Time Warp (Williams, 1979): Troubleshooting and System 6 Replacement Boards
Is your Time Warp by Williams has fading displays, no display with MPU LEDs stuck on, faulty ROM sockets, or no sound? These symptoms are typical of Williams System 6 pinball machines whose original boards (MPU, driver, power supply) are now over 40 years old. The good news: the WillFA7 replacement board, Plug & Play and battery-free, brings your machine back to life.
Time Warp (Williams, 1979): Overview
Released in 1979, Time Warp is an original, dynamic System 6 title.
- Manufacturer: Williams
- Year: 1979
- Electronic system: Williams System 6
- Type: solid state
- Theme: time travel
Common Issues (System 6)
On Williams System 3 to 7 pinball machines, recurring failures stem from aging: leaking NiCad battery on the MPU (corrosion — the #1 cause of dead boards), worn 40-pin MPU-to-driver connector (the single most common failure point), resets/reboots from 5V drops (power headers and connectors need re-soldering), tired power supply capacitors, displays with missing segments, and solenoid fuse blowing (stuck slingshot or pop bumper).
Time Warp-Specific Issues (Forum Reports)
- Displays fading slowly: player 1's first digit dark (sometimes recovers); missing segments on players 3 and 4.
- No display at startup with the MPU LEDs stuck on: check the CPU clock signal at the test points and the reset-circuit jumpering on the bench (both 5V and 12V required).
- Faulty Scanbe sockets: known to be bad; replace them.
- No sound: check +12V on the positive side of C29 (large blue capacitor) and -12V on the negative side of C30.
- Battery damage and dead capacitors on the switch circuits.
Compatible Replacement Boards for Time Warp
- WillFA7 — 2-in-1 board (MPU + Driver) compatible with System 3 to 7 (System 6 included).
The WillFA7 replaces the original MPU and driver board (startup, logic resets, solenoid control, battery-free memory) and eliminates the fragile 40-pin ribbon cable. Purely power-supply issues (5V/12V, capacitors, power connectors) and the sound board are addressed separately; our support team can guide you.
Installation is Plug & Play, battery-free, with tutorials and free support. Contact us.
FAQ — Time Warp Williams
My Time Warp has no display and the MPU LEDs stay on.
Check the CPU clock signal at the test points and the reset circuit. The WillFA7 replaces the MPU and driver, battery-free.
My Scanbe ROM sockets are suspect.
They're known to be bad — replace them with quality sockets.
Do I need to keep the original battery?
No. The WillFA7 runs without a battery and eliminates the #1 cause of corrosion on System 6 machines.
How long does installation take?
Installation is Plug & Play: just a few minutes, no soldering required, with tutorials and free support.
Does a battery-free board retain settings and high scores?
Yes. Modern replacement boards use NVRAM: no battery, no corrosion, and settings are preserved when powered off.
Step-by-Step Diagnostics
- With power off, visual inspection: look for any signs of battery leakage or corrosion on the MPU of your Time Warp; remove the NiCad battery if still present.
- Power supply: check the 5V rail and fuses; re-solder power supply headers and MPU headers if voltage drops or the game resets.
- Connectors: re-pin oxidized Molex connectors, especially the MPU-to-driver connection.
- Solenoids: check solenoid fuses and switches (stuck slingshot) before powering back on.
- Displays: never connect or disconnect a display while powered on; test with a known good display.
- Final test: verify startup, credits, solenoids, and displays; remember the WillFA7 replaces MPU + driver. If needed, contact free support.
Useful Guides
- How much does pinball machine repair cost? A price guide
- How much is my pinball machine worth? Value and estimation
- Pinball machine leg sizes: the complete guide
- Which board for a Williams System 3 to 7?
See Also
- Tri Zone (Williams, 1979)
- Stellar Wars (Williams, 1979)
- Laser Ball (Williams, 1979)
- Scorpion (Williams, 1980)
