Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Gottlieb, 1978): faults and System 1 replacement boards
Does your Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Gottlieb, 1978) tilt as soon as you switch it on, are the displays dark or does a fuse blow under the flippers? This Gottlieb wide-body based on Steven Spielberg's film is built on System 1. Here are the typical faults reported on the forums and the battery-free replacement solutions.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind overview
Released in 1978, the Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a Gottlieb solid-state "wide-body" pinball built on System 1. Inspired by the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, it features UFOs and an alien encounter, and includes a rotating target (roto-target).
- Manufacturer: Gottlieb
- Year: 1978
- System: Gottlieb System 1
- Type: solid state (wide-body, alphanumeric displays)
- Theme: science fiction, UFO, the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Common faults (System 1)
The Gottlieb System 1 shares a set of well-known weaknesses, regardless of the game:
- Leaking battery: the NiCad battery soldered onto the MPU board leaks over time and corrodes traces and components. It's the number-one fault — remove it without delay.
- Poor grounding: the original ground wiring is undersized and causes resets and erratic behaviour (the "ground mods" are practically mandatory).
- Corroded connectors: the Molex connectors, especially the MPU↔Driver link (46 pins), lose contact and need re-pinning.
- Power supply: unstable 5 V, tired bridge rectifiers and an overheating transformer lead to crashes.
- Displays: digits that fade, flicker or stay frozen at zero.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind-specific problems (forums)
- Tilt at start-up: the tilt relay trips at every power-on (lamps out, flippers dead); holding it in lets the game start — a sign of a fault to correct on the tilt and grounds side.
- Displays dead even after a CPU swap: check the power supply and the display connectors before blaming the board.
- L-shaped chassis power supply: the 5 V section is a weak point; the 5 V pass transistor mounted on the back of the chassis often has faulty solder joints to redo.
- Wrong reset coil: fitting a 3-4 target bank coil instead of the correct one (5 targets) can blow the U1 chip at reset.
- Fuses under the flippers: blown fuses under the playfield prevent the kicker (ball launch) from working at the start of a game.
- Stubborn boot: some machines refuse to start even after ground mods, re-pinning, defeating the slam switch and changing the power-supply caps — also think of the rotating target and the specific sound board.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind-compatible replacement boards
The Close Encounters of the Third Kind is built on the Gottlieb System 1, a platform known to be fragile (leaking battery, weak grounds, oxidised connectors). Pinballs Store offers battery-free replacement solutions to make it reliable again:
- Gosof — replacement sound board.
For a CPU/Driver board dedicated to System 1, contact us: we'll point you to the best solution for your Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Plug & Play installation, battery-free, free support.
FAQ — Close Encounters of the Third Kind Gottlieb
What year was the Close Encounters of the Third Kind released?
In 1978. It's a Gottlieb solid-state wide-body pinball (System 1) inspired by Steven Spielberg's film.
Why does my Close Encounters tilt at power-on?
The tilt relay trips as soon as power is applied: check the tilt mechanism, the grounds and the connectors. A replacement board and the ground mods make start-up reliable for good.
Should I remove the battery from the MPU board?
Yes, immediately. The original NiCad battery eventually leaks and destroys the board. A battery-free replacement board permanently eliminates this risk.
Is there a replacement board for the Close Encounters of the Third Kind?
Yes. Contact us for the right System 1 CPU/Driver solution; installation is Plug & Play, battery-free, with free support.
How long does it take to install a replacement board?
Installation is Plug & Play: a few minutes, no soldering, with tutorials and free support.
Does a battery-free board keep the settings and high scores?
Yes. Modern replacement boards use non-volatile memory: no more battery, no more corrosion, and the settings are kept when powered off.
Step-by-step diagnosis
- Power off, visual inspection: look for any battery or corrosion marks on the MPU of your Close Encounters of the Third Kind; remove the NiCad battery if it is still present.
- Power supply: measure the 5 V and check that it reaches the MPU (re-solder the regulator or Q1 if the voltage drops).
- Grounds: apply the “ground mods” between the boards (CPU, Driver, power supply, sound).
- Connectors: re-pin the oxidised Molex connectors, especially the MPU↔Driver link.
- Displays: never plug or unplug a display while powered on; test with a known-good display.
- Final test: check start-up, credits, coils and displays; if needed, contact the free support.
See also
- Cleopatra (Gottlieb, 1977)
- Sinbad (Gottlieb, 1978)
- Pinball Pool (Gottlieb, 1979)
- Genie (Gottlieb, 1979)
