The zip tie means that the game probably still has the original batteries installed. replace them and it should fix your problem.

Go ahead and clip the wire tie to change batteries. Consider getting a remote battery pack to prevent leaking batteries from damaging your board. The kind with the wood dowel rods i think would work best for your situation. Someone that posts here makes them, i forget who.

You can use regular AA. If you change them regularly (every year or two) it's fine. No battery leaks after two years. Some of the earlier posts are referring to a remote battery holder to move them away from the boards in case they do leak. No need for that if you change them.

Stern, Sega, and Data East games are perfect candidates for an anyPin NVRAM Battery Eliminator...

http://LockWhenLit.com/anyPin.htm

No soldering required, just remove original RAM and batteries and install anyPin.

No-Solder Remote Battery Holders also available from the Products page.

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

Regular AA batteries is what it takes. I would recommend also to get either a remote battery holder or as Rob suggested a NVRAM setup (even better). I personally don't like having the batteries on the board, just in case they decide to leak.

The AA's are correct. You remind me of myself, ah... the good old days of six months ago. TSPP was my first pin as well. The upper right flipper stopped working after a week so I decided to lift the playfield. I was like, "WTF!.. all these wires!" Fast forward to now, I just drilled out some rivets on my POTC to fix the ship motor, works great now by the way. Welcome to the beginning of a great hobby.

Steve