WorkCentre 5230 Serial Number Synchronization Fails

[nerdjarrett]

We have a fully functional Xerox WorkCentre 5230 in our shop that we use as a test machine and as a source of quick replacement parts. Yesterday I was called out into the field to repair another, separate WC 5230.

As part of the repair attempt, I pulled the MCU PWB (along with the EPROM chip) from the shop machine and took it out and installed it into the broken machine in the field. Per the service documentation, I synchronized the serial numbers as outlined in GP 4. This all went smoothly, but it did not resolve the original problem with the field machine as I had hoped. I returned the original parts to the field machine and brought the shop machine parts back to the shop.

Now I am trying to put the shop machine back together so that we can continue to use it. I have re-installed the original MCU PWB and EPROM chip, and I am now doing serial number synchronization on the shop machine (because the EPROM has now been synched to the broken field machine.) All appears to be going well, except that when I complete the synchronization process, I get the following message:

An error has occurred.
Unable to start.

The synchronization fails, and the serial number does not change. I have tried restarting the machine and going through GP 4 several times, but the result is always the same.

Any help is appreciated.

[kurtray]

Re: WorkCentre 5230 Serial Number Synchronization Fails

I'm having a similar problem going thru the GP4 serial# synchronization, with that same message "An error has occurred. Unable to start."
Anyone have any ideas??
-kurtray

[Scarecrow]

Re: WorkCentre 5230 Serial Number Synchronization Fails

We have a fully functional Xerox WorkCentre 5230 in our shop that we use as a test machine and as a source of quick replacement parts. Yesterday I was called out into the field to repair another, separate WC 5230.

As part of the repair attempt, I pulled the MCU PWB (along with the EPROM chip) from the shop machine and took it out and installed it into the broken machine in the field. Per the service documentation, I synchronized the serial numbers as outlined in GP 4. This all went smoothly, but it did not resolve the original problem with the field machine as I had hoped. I returned the original parts to the field machine and brought the shop machine parts back to the shop.

Now I am trying to put the shop machine back together so that we can continue to use it. I have re-installed the original MCU PWB and EPROM chip, and I am now doing serial number synchronization on the shop machine (because the EPROM has now been synched to the broken field machine.) All appears to be going well, except that when I complete the synchronization process, I get the following message:

An error has occurred.
Unable to start.

The synchronization fails, and the serial number does not change. I have tried restarting the machine and going through GP 4 several times, but the result is always the same.

Any help is appreciated.

So - What was the original problem on your field machine that may have taken out its original mcu and now your replacement? We install the machines original eprom on the replacement mcu.

[nerdjarrett]

Re: WorkCentre 5230 Serial Number Synchronization Fails

Original problem with the field machine was error code 010-327, which indicates a problem with the fuser. Replaced the fuser, and issue was not resolved. Started working through the service manual, which eventually suggested I try replacing both the power unit and the MCU PWB. I tried the power unit first, with no improvement.

When I went to replace the MCU PWB, I first tried using the new MCU with the old EPROM, as you suggested. This led to some strange symptoms. The machine indicated that the toner was at 0% (which it was not) and that the drum was missing entirely (which it was not.) I thought that perhaps there might be something wrong with the EPROM itself, so I then installed the new MCU with the new EPROM, ran GP 4 to synch serial numbers, and things went downhill from there.

[adriansto]

Re: WorkCentre 5230 Serial Number Synchronization Fails

Put the original MCU into shop machine. Install blank new eprom. Check if the eprom chip make good contacts on socket. Reseat all connectors on mcu. Power on machine and 41-363 error code should display.
Do IOT nvm init and after that change to 1 742-009 nvm location.
Exit from diagnostics and after machine reboot 124-3xx error code pop-up on machine UI.
Perform GP4 ( select SYS1 or SYS2 when doing GP4 ) Exit diagnostic and reboot and same 124-3xx will display but there will be a CLOSE icon in the upper right corner of the UI. Push on the icon and that is.

[nerdjarrett]

Re: WorkCentre 5230 Serial Number Synchronization Fails

Aha! I like this idea of installing a new, blank EPROM and working from there. We actually pursued this strategy as part of our original troubleshooting. However, we have thus far been unable to find any way to buy a blank EPROM. The service manual for this machine does not call out a part number specifically for the EPROM chip. It only has a part number for the entire MCU PWB. (I assume that if you buy a whole new MCU, they send you a blank EPROM with it, but I don't even know that much for sure.)

