Troubleshooting 3
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this troubleshooting guide is to provide fast solutions to problems that a bowling center
may experience and give you techniques that you can use to resolve problems not specically addressed
in this guide. Using this guide prior to contacting Brunswick’s Technical Support will not only speed
your troubleshooting efforts, but will give Brunswick’s technicians valuable information should calling
Technical Support be necessary.
This guide contains owcharts to help the mechanic quickly solve common problems that may be
encountered. It is assumed that the troubleshooter is familiar with the components and terminology
used in the Sync system and the basic operation of a multimeter and cable testers. For additional
information about these topics, consult the various sections of this manual or the instruction manual
that was sent with the multimeter or tester.
TROUBLESHOOTING TECHNIQUES
Troubleshooting the computers and electronics that make up a scoring system can be a challenging
task. The symptoms exhibited by a problem may be a caused by hardware issues such as faulty cabling,
damaged circuit boards, or bad connections, it can be attributed to software issues such as improper
setup, faulty conguration, or a software glitch, or it can even be a onetime event that causes the
problem.
To make matters worse it may be a combination of these things. Despite these seemingly endless
possibilities, anyone can troubleshoot if they use a systematic approach and ask the right questions.
Without a systematic approach you risk wasting valuable time and resources.
Your approach to the problem is just as important as what you do to diagnose it. The most important
thing to remember is to remain calm and take your time. It is not unusual to have your mind ooded
with possible causes and solutions. The challenge is take the time to determine which of these ideas
make sense. Keep an open mind and explore all possible causes for the problem, but make sure to
follow only those possibilities that are related to the problem. If you nd yourself getting tired or
frustrated, take a break (if possible) and try again later. Finally, don’t be stubborn about seeking help if
you need it.
Preparation
It is inevitable that something will happen that will require troubleshooting and the setup, replacement,
or repair of components in your scoring system. Therefore it is important to prepare for that day. What
good is nding the cause of a problem if you don’t have the knowledge, equipment, or parts to x it?
Knowledge
The more you know about your system before problems occur the easier it will be to troubleshoot. You
can nd specic information in the Sync Scoring System Service manual supplied with the system
(or download the most recent revision from www.brunswickbowling.com). Related information about
computer hardware, software, and networking can be found on the internet or in local bookstores.
Either way having the knowledge in advance can save you time later.
Another source of information is other mechanics. Their experience may help you understand the
system better and give you insight to diagnose problems faster. A few web sites dedicated to bowling
center maintenance even include forums through which mechanics can communicate. One word of
caution, the information obtained from these types of sources may come from an uniformed or biased
person. If necessary, solicit advice from more than one person.
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