The game has power but will not begin a game.
Game will not start: shorted switch or energised coil
Cause: A tilt or slam switch held closed, a playfield switch stuck closed, or a solenoid already energised.
Checks
- Check the tilt and slam switches.
- Look under the playfield for any switch held shut.
- Look for any solenoid plunger pulled in before a game starts (relays on EMs can be on normally; solenoids should not be).
Fix
- Free or re-gap the stuck switch.
- If a solenoid is on, switch off at once before it burns, and find the switch or driver holding it on.
Systems
- Williams System 3
- Williams System 4
- Williams System 6 / 6A
- Williams System 7
- Williams System 9
- Williams System 11
- Williams System 11A
- Williams System 11B
- Williams System 11C
- WPC Alpha-Numeric
- WPC Dot Matrix
- WPC Fliptronics
- WPC DCS
- WPC-Security (WPC-S)
- WPC-95
- Bally MPU AS-2518-17
- Bally MPU AS-2518-35
- Stern MPU-100
- Stern MPU-200
- Bally 6803
- Gottlieb System 1
- Gottlieb System 80
- Gottlieb System 80A
- Gottlieb System 80B
- Gottlieb System 3
- Data East CPU Version 1/2
- Data East CPU Version 3
- Data East/Sega CPU Version 3b
- Capcom
- Electro-mechanical
Related tips
- Game ends or will not start: stuck slam or tilt switch
- Finding a switch column shorted to a power circuit
- Cleaning leaf switch contacts
- Leaf switch gap and damping blade
- Finding which switch is shorted to a power circuit (U20 socket probe)
Source: Pinball Machine Care & Maintenance, Bernard B. Kamoroff (Bell Springs Pinball Alley)