Step Two: Fixing a Blank Pacman Screen
The most common problem an owner will face is a blank Pacman screen. This happens when you plug the game in and nothing happens. There are no sights or sounds coming from your machine, or there’s nothing showing on the screen–it seems as if the entire game is either off, dead, or just not plugged in at all. If this is your problem then continue reading. However, if when you plug the game in or turn it on, you have a picture (whether garbled or not), power, lights, or when you coin the game you can hear sounds etc then you have main power getting to the game so you can skip on ahead to Step Three: Pacman Fuses & Power Supplies Repair.
If you’re still here proceed through the following steps:
Please watch this video first before going forward. This simple solution fixes 99% of Blank Screens Pacman included….Please watch this before reading on:
First—Check to make sure that the game is in fact plugged in and is plugged into a working receptacle that has not been “kicked off” by some sort of surge of electricity, bad breaker, or a tripped GFCI plug. To test it, simply plug something else into the socket like a lamp or a drill or anything that can confirm that the electrical outlet is in fact working. (The reason I started here is I once worked hours on a game only to find out that breaker had been tripped to the plug—and yes I didn’t tell anyone I did that:)
Second- Once you’ve confirmed your plug receptacle is working and with the game still plugged in, check the On/Off switch located on the top of the game cabinet. If you stand on a chair and look at the top (roof) of your game you’ll see the On/Off switch. (Some cabinets might be different if not an original Pacman cabinet and the On/Off switch maybe found below the back door or in a different location.) Please find the On/Off switch and press it to the “On” position. If nothing happens when pressed on, please toggle it back and forth just to make sure.
Third– If still nothing powers up, leave this game switch in the “On” position and simply unplug the game when directed to turn the game “Off” or plug it back in in order to turn the game “On” while working on it.—Now it’s time to open the back door. To open a Pacman or Ms Pacman back door, first unplug the game and slide the game away from the wall and then turn it around so that you’re looking at the back of the machine.
There should be a back door lock located top middle of the door and somewhere inside your game there should be the key to unlock it. Most of us coin-op guys or techs used to hang the back door key inside a hook on the coin door. The person you bought your game from might have simply left the key inside the back door lock since they knew it would be used solely for your own purposes therefore no need to hide the key. (The back door key may even be the same key used to unlock the front coin door so try that one first if in doubt.) If no key is found there, then look around inside the game as the key might of fallen down to the ground floor of the game. Use a flash light through the open coin door and see if you can locate it first. (You might have to look underneath or inside the cash box as many techs leave them there.) Once you have the key simply unlock the back door and remove it from your machine which will expose the entire inside of the game from the rear.
*If you can’t find the key don’t despair. I’ve had to “break in” many times to my own games through the back door. First check and make sure the door is not screwed shut in other places to further secure it. Look around the edges of the back door to find any possible signs of screws; if you see any then take them out one at a time or the door won’t come open. Next, take a strong flat head screw driver or flat bar and wedge it in between the lock and wood; slowly pushing the door further out each time, This will bend the metal of the lock until the door will come loose. Those locks are usually not that strong.
Fourth—Once you have the back door open. Make sure that the On/Off button located at the top of the machine is still in the “On” position. Now without touching anything plug the game back in and look for any signs of life within the game. Look for any LED lights coming on from the power supply, coin door lights coming on, or the best evidence is the popping and crackling of the monitor warming up etc.
Fifth—If you don’t see or hear anything still then this next simple step usually fixes 90% of all blank screen problems on the Pacman machine. The reason is that no power to the game is the best sign that there is usually nothing wrong with your entire pacman game— it’s just simply isn’t getting power to it in order to work. Most people don’t realize that there is another On/Off switch that powers the entire Pacman machine which is located inside the game. It is called the interlock switch and it should be located on the right inside of the machine side wall pointing toward the back door. If You can’t locate it refer to the Pacman manual here or the Ms Pacman Manual here.
The purpose of this interlock switch is so that if the back door comes opened, then the entire game shuts down in order to prevent someone from getting shocked; this was especially important during the arcade era where kids were all around. Now locate this switch. It is usually black or white plastic and it will have a button coming from it in the middle.
With the game plugged back in and with the On/Off switch at the top of the game in the “On” position pull the cabinet switch button to the out position or you can simply push it all the way in and hold it there manually. (However it will not stay “On” in this position as the purpose of this button is for the back door to hold it in place—when the door comes open; the switch pops out; or turns itself “off.”) If your Pacman comes back to life when the interlock switch is pulled to the “out” position or held in then congrats you’ve just fixed your game!
*Many of us coin operators throughout the 80’s and 90’s got annoyed with these cabinet switches and either hot wired them to the “On” position permanently or used some duct taped to hold the switch down. If your cabinet switch is pointed downward away from the door then this was the reason and it just must have popped itself into the “OFF” position over time through moving or jarring. What you may want to do now is with the game unplugged, point it downward away from the back door. Leave the switch button pulled all the way out for good. Just make sure when you put the back door on, it doesn’t toggle itself back off again.
