[Error Code] Need help with a dinosaur. Savin 3515 / Ricoh 1515

[femaster]

Yes, it's a dinosaur, I'm aware. It's a low page count (under 27K) machine that I acquired back when I worked for a Ricoh/Savin dealer. It's an at home machine, and works perfectly with the exception of an error that has been coming up for the about the last 8 months. It's been about 9 years since I worked on a Ricoh/Savin product, so I am a bit rusty with them, so go easy on me!

The copier appears to function perfectly despite the error that appears just after boot. The error on the screen is: "Problem: Address Book data", "All data has been deleted". The fax button is half green and half red at this point. When I select the Fax button, there is a message on the screen, "Func. Problems, Data will be initialized" with an OK button. I select the OK button, the red LED goes away and everything is perfectly fine afterwards.

Funny thing is, the address book data has not been deleted, it is all still there. All I ever had was 2 scan addresses programmed in, they are both still there (and functional). I never had any fax addresses programmed in until I saw this pop up, so as an experiment I created a fake entry into the address book for a fake fax, and that remains as well. Faxing still operates fine as well once the initial "functional problem" message is cleared.

If my brain is working at all, I think the address book was stored on the SD card, was it not? Perhaps the SD card is having issues? Any other thoughts on what the issue might be or some troubleshooting steps would be appreciated.

Yes, this is eventually going to be replaced, but it will still be a while, so if I can make this message go away in the mean time it would be nice.

An UPDATE while I can still edit this post:
After I clear the error, it stays away for a while. If I power down the copier (main power switch on side) for a couple hours or so, powering it back up it comes up fine with no error. If it's off for say a day or more, then I get the error message back the next time I power it up.

[slimslob]

Re: Need help with a dinosaur. Savin 3515 / Ricoh 1515

Sounds like you are getting a Type C service code. Probably SC 870 Address book data error. If my memory serves me correctly, the fax address book is stored in a memory module on the FCU board. There is a solder pin mounted lithium battery that maintains the entries when the power is off. Unless the data error is actually in an existing entry the re initialization is a soft function, just clears the error.

[slimslob]

Re: Need help with a dinosaur. Savin 3515 / Ricoh 1515

I have the following:
Product Support Guide
Service Manual
Parts catalog
Operator instruction manual

PM me if you need them.

[femaster]

Re: Need help with a dinosaur. Savin 3515 / Ricoh 1515

I have the following:
Product Support Guide
Service Manual
Parts catalog
Operator instruction manual

PM me if you need them.

Thank you.

I just got around to looking through what I had. It appears that I have the service and parts manuals, a "Network Guide" manual, and "Operating Instructions" manuals titled: Copy Reference, Fax Reference (Advanced), General Settings Guide, and Troubleshooting.

I don't' recall what was contained in the Product Support Guide, but that might be of some help.

I'm only now just getting around to looking into this issue, so I have yet to go through the manuals. I'm hoping something will jump out at me and refresh my memory. I used to work on these years ago, but it's been so long that I'm drawing a blank. Than again I've never came across this error, probably because it's something that only shows up with time. There is a good chance that the battery may be depleted by now. I'll give it a test once I can dig into this thing a bit.

[slimslob]

Re: Need help with a dinosaur. Savin 3515 / Ricoh 1515

The Product Support Guide has all the numbers for ordering the basic machines and option. Supplies, documentation and PM part numbers. Other new product launch information. It is the first document that Ricoh releases for any new product. Years ago they used to send a new product release announce packet to all dealers the included printed copies of the PSG for the dealer to hand out to employees. It even had the course numbers for Classroom training (if required) and self-paced training, back then CBT now online.

[femaster]

Re: Need help with a dinosaur. Savin 3515 / Ricoh 1515

Thanks Slimslob. I don't foresee me having a need for the Support Guide, but definitely appreciate the offer!

OK, small update on this. Quickly skimming through some of the manuals I have, Operator Instructions: Troubleshooting to the rescue. Troubleshooting guide has the exact phrase I am seeing, confirms there is a problem with the fax, and advises me to record the code numbers shown and call for service. Well, no code numbers are shown, but it's a start.

Looked through the SC History and found that there hasn't been anything recorded in there since the last code I had back in 2019, SC541 Fuser thermistor, so dead end there. I verified that the date and time are correct just in case.

