UPDATE: Nobody could have seen this coming, but Stewie was actually unplugged!
Haha thanks purplemunkydishw and Williampinball , you are both right.
I made sure the connector can't get loose anymore.

Stewie works now, but it does act a bit odd.. twitchy or something. The software version is 11.0, is this something an update would fix?

I have the same version so I wouldn't know if they fixed that in the new one or not but that's great it was a easyer fix

Stewie is supposed to be twitchy. He will swing to one side or another then stop, then get twitchy, then swing back. It's normal.

QSS

Man I miss this game .Traded plus $ for NIB LZprem ,which Im loving but that was the worst moment I’ve had in this hobby letting that go .Someday it will be back home .Someday I say !

I am thinking that's why it was unplugged but I like my and I don't mind it at all great game as a keeper

Before and after

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Hi Everyone -
I'm Andy and based in the UK; a proud 'new' owner of this game and my first Pinball Machine. It was kindly bought as a surprise birthday present for me by my wife, and installed at home just a few days ago. We have fond memories of playing this with our nephews in Florida quite a few years back, so it's always been a favourite of ours. Having flicked through the game manual, and looked around the internet I can see the learning curve is going to be pretty steep to get my head around all the terminology let alone understand the inner workings for maintenance.

If anyone has the time and patience to help me with a couple of things I would be most appreciative, I have reached out to the supplier that my wife sourced the item machine and so far the responses have not resulted in successful resolution.

1) Stewie isn't moving at all during the game or during mini-pb.
When I select the 'F.G icon' within in the Diagnostics menu, no further menu options open on screen as per the manual, the menu just makes an acknowledgement sound that a button was pressed. I have also ensured the power interlock is in the correct position, as I have run the other diagnostics tests ok. I have taken a 'poor' photo's where I think that Stewie is plugged in and the rear cabinet to show some unplugged cables?

2) UK V2.0 is showing on boot, so I have attempted to update this to V12 from the Stern website. My USB stick appears to be recognised as it has allowed me to back up the existing system files and can see the V12 .bin on the USB for me to select it. But the update never goes further than an 'erase failed' message. Photos attached and a video uploaded if the link works as a new member.

Thank you kindly in advance

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did you try the Stewie Motor Test?

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Thanks for replying, yes. When I select the 'F.G icon' within in the Diagnostics menu, no further menu options open on screen as per the manual, the menu just makes an acknowledgement sound that a button was pressed.

Because it's on early code, the Stewie test may be under coils test. Regardless, 2.0 is very early buggy code. Likely won't work, but couldn't hurt to try another USB drive. Smallest drive you can find. If that doesn't work, I would contact Stern.

Thank you phishrace for replying. Coil test #20 is missing from the coils tests list, and does not test on cycle either.
I will try to find a smaller USB, this was a 1GB. Thanks

If anyone has some Family Guy Plastic pieces they are looking to sell, let me know. Seems that you can only order the entire set. I don't need the entire set. The piece I need is the "Shot Scoop to play Stewie Pinball" piece. Mine broke and needs to be replaced. I am also looking for the mini playfield slingshot plastic pieces.

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Is there a protector for that shoot scoop plastic?

1gb is plenty small enough. Try another one roughly that size. Maybe 4gb or smaller.

Thanks again for your help phishrace I've now tried other USB thumb drives I have, formatted them as FAT32 but are not even being recognised when inserted. I'm assuming that is because they are 3.0 whereas the 1gb previously was not. I will see if I can dig out a different 1.1 or 2.0. Thanks

Make sure everything is erased from the USB. No added #, letters, or file names. I use a pnk brand usb without problem.

Hi tp thanks for your input, the more the better for me to try new potential fixes.
Each time I've tried the USB's have been formatted blank to FAT32 and the V12 .bin added to the root only. Thanks

To help hide my cracked plastic, i added a Family Guy TV

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I have now tried further USB thumb drives and the error is the same every time (as per the video) 'erase failed'

You do flip switch 8 dip switch, right?

