The game will not start (often with blank displays), serves more than one ball, or has no multiball.
Multiball game will not start: ball or trough switch out of place
Cause: These games need every ball in place before a game starts; a stuck or missing ball or a broken trough switch wire stops them (page 44).
Checks
- Check the trough and outhole switches in switch test.
Fix
- Free the ball, add a missing ball, or repair the trough switch wire.
Systems
Related tips
- Game starts but will not serve a ball to the shooter lane
- Multiball balls not released, game loses track of balls: trough switch actuators
- Vector: trough switches
- Boots with 7 flashes but won't start a game or play its tune: outhole ball switch
- Xenon: ball release switches
- Centaur, Fathom and Fireball II start-up switches
- Gold ball and play ball both end up in the normal trough: gold ball switch wire bent
- Coils fire in test but trough and popups don't work in a game: trough switches
Source: Repairing Bally Electronic Pinball Games from 1977 to 1985, Part Three, Clay Harrell (pinrepair.com)