Pioneer Tuner really pissing me off...

[Stefan Toftevall]

Hi everyone!
A customer brought a Pioneer Tuner model F-Z460L to my repairshop and
told me there was no sound coming out of it. Since then, this fucking
tuna is really pissing me off. Why? Well, it can perform brilliant
for two weeks and then suddenly audio is fully muted and won't come
back for hours.. This is just the things I would rather NOT see in my
shop.... It acts like it more or less got its own soul and I begin to
believe it actually has been taken over by the devil himself. Well,
cut the crap and give some tech info about the problem:
This tuna is using the common LA1265 (yep, a SANYO ic) FM/AM detector
circuit.
When the unit fails (audio mutes) the oscillation at the FM quadrature
detector pins 5 and 6 is halted, and therefore no audio is
demodulated.
The PLL part is operating correct all of the time, and that goes for
the front-end too. I have IF input to the '1265 all times, even when
the unit fails.
I replaced the detector coil with the illusion of solving the problem.
No improvment. I also replaced the four electrolytes surrounding the
'1265, but of cos with no improvment. I can somewhat push the unit to
fail faster when spraying freezer on the pcb, but it's not logic at
all. Sometimes this may even have the unit back into operation. I'm in
the state when you feel like throwing the tuna hard in the wall, but I
know that's gonna make me even more pissed off when the customer asks
for it back.... ;-)
Here's my goal with this message: 1. Get in touch with a Pioneer
tuner expert/professional who can tell me what's going on. 2. Get in
touch with someone very familiar with the LA1265. 3. Get in touch
with someone who's gonna tell me "everythings gonna be alright".
Thanks and regards

Stefan

 

[Leonard Caillouet]

Sounds like a typical day in the shop. I rarely have a time when I don't
have an intermittent running on my bench...

If they get to you that much maybe you are in the wrong business.

Leonard

"Stefan Toftevall" <stefan.toftevall@bredband.net> wrote in message
news:c4f805eb.0403271510.5153453f@posting.google.com...

Hi everyone!
A customer brought a Pioneer Tuner model F-Z460L to my repairshop and
told me there was no sound coming out of it. Since then, this fucking
tuna is really pissing me off. Why? Well, it can perform brilliant
for two weeks and then suddenly audio is fully muted and won't come
back for hours.. This is just the things I would rather NOT see in my
shop.... It acts like it more or less got its own soul and I begin to
believe it actually has been taken over by the devil himself. Well,
cut the crap and give some tech info about the problem:
This tuna is using the common LA1265 (yep, a SANYO ic) FM/AM detector
circuit.
When the unit fails (audio mutes) the oscillation at the FM quadrature
detector pins 5 and 6 is halted, and therefore no audio is
demodulated.
The PLL part is operating correct all of the time, and that goes for
the front-end too. I have IF input to the '1265 all times, even when
the unit fails.
I replaced the detector coil with the illusion of solving the problem.
No improvment. I also replaced the four electrolytes surrounding the
'1265, but of cos with no improvment. I can somewhat push the unit to
fail faster when spraying freezer on the pcb, but it's not logic at
all. Sometimes this may even have the unit back into operation. I'm in
the state when you feel like throwing the tuna hard in the wall, but I
know that's gonna make me even more pissed off when the customer asks
for it back.... ;-)
Here's my goal with this message: 1. Get in touch with a Pioneer
tuner expert/professional who can tell me what's going on. 2. Get in
touch with someone very familiar with the LA1265. 3. Get in touch
with someone who's gonna tell me "everythings gonna be alright".
Thanks and regards

Stefan

 

[jtech]

"Stefan Toftevall" <stefan.toftevall@bredband.net> wrote in message
news:c4f805eb.0403271510.5153453f@posting.google.com...

Hi everyone!
A customer brought a Pioneer Tuner model F-Z460L to my repairshop and
told me there was no sound coming out of it. Since then, this fucking
tuna is really pissing me off. Why? Well, it can perform brilliant
for two weeks and then suddenly audio is fully muted and won't come
back for hours.. This is just the things I would rather NOT see in my
shop.... It acts like it more or less got its own soul and I begin to
believe it actually has been taken over by the devil himself. Well,
cut the crap and give some tech info about the problem:
This tuna is using the common LA1265 (yep, a SANYO ic) FM/AM detector
circuit.
When the unit fails (audio mutes) the oscillation at the FM quadrature
detector pins 5 and 6 is halted, and therefore no audio is
demodulated.
The PLL part is operating correct all of the time, and that goes for
the front-end too. I have IF input to the '1265 all times, even when
the unit fails.
I replaced the detector coil with the illusion of solving the problem.
No improvment. I also replaced the four electrolytes surrounding the
'1265, but of cos with no improvment. I can somewhat push the unit to
fail faster when spraying freezer on the pcb, but it's not logic at
all. Sometimes this may even have the unit back into operation. I'm in
the state when you feel like throwing the tuna hard in the wall, but I
know that's gonna make me even more pissed off when the customer asks
for it back.... ;-)
Here's my goal with this message: 1. Get in touch with a Pioneer
tuner expert/professional who can tell me what's going on. 2. Get in
touch with someone very familiar with the LA1265. 3. Get in touch
with someone who's gonna tell me "everythings gonna be alright".
Thanks and regards

Stefan
Sounds to me (fwiw), it may not be a componet problem per say. Try widening

the solder pads around the la1265 and related componets and re-touching the
solder. (widening as in removing the paint coating so more solder get to the
pad.) My instinct is it may be a pcb problem and the thermal flexing it
causing the intermitent. Hope it helps.

 

[r c]

acts like it more or less got its own soul and I begin to believe it
actually has been taken over by the devil himself

seems like a lot o stuff is demon possessed at times...

