yeah, jump over to A-P and post a thread like this asking for repair service, a couple of guys do them.

That being said, I don't doubt Caius or others in Europe can repair as well, of course with shipping, might be better to keep in the US.

[pegboy]

I posted a thread on aracde projects at the same time as this one (and on arcadeotaku as well) and nobody replied to it. I have also been talking to someone named shootthecore on arcadeotaku who has offered to take a look at my pcb .

[XtraSmiley]

I pinged two users for you that have done Cave repairs before.