I don't recall exactly what it is, but found the SP 1-7832-1 (Self-Diagnostic Code History) and looked, but it states no errors.

Back to square one so far. I guess this will be on hold until I get the opportunity pull the covers on this and dig a little deeper.

[TonerMunkeh]

Re: Need help with a dinosaur. Savin 3515 / Ricoh 1515

Battery on the FCU has probably died.

[sandmanmac]

Re: Need help with a dinosaur. Savin 3515 / Ricoh 1515

I doubt you have much (if any) need for the fax unit, so disconnecting it should resolve the problem

[femaster]

Re: Need help with a dinosaur. Savin 3515 / Ricoh 1515

Battery on the FCU has probably died.

I'm suspecting the same to be honest. At it's age that is a very likely scenario.

I doubt you have much (if any) need for the fax unit, so disconnecting it should resolve the problem

It gets used on a VERY rare occasion, but I suspect that I could probably do without it. Since this is the Savin 3515MF, it came from the factory with the fax installed. I'm sure I can figure out how to disconnect or remove the fax unit, but I don't recall if these were self-installing options or not. Meaning if I disconnect it, will the copier sense that it is not installed and just not offer that functionality, or is there a setting I will need to change to indicate to the copier that it is no longer installed?

Thanks.

[slimslob]

Re: Need help with a dinosaur. Savin 3515 / Ricoh 1515

I might be wrong but I think that the 1515MF (B130) was a 1515 (B129) with a factory installed print controller box with the FCU/MBU mounted on the controller board. The Lithium cell is mounted on the MBU (Memory Board Unit) along with the SRAM that it provides power to and the FROM (Flash ROM) that contains the firmware. The Lithium cell is a Vl2330/1HF most likely Panasonic.

The first thing to try is just re-seating the MBU. I have in the past had them vibrate lose. If you do decide to replace the Lithium cell you can backup the address book in SP mode first.

[blackcat4866]

Re: Need help with a dinosaur. Savin 3515 / Ricoh 1515

I might be wrong but I think that the 1515MF (B130) was a 1515 (B129) with a factory installed print controller box with the FCU/MBU mounted on the controller board. The Lithium cell is mounted on the MBU (Memory Board Unit) along with the SRAM that it provides power to and the FROM (Flash ROM) that contains the firmware. The Lithium cell is a Vl2330/1HF most likely Panasonic.

The first thing to try is just re-seating the MBU. I have in the past had them vibrate lose. If you do decide to replace the Lithium cell you can backup the address book in SP mode first.

Back when we had battery issues regularly, what I used to do is clip on the meter on 12vdc range. While watching the meter, power OFF and unplug the device. Typically these batteries are maintained by the logic level (+5vdc), but they're 3vdc batteries.

So a good battery will show +5vdc with power ON. With power OFF and unplugged, it should sag to +3.1vdc, then stabilize there.
A bad battery will show +5vdc with power ON. With power OFF and unplugged, it will sag ... sometimes very quickly, to less than +3vdc. I've seen these batteries plummet to +0.02vdc in 5 seconds (really, really, really dead).
If it's that dead, it won't much matter if you leave it without backup voltage, while you're soldering in the new battery. =^..^=

[KeviM]

Re: Need help with a dinosaur. Savin 3515 / Ricoh 1515

Yeah it's a battery problem.

Normally what I do is replace both. If memory serves me correct I think there's 2. Anyway I that replacing them sorts the problem out

All the best friend

[femaster]

Re: Need help with a dinosaur. Savin 3515 / Ricoh 1515

Just wanted to do a followup on this.

I suspect that the battery(ies) is/are the problem here as everyone has stated. I have yet to dig into this thing as I just haven't had the time, and it really hasn't affected the operation of it. It is now at just over 28K pages and the image unit?, drum/dev combination unit? (it's been so long, I can't even remember the correct Ricoh terminology!) is starting to streak and ghost in the middle a bit. It looks like the cleaning blade is crapping out. Not bad though for a unit that is 15+ years old!

At this point, I'm not going to bother digging into it, it's just time for me to let it die. I'll eventually be replacing it with a KM machine of about the same size since that is what I know these days. Yes, the KM machines in this size range are pretty much trash, but at least I'll know how to work on / fix it when there are problems, and if need be I have a source for parts.

Again, thank you all for your help and advice with this dinosaur!