Spectra Fail 001 .. I know caps but

[J5684]

Ok I have a dash mount UFH spectra that is getting the fail 001 code, I have read 20 plus pages useing the search feature..

The caps were replaced with radial aluminum electrolytic caps before I received the radio.. Well it was running the other day and it just went quiet, it's range is 450-482 it does have a couple ham 444's programmed in.. It was displaying the fail code and wouldn't receive or transmit on each channel even the ones within the factory operating range. I opened the the RF board area and checked the VCO steering voltage and it was at 9.23v no matter what mode or channel it was on, I replaced all the caps with the same kind that were on there with no change. As I removed each cap and retested it, I noticed the steering voltage would come around within a few seconds and lock and start to receive. Each one I removed the less time it would take to lock. I removed all the 10uf/16v ones and it would receive and scan again with no problems, but fail 001 on TX, but if I held the PTT for a few seconds it would go into TX. So I removed the 47uf/16v and the unit operated perfect both TX and RX.

So basically I removed all the caps on the RF board and the unit works like it should, no fail 001, scans, receives and transmits fine. My question is what will happen if it is run this way? Could the caps that was used be to "lossy"? I'm confused on why it is working without the caps installed.

If anyone has suggestions or anything I would appreciate your thoughts

Thanks

[jackhackett]

Probably some other component has failed, probably a resistor that got some cap leakage on it or one of the circuit board VIAs (plated through holes). Look for damage in the area around the trimmer pot, that's where it usually occurs.

[J5684]

Thanks for the suggestions..

Well I reinstalled the caps because this morning it was doing the same thing. So it seems only after the unit has warmed up that it seems to work now and then..

Thanks

[Will]

Seems the leaking crud ate up some circuits, common problem. The hardest part is cleaning up the cancer that is caused by the leaking capacitors before replacing the capacitors. There are a couple values that were changed in very late production and a couple of caps added.

[J5684]

Thanks Will, I cleaned up as best I could. I don't see any places that the solder mask was ruined, but I know that doesn't mean that there is no damage. The dates on the chips on the RF board looks to be 92. No real worries, I didn't give but 20$ for it in trade..

Thanks guys...