Need help with MEI

[BigJ]

Hello,

I have a a2000 mei bill acceptor. Currently it is throwing a 5 blink error that there’s no magazine. I’ve cleaned the bill acceptor and magazine thinking theres dirt on the sensors. It didn’t help. I had an extra magazine off of an old broken mei that was laying around. That seemed to fix it until I started getting calls that the machine was taking money.

What should my next step be in trouble shooting? Would purchasing a brand new magazine solve this problem? The bill validator is a refurbished unit. Im trying to avoid spending the money on a new validator as I’m getting out of the business but if thats what it needs to be then so be it.

 

[Keno]

What kind of machine is this in? For us, if the mei is eating money, it has been that the wire harness slipped out a little bit and is not fully seated into the validator. Or you can send it in for repair.

 

[Randy]

Hello,

I have a a2000 mei bill acceptor. Currently it is throwing a 5 blink error that there’s no magazine. I’ve cleaned the bill acceptor and magazine thinking theres dirt on the sensors. It didn’t help. I had an extra magazine off of an old broken mei that was laying around. That seemed to fix it until I started getting calls that the machine was taking money.

What should my next step be in trouble shooting? Would purchasing a brand new magazine solve this problem? The bill validator is a refurbished unit. Im trying to avoid spending the money on a new validator as I’m getting out of the business but if thats what it needs to be then so be it.

The AE2000 validator bill boxes have to be on the validator for the validator to work. The box has a clear prism at the front bottom of the bill box, this prism has to be intact for the validator to work. By telling me that the validator will accept money but not pay out is telling me that you've go a problem with the validator its self. What are you using this validator in, coin box or bill changer. Buying a new bill box will not solve your problem. Who refurbished the validator?

 

[Bricks]

I just got a second call that the MEI on my Hamilton changer did not pay out. It was a $5 bill both times.

 

[Keno]

I just got a second call that the MEI on my Hamilton changer did not pay out. It was a $5 bill both times.

Make sure all your harnesses are plugged in all the way. If that doesn't work, put in spare validator and test.

 

[Bricks]

Make sure all your harnesses are plugged in all the way. If that doesn't work, put in spare validator and test.

Spare validator lol? Yeah gonna order one asap. Thank you for the advice about the harnesses

 

[Keno]

Spare validator lol? Yeah gonna order one asap. Thank you for the advice about the harnesses

Yep, not kidding about spare validator, we have parts to basically rebuild all of our changers if needed. The changer is the lifeblood of the wash - can't have it down for days waiting for parts or stealing people's $. We bought spares slowly as we found deals on good used parts.

The changer stealing customer $ is a quick way to lose customers for good.

 

[Bricks]

Yep, not kidding about spare validator, we have parts to basically rebuild all of our changers if needed. The changer is the lifeblood of the wash - can't have it down for days waiting for parts or stealing people's $. We bought spares slowly as we found deals on good used parts.

The changer stealing customer $ is a quick way to lose customers for good.

I couldn’t agree more. I’ve just been putting it off. I have three spare touchless autos and five pLC cabinets and probably four pump stands in my shed. I have many sta validators. I just thought these mars were a little more ironclad.

 

[Randy]

After a Mei/Mars validator has been in service for a number of years the capacitors on the main board become weak and this causes the validator to have acceptance issues or not accept at all. You never know when they are going to fail It might be 2 year or 5 years. The same thing with LED TV's the most common failure is with the capacitors.

 

[akellums1]

I just had a similar issue with my Rowe BC1400. The MEI validator was eating bills and not dispensing any change. Did not matter the denomination of the bill. This happened after I changed the front decal and had to remove all of the "guts" of the unit. After a frustrating two days, changing out the power supply, swapping validators and still no luck, I decided to open the wire harness shroud that connects to the validator. I found that two of the wires in the harness had come loose (there are several connection points on the harness (not a great design if you ask me). After reconnecting and soldiering them the unit worked perfectly.
In the past I have also had acceptance issues with the validators and found that removing and cleaning the prism on the bill magazine can help as well cleaning the removable reader portion where the four wheels are. Hope this helps...

 

[mcarter1990]

Well after visiting today I found the problem. My water softer ball valve control went bad. So the complete car wash was starved of water.

Thanks for everyone helps.