Yes there is/was a protector made for the scoop. I've got it on my game and I'll check my books as to where I got it. It's an excellent addition to the game if you can even still get one.

QSS

If you can find where that was from, I'd be super appreciative!

Sure did Bublehead thanks,

Stern have replied to the supplier my wife bought the machine from to say, the Boot Rom should be V3.1 and not V2.0 that's in the machine.
As a total noob I have no idea if that's something I can easily swap out if they send me the part, or is more involved and requires more knowledge and skill.

Just a reminder - if anyone would like the UNRELEASED 12.02 Code, PM me your Email & I'll send it to you. It's Free Play Only, so if you're operating your game, you won't want it.

This code fixes the following:
-Sound spike bug fixed. SAM games had a bug where the sound gets crazy loud, and you have to shut off the game to "fix" it. Many games got a code update to squash that bug...for some reason FGY's wasn't released. 12.02 fixes this.
-LARD countdown bug fixed. After Lard Multiball ends, Stewie will sometimes keep counting down for Jackpot, even though the mode is over. 12.02 fixes this.

Ok, give me a day or two and I'll check my books and see if I have a record of where I bought it. Will get back to you shortly.

QSS

PM sent. I want this.

QSS

Apologies for being a needy noob here; I have tried googling this to understand some of the schematics involved but it still isn't quite clear.
Basically after I confirmed to the distributor that the CPU was 520-5246-00 CPU (which is apparently correct) and the Boot ROM installed is V2.0 (V3.1 is apparently what should be present) They have informed me that their UK stern supplier has recommended a CPU replacement, which will take a long time due to the pin being old and parts coming from the USA.

Please excuse my ignorance I honestly have tried reading up to work this out myself, but would replacing the Eprom with a V3.1 that has the most recent Family Guy software version pre installed not possibly resolve the issue? Isn't changing out the whole CPU overkill, bearing in mind they have only seen the video that I've uploaded previously

If the Stewie motor had been working when we received the pin, I'd have never tried to find the Stewie test motor diagnostic to then find out it doesn't even exist in this very early version of the software

The boot rom doesn't contain the game’s code. That rom is burnt on a chip, game code is re-writable using the USB port.

I don’t remember if the boot rom is socketed…but if it is, find someone local who can burn the rom for you. Easy to swap it out. If it’s soldered, you can still probably find someone local to burn & remove the old one, add a socket, then replace.

Thank you Rarehero for clarifying that the boot ROM doesn't contain game code! As the 'erase flash failed' error consistently occurs when trying to update the game via any USB, it now makes more sense why they want to replace the CPU.
Regards
Andy

Merry Christmas to all fartheads!!

Have a brand new complete Family Guy plastic set for sale, please PM if interested.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/family-guy-plastic-set-803-5000-93

Anyone interested in a topper?

Let me know.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/fs-matt-mckee-toppers-csi-lotr-sm-and-family-guy

I was surprised when I found super skill shot in this game. You need to plunge ball on upper left flipped and instantly shot in evil monkey. To receive 1,5 mil points.

Topper is sold.

I have some new plastics for Family Guy if anyone is interested in purchasing. DM me

Have a Stern Family Guy brand new translite for sale.

$75 includes shipping in the US.

Pm me if interested.

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So I switched over to titan rubbers for my posts and slings and now have an issue with the ball getting stuck when going down the right insane between the post and the sling. Anyone else experience this? If so, what was the fix?

Anyone in upstate NY looking to sell, shoot me a PM.

where did you get the space ship?

Anyone have a topper available for sale?

It was an action figure add on

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i just ordered bertram from ebay!!

My Family Guy is giving me some trouble. When we hit Lard MB it goes into the mode but wont launch the second ball. Once we drain the first one it then shoots out two balls.

Any thoughts on how to fix this?

Do you have any warnings in the service menu ?
Have you gone through a switch check (section 3, chapter 2, page 14 of the pdf manual)

Is this also occuring in Fart MB and Stewie MB ?

ill check. on the road rn. just lard mb