Leaking capacitors?

SCHAFRANEK · Post by **SCHAFRANEK** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:26 am

Need an opinion...Do I have to replace the capacitors in this M44?
There's some dark "stuff" close to one of them...
Anything else I might need to be aware of?

marko · Post by **marko** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:33 am

best to change them, it's a very easy job on an "m" series amp.

1moreamp · Post by **1moreamp** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:12 am

Run don't walk to you local electronics store and buy new caps. the chemicals have leaked out and starting to corrode your PC board. This can cause your amp to be trashed

There are several post about cap replacement here in the how section and you can use the search function and see all the info concerning cap replacement. just type in caps replacement in the search bar and about 20 or more topics will come up with all the info you could ever want....C

SCHAFRANEK · Post by **SCHAFRANEK** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:25 am

Yeah, I was told about the leaking capacitors problem with the old M-series. So I took the lid of my stashed away amp to check...and well, you see the result.
But I guess I can still save it, right? If I just hurry up and get it fixed right away.
Is there any way I can clean the PC board?

Do I change all of them as I plan to, or just the leaking ones? I know it would be stupid not to change all 4 so cosider it to be a theoretical question

1moreamp · Post by **1moreamp** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:43 am

I use acetone to clean the board with a alcohol final wipe. But using a mild detergent is also not out of the question as long as you use a final clean up of alcohol at minimum.

Replace all the caps not just the ones leaking. This issue is NOT just on the M series of amps. Caps go bad with age and use so it applies to all amps and all caps.

The damage you can't see is what you need to worried about < i.e. underneath the caps you can't see whats happening> Hence my wording RUN to you local supplier for caps.

Hope this helps.....C

SCHAFRANEK · Post by **SCHAFRANEK** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:46 am

I will...first thing tomorrow morning.

What kind of damage can leaking caps cause? -and how do I check it?
I don't know sh** about it so any guidance is more than welcome.

Thanks for all the advice so far

/Schafranek

1moreamp · Post by **1moreamp** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:56 am

If you use the search function at the top of the forum you can see photos of badly damaged amps by this issue. You can also see the tutorials Doc Fosgate has put together about it.

Use the search function and all will be revealed either in photo's or text. This situation has been covered in depth in those postings. All of your needs and questions should be answered easily by your word search for this issue.

I tell you do this so I don't beat a dead horse issue and so you can get a complete in depth education just by reading at your own pace... C

SCHAFRANEK · Post by **SCHAFRANEK** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:32 am

I actually heard the amp play before I bought it. Is that really possible with leaking caps?
I read somewhere else that I should "Slip some clean white paper under each of the caps. It upon withdrawal the paper has any liquid on it, then your caps are leaking".
There's no liquid on my paper...it's more like black "dust/powder". What is that?
I'm still gonna change the caps, just curious what it is

/Schafranek

1moreamp · Post by **1moreamp** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:37 am

Yeah thats mu simple test for detecting any material underneath the caps. there is not supposed to be anything underneath them , this is what causes the board to burn up...C

Post by **Eric D** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:30 pm

This is what happens to your amp when the capacitors are leaking. It comes without warning (nothing audible that is), and occurs rapidly…

Here is how to repair it, and it is not easy, nor cheap or quick…

http://www.soundbuggy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4990

http://www.soundbuggy.com/forum/viewtop ... 52&start=0

http://www.soundbuggy.com/Eric/Car%20Au ... index.html