HELP! Gottlieb STARGATE problem!

qbass187

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Hey guys,
I just picked up a Gottlieb STARGATE today and I thoroughly played it before i worked out a deal to buy it. We loaded it up and I brought it home.
When I plugged it in at my house all I get is some random garbage/hieroglyphics on the DMD, there is a loud and piercing beep, the light ring was flashing, and all the playfield lights were on solid.

I'm at a loss for what's going on. It wasn't mishandled in anyway, all the connectors are in place, nothing came undone in transit. Plus, I have ZERO knowledge about Gottlieb pins as I only have had Williams. I don know that this was a re-import is that makes any difference.

I'm bummed out because my 8 year old and I were looking forward to playing this thing tonight but...

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,
ERIC
 
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Start here: Unplug all of the connectors and replug them in on the boards.
Next check all of the fuses. Once this is done report back. Sometimes connectors can come loose in moving. Sometimes they back off just enough to cause issues.
 
PS: I think if you hit both flippers buttons before starting a game it will stop the "shoot the pyramid" callout most of the time. I could be wrong in the buttons/timing, but if I find exactly I will post.
 
Start here: Unplug all of the connectors and replug them in on the boards.
Next check all of the fuses. Once this is done report back. Sometimes connectors can come loose in moving. Sometimes they back off just enough to cause issues.

I did all that you suggested and still nothing. :(
Any other ideas? I really appreciate the help.
Thanks, ERIC
 
got to be something was tugged when the backbox was laid down, just enough where you cant see it

also check in the cabinet for any loose connectors
no telling where something came undone just a scosh

Yeah, thats what I thought. The first thing I did was check all the connections.
Thanks for the suggestion though Gatz.

I might try looking again in a little while just to triple check.
 
Pinball machines really hate to be moved.

That being said - what's your line voltage like at the outlet? Use a DMM.

With the heat wave, I have been running at 106vAC during the day instead of the 121vAC I get normally.

Low line voltage can cause some crazy behavior, not just resets.

RussM
 
Was Russ said is a good posibility and something I would check!

The connectors: Did you actually unplug/plug them back in or just check them? When I got my MSF home I had the same issue and one of the connectors had backed off just enough to not be visible issue, but cause issues.
 
Russ, I think you might have something there. I was able to play a full game all of a sudden and then it went back and started doing it again. Then it worked again seems like some wierd power issues. I'm going to check the +5 tomorrow and see what happens.
I'll report back.
Thanks guys!
 
Stargate is really sensitive to low voltage. I was playing mine last weekend and noticed that it was having trouble getting the ball up to the upper flipper during multiball and the VUKs were having trouble kicking the ball up to the wireforms. I checked my voltage at the wall and I had 114-115 when I normally have 121-122. If your line voltage is low, you could be having problems with it booting.
 
Check the wall socket first and even try plugging it into a different socket.

Already tried that. Wanted to make sure it wasn't the power strip so I plugged into the wall and THEN ran an extension cord to another part of the house to make double sure.
Great suggestion though.
 
Stargate is really sensitive to low voltage. I was playing mine last weekend and noticed that it was having trouble getting the ball up to the upper flipper during multiball and the VUKs were having trouble kicking the ball up to the wireforms. I checked my voltage at the wall and I had 114-115 when I normally have 121-122. If your line voltage is low, you could be having problems with it booting.

Yeah, when I checked it when it first happened I was getting 117. I haven't checked again since I was able to play it some.
 
What was the fix for your stargate if you remember for people with future system 3 problems? Was it the PSU or the grounding?

There was no solution.
It just started working and it never happened again. I moved it a bunch of times after that too and never had an issue again.

Just one of those weird things I guess.
 
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