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Help with a System 3

MajesticPinball

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Joined
Jan 11, 2018
Messages
2,292
Location
Essex
Alias
James Reed
I've got a customer who has a Street Fighter 2 and it's giving me a real hard time. He called me out as he could smell something burning the last time the machine was used. I've replaced 2 coils that were completely burnt to a crisp, fixed a GI short and now I'm stuck banging my head against the wall.

Right now the Q/game relay does not fire at all when a game is started (the coil has been tested and even swapped to another position and is works) I have the left upkicker coil locking on as soon as the game is powered up - for now I disconnected it. The ball release coil in the trough doesn't fire at the start of a game either but all coils work work during a burn-in test (obviously besides the one that locks on)

When you try to start a game it boots up players and then goes straight into ball search, after about 5 seconds the machine displays "balls stuck call service person". Also in the switch test the machine is reporting probably about 20 switches as inoperative yet none of them complete a row or column in the switch matrix.

I reflowed solder on the ground board by the transformer to ensure there's no ground issues which seem to plague system 3 machines. Do any Gottlieb gurus have any suggestions on where to start?System 3s are not my specialist subject so starting to feel a little lost with this one!

James
 
Game has to detect the balls are in place in the trough before it will start. Your problem is that the switch matrix is dead, hence switch test showing 20 odd switches at fault. It is a fault I have rectified before but was nearly 5 years ago and can I remember...

I have a vague recollection that it may be a blown fuse (!) or connector issue...
 
@Moonraker I've gone through all the fuses and they're all good. The locked coil I'm presuming is a dead transistor so I'm not so worried about that but the rest of the issues are bizarre. Is it safe to presume there's a connector somewhere at fault then?
 
Also test fuse holders as well as fuses..!

I'd disconnect the solenoids until the switch matrix is sorted then find out if any are locked on and if so replace MOSFET as poibug says.
 
Lamp problem can cause switch matrix issues


Locked on coil is probably a locked on mosfet


So you reckon I've got a shorted light in the lamp matrix somewhere? I did notice a bulb that was flickering every now and again during the burn in test, almost looked like it was ghosting, could that be the problem holder?
 
As poi says read the information available to you.

Gottlieb system 3 games use a shared lamp matrix and switch matrix strobe, so start by disconnecting the lamp matrix return connector to isolate possible issues. ie a shorted or problem lamp matrix can affect the switch matrix on this era of games. Without doing this first, you are chasing your tale somewhat.
 
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