Turn the machine off then on. If it beeps that there's an error code, you have *some* issue. Honestly, if you have no knowledge of this it's probably better that you take someone that does have knowledge of this with you. There is a lot more to buying pinball machines than error codes. The playfield may be warped, have water damage, boards may have damage but all appear to work, etc. I'd definitely take someone that knows whats going on with you, and I would never allow my 12 yr old to buy a pinball on his own

As a previous SS owner, here are a few things to watch for.

Cab is very prone to fade.

Check for wear in front of crate, spider hole, crate kick out. Check for burn on left ramp (bony beast) from flasher underneath it. Make sure spider wheel spins. Check the bony beast ramp on the right side for cracks/breaks from the VUK. Sling plastics will likely have small cracks. Bony flippers. Play the heck out of it before purchase.

To run the self test, turn machine on. Open coin door. Hit far right button, this will report any errors.

Hard to say what to do after that, because it all depends on what errors pop up (switches, etc.)

I think you can download the manual online (pdf) and have a look at it.

Best bet is to take someone with more knowledge with you.

Good luck! Great pin. I will own it again once the kids are older.

Have one - good game

1) Metal brace to prevent bony beast ramp on the right side from cracks/breaks from the VUK
2) DeadHeads skulls - LED lights in skulls, Candle lights
3) Eyeball shooter
4) Boogieman on slings
5) Glow in the dark Bony beast - bones

Take some pics when you can

Turn the machine off. Turn it on. Look for a dot after the # of credits, or Free Play.

If it shows a period after the # of credits or free play, it means there is an error logged in the machine. Could be minor, could be major.

Open the coin door. Press the button marked enter. It will display any errors the machine has. The errors could be something minor, like 'time and date not set', which means the clock needs to be set in the machine. It could be a switch error, which is not uncommon and often, but not always, is easily fixed.

Download the manual here:

http://mirror2.ipdb.org/files/3915/Bally_1996_Scared_Stiff_Manual.pdf

Read through the section titled 'Test Menu', and perform the tests.

Let your senses be your guide as well. Is the game fun to play? Is it clean, dirty, or in between?

Open coin door, see four buttons labeled begin test, service credits, and + and -.

Push begin test once, any errors the machine tracks show up then. Push again to enter area where adjustments, utilities, tests are.

Stop on tests. Hit the + button to go through switches, coils, flashers, etc. Stop on one you want and hit begin tests. For coils and flashers - enable the high power interlock on coin door.

To escape anything hit service credits.

Check the Internet Pinball Database for manual to help you, pictures of diagnostic switches to familiarize yourself.

Since you are new to this, I would run coil tests - cycle through them, same with flashers, and all lamps test - it flashes them on and off.

I wouldn't get too fancy since you don't know what you are doing. Just some basics to make you happy.

If you think you really mucked things up, turn the game off and then back on to get to attract mode.

LTG

Don't forget to look in the backbox to see if the batteries are good and that there's no evidence of previous battery leakage. Always replace the batteries (about once a year), while the game is turned on.