[RossJP]

In a nutshell: it used to work (with some issues), I tried to fix it, I think I’ve ruined it. I bought this last summer, and used it with beovox speakers. Sound was all good, I did have some concerns over how loud it would go, but think this was just because I was trying to use 2 pairs of beovox. When just using one pair it worked fine.

 

There were a few issues:

 

1. It started saying CODE when turned on. I read about how to unlock it (1271 on remote), and this was fine, but wanted to replace the battery so I don’t have to do this every time. Also, when switched back on, the display started flickering, and the balance kept going over to one side. I read this was likely all related to the battery. So I bought a battery. The right one, with solder tabs.

 

2. The CD player wouldn’t load CDs. And then, 5 minutes later it would. Like it needed to get warmed up. Then, it would play any CD. I read this was likely capacitors, so bought a cap kit from Beoparts. I also bought a new belt for the tape and CD door, because although they did work, they didn’t move totally smoothly.

 

I already had some of the right tools (multi-meter, soldering station, correct screwdrivers, etc) and bought some other things to help, like a soldering iron with vac pump to remove solder.

 

I opened up the beocenter. I expected to find a bonnet-stay in there (thought I’d seen one on pics online, and in the manual), but if it was ever there it was gone now. I made my own.

 

I identified board 40 with the battery. I disconnected the connectors, but there was one 2-pin (on the edge) and one 5-pin (inside) which I didn’t realise are not connectors, they are blocks soldered to the board. Stupidly, I kept levering them until the pins pulled out of the board. Once I realised my mistake, I bought some connectors and sockets of the right size, and fitted them the board. I had photos to confirm all wires ended up in the right place, and also traced them with the wiring diagrams to make double sure.

 

I replaced the battery.

 

I removed the CD player unit, then took the circuit board off. I changed all the capacitors as per the Beoparts directions. I have double checked the polarity. One of them, the boxy shaped one, appears to be non-polarized.

 

I changed the door belts.

 

I put it all back together. I plugged it in. The CD door moved slightly open. And nothing else. No response to controls on the unit or the remote, or anything displayed. I opened it up again, and plugged it in while open. The CD spins, and just keeps going, so there is power. But nothing else. I have checked and rechecked that everything is connected, the battery polarity is correct, the cap polarities are correct, the connectors I fitted are all going to the right pins. I found one pin on the internal connector inside board 40 which didn’t have continuity to where it should. It wasn’t a dry joint, but maybe damage in the board. Anyway, I added a wire to make the connection. This didn’t fix the problem. It’s the red wire in this picture (the black wire was already there):

So here it is, it’s all back together. I have 1 screw left, which I think is a 3rd screw for holding down board 40 which I missed. If there were any board 40 for sale on ebay I’d buy and try that out, but there aren’t. I would guess it’s board 40 I have ballsed up, but I don’t have anywhere to go from here.

 

It’s in good physical condition, the mirror panels have only very minor blemishes. I’m not sure if the Powerlink connections work – I couldn’t get them to work with my Beolab 2 speakers, but they did work with the Beovox speakers. Some of the screws which hold the lid on have been rounded by someone using the wrong screwdriver – not me! And they do still work with the correct T-10 screwdriver.

 

I have tried my best to fix this, and now I have to stop, because I don’t know what to do next, and because I have a busy job, 2 kids, 3 old cars, and I can’t spend more time on this. So here it is, spares or repairs, I wish I hadn’t made a mess of fixing it, but I think I have. I can wrap it up really well and ship to UK mainland, you can collect from me in Bridgend, South Wales, or I could try to meet you? I don’t know what it’s worth – £200?

 

This is the worst bit of the mirror finish:

 

This shows some fading to the lettering:

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