Six– If still not working, Unplug the game again and with your eyes now check for any loose wires from either the “On/Off” switches on the top of the game and/or from the cabinet interlock back door switch you’ve just checked. If so, solder them back on with a soldering iron while unplugged. Finally check and make sure your plug chord itself doesn’t have any breaks or shorts in it and make sure that it goes from the wall socket to the power supply within the game without any hindrance. If everything is OK and your machine is still not powering up proceed to
Step Three: Fuse & Power Supplies Repair.
Just in case you’re into a simple fix and you feel you lack the expertise to fix your game. There is a cheap fix now for all your non working Pac-man monitors or a Pac PCB. Now you can replace the heavy, maintenance prone CRT arcade monitor with a light simple to use 19″ computer monitor! Also you can replace a non working Pacman or Ms Pacman PCB board with the inexpensive 60 in 1 multigame board and not only does it run Pacman and Ms Pac, but also Galaga, Donkey Kong, Centipede, Frogger, Scramble, Pacman plus and many more of the old 80’s classics. The JAMMA 60 in 1 Board plugs into a computer monitor cable port and works perfectly as a replacement PC VGA monitor for your broken Pacman…Watch Below:
What you will need to upgrade your cabinet to a Multicade 60 in 1:
Where to buy a 60 to 1 Multicade PCB Board under $40!
Where to get a JAMMA Harness, joystick, buttons, Power supply in one Kit
Where to order a Joystick Panel with 3″ trackball
Where to find a Multicade Overlay and how much.
Game Will also play in cocktail mode and you can choose the games you wish to have displayed to play. This kit can go in any arcade cabinet and can be used with a replacement 19″ VGA PC monitor or larger monitor if your game cabinet can hold it. To watch how to install it here:
Original pacman arcade game. Game comes on, put money in start to play for about 30 seconds and then just hum. No monitor or coin slots just dead. Turn off for 30 seconds and back on and it’s perfect for about 30 seconds then dead again
You’ve got a continuity break in one of the four wires which carry AC power from the transformer on the floor of the cabinet, through the fuse block, through the wiring harness, through the edge connectors, and onto the game board. Unplug the game and check the wires with a ohm reader (it will beep if continuity good) might want to replace the old transformer with a new 15amp power supply…click on that page from the menu to see how that’s done
I have an old pac man board that has problem that puts just one character on screen. When I put that board in the game does no go off so I suspect problem must be on board.
this problem would more than likely be a eprom or rom problem..as long as the vram board is working or daughter card on the ms pac..goto the step four fixing ur pcb..it will walk u thru it
Hope you can help. Just completed a Ms PACMAN LCD monitor swap for an upright. Machine worked fine playing for 1/2 hr, then returned 1hr later to LCD monitor message ‘No input’. Began troubleshooting: No sound or motherboard activity etc. Have power to monitor and marquee light, back door kill switch works. Let cool off, still no input to monitor. Visually checked all fuses which were recently replaced to no avail. Any ideas? what to do next?
I own a Ms Pacman Arcade Party and there is no keyhole on the back of the cabinet. I removed two screws from the top of the middle section but it will not budge. I have no clue how to open this cabinet!
Ok I would need to see a pic of it..it might be another game cabinet that Mr pax was put inside of..most all cabinet back doors will open up so that a tech can work on the game…if u send me a pic to stuttle1970@att.net I’l see if I can figure it out
Thank you. I just sent you a photo the back of the cabinet.
good afternoon
i have a 1980 pac man bally midway mfg. the monitor is blank but we have sound.
our friend checked all the fuses and found nothing wrong. going thru your steps in #5, we found that we need to check the G07 board for 2 fuses F901 and F902.
we do not think ours has this board in it. any ideas ? we have looked all around the bottom of the monitor.
Ok u probably have a game that someone later in time replaced the G07 with another 19 inch monitor..simply find out what kind of monitor is now inside ur game and then u can download from the internet the location of this monitors fuses or once u know what kind of monitor it is…then u can order a replacement chassis for it or u can buy a new 19 inch monitor to go inside ur game but ..yes it does sound like the fuse or fly back transformer has blown the fuse and shut down the monitor…look for a crack in the fly back trasformer..thats probly what blew the fuse and took out the monitor..make sure first to see if there is power getting to the monitor ..there should be a white Molex plug connecting the monitor to the power supply ..unplug this and make sure it’s getting 110 volts to the bottom plug
I tried doing all the first steps and have no power . What can I do ? Do you do house visits to repair ? Where are you located
Did you open the back door and either pull out or push in and hold the interlock switch while game is “on”?? If not, did you with the power off and unplugged check all the fuses and replace…..if everything’s is dead it can only be 4 things…no power getting through the plug to the game’s power supply, a main fuse blown, the interlock switch is not in the on position, or the on/off button is broken or off.