We tried contacting Xerox ASP Support and also the third party website The Parts Drop. Both of them told us that they cannot provide us a blank EPROM. They can only sell us a new MCU PWB.

Does anyone have any suggestions about where I might get a new, blank EPROM?

[adriansto]

Re: WorkCentre 5230 Serial Number Synchronization Fails

Read what is write on the eprom chip and contact a electronic device dealer or store. It's a I2C chip as I know.

[nerdjarrett]

Re: WorkCentre 5230 Serial Number Synchronization Fails

Markings on the EPROM chip are as follows:

-----
(STMicroelectronics Logo)
CHN P
24C64WP
K6H023
-----

Google turns up quite a few results for the "24C64WP" string, and some of the chips in the pictures look very similar. However, nothing that I see matches the second set of numbers (K6H023). In fact, Google turns up nearly nothing for the second string anywhere at all!

Are the second set of numbers important, or just the first?

We are in a remote small town, so we will almost certainly have to order this part from an online retailer. Does anyone have a favorite electronics dealer that might carry the part we are looking for?

[adriansto]

Re: WorkCentre 5230 Serial Number Synchronization Fails

It is I2C cmos eeprom 24c64, 64 Kbytes capacities. Very common chip. It's is used in tv sets, cordless phones, radio car sets, etc.

PS

If Google dissapears what do you do ?

[nerdjarrett]

Re: WorkCentre 5230 Serial Number Synchronization Fails

Do you think it is critical that I find a chip where all of the markings match exactly, or can I just find an I2C CMOS EPROM 24c64 with the correct pin configuration and that will be close enough to work?

Thank you for all of your help!

[nerdjarrett]

Re: WorkCentre 5230 Serial Number Synchronization Fails

I found and ordered some compatible chips. Removed the old chip from the MCU PWB and installed the new one. Powered on the machine, and it displayed error 010-313. (This is different than 041-363 which was suggested above.)

Entered diagnostic mode and performed IOT NVM Init. Then did an NVM read/write and changed location 742-009 to a value of 1.

Exited diagnostics and rebooted the machine. Machine still displays error 010-313 (and not 124-3xx) as suggested above.

Started GP 4. Upon starting, machine shows correct values at SYS1 and SYS2 and values for the left column are totally blank. All zeroes or stars. (I assume this is because the new chip is blank.) After selecting either SYS1 or SYS2, I am then prompted to enter and confirm the machine's serial number. After doing this, I receive the following error:

An error has occurred.
Unable to start.

This is the same error I was getting with the original chip. GP 4 does not complete and the values in the left column during GP 4 remain blank.

[adriansto]

Re: WorkCentre 5230 Serial Number Synchronization Fails

And what do you think 10-313 mean ?

[nerdjarrett]

Re: WorkCentre 5230 Serial Number Synchronization Fails

The service manual indicates that it is a "control thermistor failure," but I am not convincned. That sounds like something wrong in the fuser or in the wiring leading to the fuser. That may or may not be true, but even if the fuser IS bad, it wouldn't explain issues with serial number synchronization. I would guess that there is something still wrong with the MCU PWB or the EPROM chip that is mounted on it.

[Scarecrow]

Re: WorkCentre 5230 Serial Number Synchronization Fails

The service manual indicates that it is a "control thermistor failure," but I am not convincned. That sounds like something wrong in the fuser or in the wiring leading to the fuser. That may or may not be true, but even if the fuser IS bad, it wouldn't explain issues with serial number synchronization. I would guess that there is something still wrong with the MCU PWB or the EPROM chip that is mounted on it.

Man - This making my head spin! All this stuff for a 10-327? I don't know if you can still do it with all the serial numbeer screwing around, but put the original mcu and original chip back in and clear the code 10-327 with a 744-220, and fix the fuser. the 10-327 is a fuser failure to warm up in time (I think), and it is almost always caused by: Build up of toner under the center thermistor because the teflon coating has worn off, or some of these stupid after market heat rolls that either aren't coated on the inside or too heavy or the coating is too thick or all of the above. Or maybe a heat rod issue. Geez. Did we learn anything?