POTC Stern baffling battle ship !

[Slingshot99]

Hi, my Pirate ship has developed a fault whereby it acts as though it’s been hit, ie the sails go down, the score goes up and eventually the ship sinks, even though the ball is nowhere near it and usually down the bottom of the pf. I’m not great technically on SS as I’m more an EM guy but if you use ‘Pinball for dummies’ language I’ll give fault finding a go. Which reminds me that nothings coming up on the errors page. TIA

 

[Fubar]

Sounds like an issue with switch #61 (ship made). That's an opto so first port of call would be to simply clean both sides - use a cotton swab with a bit of isopropyl alcohol.

See pages 4-5 of the manual here: https://sternpinball.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Pirates_of_the_Caribbean_Manual.pdf

Have you found the switch test mode in the service menu?

 

[Slingshot99]

Thanks Thomas & yes found the switch test. That reminded me that I tested the ship up and down a few times and all was well and when I went back to play it the machine was fine and the ship stable. Left it a while before I played it again and the fault returned.

 

[Fubar]

Can you replicate the fault in switch test? With the glass off, slap the playfield with the palm of your hand a few times. (I find it's also quite therapeutic !)

If that doesn't help, try triggering every other switch in the same row or column, one at a time. If one of them also activates #61, then you have some kind of switch matrix short (broken diode or whatnot).

 

[Slingshot99]

Can you replicate the fault in switch test? With the glass off, slap the playfield with the palm of your hand a few times. (I find it's also quite therapeutic !)

If that doesn't help, try triggering every other switch in the same row or column, one at a time. If one of them also activates #61, then you have some kind of switch matrix short (broken diode or whatnot).

That sounds like a plan Thomas, I’ll get onto that tomorrow and post my findings. Cheers