Fail Sensors - Sensor ufA

[moep]

Hi Guys,

I bought a used Mach II GT a while ago, it was fairly new (273 hours when i got it), but I had a few problems getting it running.

Whenever I tried to switch it on, the Temperature rapidly went to -99°C and the Mach then shut the compressor off, telling me that the Sensor failed ("Fail Sensors - Sensor ufA"). I called the previous owner, which told me that he had the problem a few times as well. I should just reflash the firmware and it'd work fine again.

Well, I flashed the Firmware (798) and it did work fine indeed... for about three weeks, now I've got the same problem again.

However, reflashing the Firmware didn't help this time. I'm still getting weird temperature readings and the "Fail Sensors" Error now and then.

I checked the Sensor with an external Thermometer and a Multimeter:

It's fine and always reads the temp correctly.

Looks like a Firmware/Controller Issue, I guess? Any ideas?

 

[moep]

Well, I tried to boot the machine with the power button connected directly to the mobo - it works fine, the mach II gt then starts running and shows the NO SHUTDOWN message as it can't shutdown the pc. The Temp is still at -99°C.

When I boot into windows and flash the Firmware two times in a row, the mach starts working properly and shows the correct temps... until I switch the PC off again. Looks like it seems to "loose" the Firmware whenever it's shut off... is the PCB Toast?

 

[fatty]

You want to hope it isnt toast mate cant replace em I would try the 824 I think it is the newer firmware and flash to that

 

[moep]

I tried that was well - AFAIK all it does is to fix some bootup issues with an AMD64 mobo (I'm using a i865 AS8 though).

The whole Controller is starting to act up real bad. The rear fan wasn't recognized for a while and ran very slowly... it still shows weird temps as well.

Everything seems to get worse every time i reboot or reflash... If I switch the Unit on the normal way (connect PW-Switch to Mach, Mach to Mobo) the LCD simply switches on the BG-Light and shows nothing at all on the screen.

Same thing now happens if I flash a new Firmware - it successfully finishes the "Bootloading" procedure and then simply shuts off and shows nothing on the screen, even though the BG-Light is on.

I've found a temporary workaround though - if I plug the Mach into the mains and switch on the PC directly on the mobo, the Mach starts and cools just fine... even though it shows all kind of weird errors while running (right now the LCD shows "NO MAINS" and "-77°C"... even though the unit cools just fine) and won't be recognized by the MCC. Sounds like the PCB is shot, right?

Damn, this unit had just 273 hours on it when I bought it, I'm now at 320...

Is there really no way to get a hold of a Mach II PCB? Awww, what a pain in the back.

 

[dillingerdan]

I've no idea if you'll find this helpful! But I had a similarish problem where my controller was stuck at the other end of the temperature spectrum Except extremely high!

It would report temps of +80C and would get stuck whilst running at around +70C and sometimes start counting up again! It went on for ages and every now and then it would recalibrate but then after I shut the machine down **** up again!

After a while I got annoyed and took the Mach II off my system and left it under my desk for a while! I then decided about 2 weeks later to test it so I plugged it in at the wall and watched the temps! They were floating at around 24-28C again which is what it used to do before it ****ed up and so I started it up using a screw driver on the jumper and watched if it would boot correctly! It ran down to -33 and started perfectly before switching itself off again because it wasn't connected to the system! I then tested it about 5-10 times a day and it has been fine ever since! This was about 2 months ago and it is working perfectly although still under my desk!

I would suggest you leave it for a little while totally unplugged for a week or two and see what happens! It's worth a try!

 

[moep]

Thanks a lot for the input... that sounds like the same problem that I'm experiencing. Mine also recalibrates every now and then... until the next reboot.

Sounds like the Mach kind of cleared it's "CMOS" or whatever it uses to save it's settings.

I wonder if there's another way to do this, besides letting it unplugged for a few weeks?

 

[Animal]

Yep i have a same prob with mine...

Personly i think its in all the old Mach2GT's cos as of late im reading this prob everywhere...

Personly i just leave mine on 24/7 and it seems ok but if i reboot it fuks up..

 

[moep]

weird... my Mach II GT works fine again. I don't know why, but the temps on the LCD were going down to where they were before (-51°C) while I was playing UT2004, so I decided to give it a shot and make a cold reboot.

I connected everything as usual (powerswitch -> mach -> motherboard) and the Mach started to cool down as usual, showing the correct temps and booting up the machine at the -40°C that I set it to. It now works again without a hitch... I didn't plug it off or reflash it lately, though.

Guess it's just a matter of time till the issue is back, but for now I'm a happy camper...

 

[moep]

The issue is back - it starts showing weird temps again.

If anyone ever gets a hold of a broken Mach II or has a working PCB for me, please let me know. Thanks guys...

 

[iceto]

I have the same problem.

Is there any solution for this problem?

 

[fatty]

I guess the only thing to do is find out the model and make of the sensors then fit new ones

 

[iceto]

i've found this:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-21794.html

i hope it will help.

 

[Phil Stanbridge]

I'll speak to the manufacturer regards this tomorrow. Stay tuned.