Solar Ride (Gottlieb, 1979): faults and System 1 replacement boards

June 27, 2026

Does your Solar Ride (Gottlieb, 1979) fail to start, are the displays stuck at zero or do the flippers and bumpers no longer respond? This Gottlieb pinball with a solar/space theme is built on System 1. Here are the typical faults reported on the forums and the battery-free replacement solutions.

Solar Ride overview

Released in 1979, the Solar Ride is a Gottlieb solid-state pinball built on System 1. Its theme highlights solar energy and a space-age, futuristic aesthetic.

Manufacturer: Gottlieb
Year: 1979
System: Gottlieb System 1
Type: solid state (alphanumeric displays)
Theme: solar energy, space, futuristic

Gottlieb System 1 MPU board — Solar Ride — The MPU board drives the entire Gottlieb System 1.

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.

Battery corrosion on a Gottlieb System 1 board — Solar Ride — Typical NiCad battery corrosion on System 1: the number-one fault to fix.

Solar Ride-specific problems (forums)

Refusal to start: two major causes — damage from a battery that leaked on the MPU, or a slam switch left open.
MPU↔Driver connector: the 46 pins of this link oxidise; re-pinning them (Molex tool required) is often essential.
Temperamental displays: everything stays at zero even when you add a credit, with flicker and an illegible score; sometimes the display returns to normal after a few minutes of warm-up.
No more flippers or bumpers: coils that don't respond, often on the Driver and grounds side, sometimes with a "Game Over" appearing mid-game.
Dead door buttons: the coin-door contacts no longer react (connector or ground).
Battery hard to remove: the onboard NiCad battery is soldered by several legs and tricky to take off — but it absolutely must go.

Solar Ride-compatible replacement boards

The Solar Ride 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.

Gosof sound board for Gottlieb System 1 — Solar Ride — The Gosof sound board: battery-free replacement, Plug & Play installation.

For a CPU/Driver board dedicated to System 1, contact us: we'll point you to the best solution for your Solar Ride. Plug & Play installation, battery-free, free support.

FAQ — Solar Ride Gottlieb

What year was the Solar Ride released?
In 1979. It's a Gottlieb solid-state pinball on the System 1 platform.

Why won't my Solar Ride start?
Most often because of a battery that leaked on the MPU or a slam switch left open. Cleaning, checking the slam switches and a battery-free replacement board fix the problem 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 Solar Ride?
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 Solar Ride; 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.