..Also make sure the door is back closed or the interlock switch is indeed in the on positon when you try power back up the game.
When I turn the game on, I can hear that it gets power (that distinct sound from the screen powering on). The marquee lights up and I can see a orange glow from the screen tube. However, I get no picture and no game sound.
Id start by replacing the 15amp power supply with a new one…if u have the old style power supply…then with a meter reader go thru the instructions on this site for power supplies.
…simce the monitor is coming on..sounds like nothing is getting from the game pcb to the screen..like turning off a DVD player and nothing appears on ur flat screen tv..same thing here only the DVD would be the pcb board..so check everything coming from the game to the monitor…if u do have a 15amp power supply check and see if the light is on the power supply ..chances are it’s not getting the volts to the pcb board to power the game..
Hey there! When I plug in my Ms Pac Man machine the screen seems to glitch and looks really wavy, any thoughts?
Thanks
Yes sounds like u have a electrolytic capacitor(s) drying out…u need a cap kit..goto my cap kit page from the website menu
When I turn the machine on there is no longer sound and only a single dotted vertical line in the middle of the screen. This used to work a few years back without this issue. Any thoughts? Thank you
Please take a pic of the screen and also the power supply inside the game. It may be a bad vertical in the monitor but you should hear sounds with that so I need more info and I need to see it
how do i get picture to you?
it looks like the original power supply
Stuttle1970@att.net
i sent you email did you receive?
I’m a little confused about the cutoff switch on the back of the cabinet. Is “out” really “on”? Is “in” really “off”? My machine’s lights work, I have sound and can hear the game playing in the back ground. Just a blank screen. I have verified power to the monitor and all fuses are good. Thanks!
Out is on…and so is in…but the in position won’t stay on because it’s suppose to turn off when the door opens so as not to harm anyone…or u can leave it on so it will stay on by pulling the button out all the way.
If u hear sounds of the game then all the power etc will b good…all that is wrong is sounds like in the chassis of ur monitor..u have blown the main monitor fuse…probly due to a bad fly back etc…ul have to replace the chassis to fix..or buy a new working monitor
Thank you to everyone for this page and information … just fixed my machine and crushing some Ms Pacman!
Hello. I have a ms pac man with a Wells Gardner 19K4906 monitor. I have white screen but it won’t play blind. Would I need to check something on PCB board or monitor chassis? Does anyone have a flowchart?
Yes there is one now on my site under flow charts page in menu . The flow chart is on page 3 just scroll down Please click on here http://www.fixyourpacman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ELECTROHOME_G07_ARTICLE_AND_FLOWCHARTS_BY_RANDY_FROMM_U.pdf
I have a flat top glass top packman game can’t see the packman everything else works fine.
Goto the http://www.fixyourpacman.com/trouble-shoot-by-pictures-whats-on-my-screen/ page on this site and scroll thru the screen that looks most like yours..the fix will be printed below it
Plays blind as they call it. I hear a clicking sound in 1 second intervals over and over. 25th anniversary pacman/galaga/ms.pacman. HELP BRAH!! Fuses great, everything looks brand new
Need the make model of ur monitor
Got a Pacman with no video or Audio… Marquee lights up. Check all AC voltages… they are good and DC voltages on PCB are good. Glow on neck of monitor and screen briefly goes white during power up. So I think monitor is OK. Any components on PCB that would shut down all video and audio?
I would try to take te PCB out…unseat all the Eproms and Roms then clean each pin reseat it carefully..make sure ther are no dirty or broken pins ..also unseat and clean the daughter card to ..and z80 chip..just to rule out something simple first
The words are doubled on my Ms PacMan 20 year anniversary game. Any suggestions?
yes simple fix it’s your monitors convergence that needs adjusting watch this vid to fix
https://youtu.be/nxOvYVcN1fc
I have same problem, except screen just turns on to gray. No video or audio and Marquee lights up. Was working fine a few months ago.
when you coin the game can you hear sounds of the game playing? or is it dead except seeing gray
My screen quit working on my Pacman table top. Everything else powers on. I left it unplugged for about 6 months and plugged it back in. It worked until we unplugged it after playing for about 2 hours. It will no longer power up the screen.
so if everything else is up and running..meaning u hear sounds of the game as if everything were ok..except monitor is off..then with the game unplugged..check all fuses on monitor chassis and check to make sure the monitor has not become unplugged ..this type of problem may require a cap kit or new chassis or if u can afford it just putting a whole new monitor on..but this is not a simple fix unless u find one cap is blown
..things that will kill power to monitor is the fly back overheating and splitting blowing the main chassis fuse..if it is blown u need a new flyback or caps can do that too
Hello. I have a Pac Man machine. The screen has bout 5-6 vertical lines of garbage that looks like it is constantly resetting. I just did a cap kit on monitor. I have put a good Ms Pac Man board in it and it does the same thing.