Probably a switch closed somewhere when it shouldn't be. Look for any switches that look like they are touching or even just very close to each other. It might just have to be opened up a little.

Hi Beck
here is not the best place to ask Your questions, this: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/forum/tech-em is the place.
You have started here in "restoration questions" -so lets handle THIS topic in here.

I want to be sure we are talking about the same goodies -> http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=2253&picno=8473 near the flipperfingers are the so called "Shooter Coils" (activated by "Shooter Relay"). Quite a bit upwards are the "Eject Coils" (activated by "Eject Relay"). Great, ipdb has schema and manual.

AAA: Do the Shooter Coils "fire / kick" - then let go - after a short period of time again "fire / kick" - then let go --- and on and on ... ?
BBB: Do the Shooter coils "pull-in" and pull and pull and pull - at no time let go ?

I assume You have AAA - therefore I believe within this period of time the Score-Motor turns and turns and turns - am I right ? I look-up -> http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2253 -> manual-page-15 (ori-13) -> I see "Shooter-RELAY" listed as "M 29-1100 mounted on underneathside of playfield". Please turn-on the pin and look at this relay -> CCC: Does is "fire and let go" - again and again and again - as the Score-Motor is turning and turning and turning ? OR - DDD: The Relay pulls-in and never let go ? OR - EEE: The relay never pulls-in.

If You have "AAA and CCC" read-on - IF NOT: Do not read-on.

"AAA and CCC" is (95% chance) caused by a faulty-always closed Switch there (underneath where the ball rests) - it can be either side. Check the contact-points -> are they wide apart / open ? Also check the solder-lugs where the connecting wires are soldered-on -> maybe a drop of solder has fallen there - maybe one blade (and so the the solder-lug) is bent and makes contact (?).

Some theory: Williams lets You start a new game ONLY when the game before has ended "normal" - means all ball have been played - last ball rolls into the Outhole (between the flippers) and the Game-Over-(Interlock)-Relay has tripped and the Game-Over-Light in the Backbox is illuminated.
If the player has ended the game before "abnormal" - lets say the 2nd ball has landed in the "Shooter place" -> player bangs a SEVERE TILT -> the game is ended - BUT the ball is (in the shooter place) - the ball is NOT in the Outhole. So before starting a new game: Williams WANTS to have the ball in the Outhole - in some way the brain of the pin gets the information: ball is in Shooter place -> so the brain of the pin orders: Out, out, out --- then we can start a new game ...

Please write about AAA, BBB, CCC, DDD, EEE - and write about "Switches underneath the Shooter place". Greetings Rolf

Read this about 100 times. http://www.pinrepair.com/em/

Hi Beck
You may have eliminated the fault -> no need for the brain to order "Out, out, out - kick the ball out of 'Shooter place' so it does roll into the Outhole - so we can start a new game".
Quite often people describe the situation like "NOTHING works on the playfield - except (the only functioning thing is : ) Eject-Hole(s) / Shooter-Places".

Theory: http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2253 -> schema -> Transformer -> at schema-D2 the wire (upwards -> fuse -> upwards and to the right -> wire-BLACK -> -> -> at E-14 and E-15 you see "Switches on Game-Over-Relay and Reset-Relay and Tilt-Relay". Stuff that is near / towards the transformer (to the left) can operate --- Stuff that is further away (to the right): No Operation in "Game-Over-Mode / at reset / when the player made a Tilt".

Are there paper-tags telling the name of a specific relay ? The Coin-Relay in my Space Mission is in the long row behind the Chime / Transformer - the second-last, see: http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=2253&picno=26326 on the right - far away from the player.

Toggle-on the main power-switch - NOW BE VERY CAREFUL - DO NOT TOUCH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS -> press the armature / anchor-plate on COIN-Relay - what happens ?
(((My Space Mission starts a new game -> resets -> transportx the ball to the Shooter-Alley - OK - no ball-transport as I have taken out the ball and have lifted the playfield))) Greetings Rolf

This is a duplicate thread with https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/help-with-startup

Thread closed, please use the link.