Hi all-

I have a Gottlieb hot shots, 1989.

Bottom left of Playfield there’s a “kick save” feature. It is not working. When the light is lit, and the ball rolls over the wire - the appropriate sound is played. Coil doesn’t fire (because the fuse is blown)

Because The fuse blows after the system boots up/game starts I’ve temporarily wired in a circuit breaker in place of the fuse. If I reset the breaker while the game is “in play”, the coil immediately fires and stays energized until the breaker trips (1-2 seconds)

Coil is new (proper Gottlieb parts) diode tests fine. Coil is wired properly

I’m feeling like it’s a transistor failure?

I have replace the “bottle cap” transistor on the small board in the lower cabinet. But i can’t identify if there transistor on the A3 driver board. is there a 2n6043 (or similar) on the a3 driver board in back box?

It’s also strange that the coil for the kick save is not listed as part of the “solenoid test” list.....

I can find THIS assembly listed using EACH of the following terms: (annoying - why different terms for same thing!?)
-kick save
-left our rollover save ball if lit
-bottom left shooter

Any thoughts?

What else should I be looking for.

Thx
Pete

6CF90CC3-DAF1-484F-A080-782DAD54F91E (resized).jpeg

image (resized).jpg

Yes - there’s a small driver board in the lower cabinet, board 2a16. 2 transistors/drivers on this board. one of which is at position #q3 and is part number 2n5879. I already replaced this with a new one. (This section of the schematic is shown in the photo in my original post above)

Regarding L15 that you mention in your post - there’s no L15 in the manual. See attached photo of the switch/lamp assignments page below. So I have no clue what that is you’re looking at in the parts catalog. Such a pain!

Since the coil wants to energize/stay energized when the breaker is reset - whatever is supposed to suppress/interrupts the circuit is failing. I have very limited understanding of these things, but that makes me think it’s the transistor/driver. (If this was an EM I would simply find the stuck switch. But - I guess it’s not that easy here

image (resized).jpg

Wow. Nice job. I think I see what you’re referring to.

This? Q16?

2DE97D95-D26A-4EC3-AAB6-800BEF975FF4 (resized).jpeg

3525CD47-0709-44D8-88F2-AB2A2C7AB3F2 (resized).jpeg

Thank you for your help. I must have had severe tunnel vision and never would have seen that.

Parts ordered. I’ll provide an update once repaired

Pete