Hose the whole thing down w/ flux, throw it in the solder pot or wave,
then see where you are.

If that doesn't work, put on the funny hat and cloak, say a few chants,
incantations etc, roll the bones, pass the plate, and above all, remind
it that it's going straight to hell

 

[Stefan Toftevall]

Hey Leo, don't you have a sense of humor?? Of cos those intermittents
is one of the biggest challanges and that's what makes our business
interesting.
But you have to admit, sometimes things can really *piss you off*
don't they??
I'm a professional electronics designer/serviceman in the field of
switchmode power supplies and high power audio amplification, so I
know indeed, what intermittent failures mean, when you end up with a
bunch of electrolytes or other nasty things right between your ears,
every monday between 8-9, if sun is shining, and you scream yahoo at
the same time. That's simply what makes our lives easier, right?!














"Leonard Caillouet" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:<Dup9c.3222$pM1.1362@lakeread06>...

Sounds like a typical day in the shop. I rarely have a time when I don't
have an intermittent running on my bench...

If they get to you that much maybe you are in the wrong business.

Leonard

"Stefan Toftevall" <stefan.toftevall@bredband.net> wrote in message
news:c4f805eb.0403271510.5153453f@posting.google.com...
Hi everyone!
A customer brought a Pioneer Tuner model F-Z460L to my repairshop and
told me there was no sound coming out of it. Since then, this fucking
tuna is really pissing me off. Why? Well, it can perform brilliant
for two weeks and then suddenly audio is fully muted and won't come
back for hours.. This is just the things I would rather NOT see in my
shop.... It acts like it more or less got its own soul and I begin to
believe it actually has been taken over by the devil himself. Well,
cut the crap and give some tech info about the problem:
This tuna is using the common LA1265 (yep, a SANYO ic) FM/AM detector
circuit.
When the unit fails (audio mutes) the oscillation at the FM quadrature
detector pins 5 and 6 is halted, and therefore no audio is
demodulated.
The PLL part is operating correct all of the time, and that goes for
the front-end too. I have IF input to the '1265 all times, even when
the unit fails.
I replaced the detector coil with the illusion of solving the problem.
No improvment. I also replaced the four electrolytes surrounding the
'1265, but of cos with no improvment. I can somewhat push the unit to
fail faster when spraying freezer on the pcb, but it's not logic at
all. Sometimes this may even have the unit back into operation. I'm in
the state when you feel like throwing the tuna hard in the wall, but I
know that's gonna make me even more pissed off when the customer asks
for it back.... ;-)
Here's my goal with this message: 1. Get in touch with a Pioneer
tuner expert/professional who can tell me what's going on. 2. Get in
touch with someone very familiar with the LA1265. 3. Get in touch
with someone who's gonna tell me "everythings gonna be alright".
Thanks and regards

Stefan

 

[Leonard Caillouet]

Sure, I have a sense of humor. I just keep this stuff in perspective. If I
let it piss me off I am not as productive and I don't enjoy my work. I
think of them as a challenge, a problem to solve while spending the least
amount of time on the job. It's like solving a puzzle or doing detective
work. Are some frustrating? Of course, but it IS part of the job.
Probably 25% of the units that we take in have problems that are to some
degree intermittent.

When I start getting frustrated, it is a sign that I need to adjust my work
patterns, techniques, or attitude. Never felt that complaining or screaming
was all that effective.

Leonard

"Stefan Toftevall" <stefan.toftevall@bredband.net> wrote in message
news:c4f805eb.0403280403.6c2e461@posting.google.com...

Hey Leo, don't you have a sense of humor?? Of cos those intermittents
is one of the biggest challanges and that's what makes our business
interesting.
But you have to admit, sometimes things can really *piss you off*
don't they??
I'm a professional electronics designer/serviceman in the field of
switchmode power supplies and high power audio amplification, so I
know indeed, what intermittent failures mean, when you end up with a
bunch of electrolytes or other nasty things right between your ears,
every monday between 8-9, if sun is shining, and you scream yahoo at
the same time. That's simply what makes our lives easier, right?!














"Leonard Caillouet" <no@no.com> wrote in message
news:<Dup9c.3222$pM1.1362@lakeread06>...
Sounds like a typical day in the shop. I rarely have a time when I
don't
have an intermittent running on my bench...

If they get to you that much maybe you are in the wrong business.

Leonard

"Stefan Toftevall" <stefan.toftevall@bredband.net> wrote in message
news:c4f805eb.0403271510.5153453f@posting.google.com...
Hi everyone!
A customer brought a Pioneer Tuner model F-Z460L to my repairshop and
told me there was no sound coming out of it. Since then, this fucking
tuna is really pissing me off. Why? Well, it can perform brilliant
for two weeks and then suddenly audio is fully muted and won't come
back for hours.. This is just the things I would rather NOT see in my
shop.... It acts like it more or less got its own soul and I begin to
believe it actually has been taken over by the devil himself. Well,
cut the crap and give some tech info about the problem:
This tuna is using the common LA1265 (yep, a SANYO ic) FM/AM detector
circuit.
When the unit fails (audio mutes) the oscillation at the FM quadrature
detector pins 5 and 6 is halted, and therefore no audio is
demodulated.
The PLL part is operating correct all of the time, and that goes for
the front-end too. I have IF input to the '1265 all times, even when
the unit fails.
I replaced the detector coil with the illusion of solving the problem.
No improvment. I also replaced the four electrolytes surrounding the
'1265, but of cos with no improvment. I can somewhat push the unit to
fail faster when spraying freezer on the pcb, but it's not logic at
all. Sometimes this may even have the unit back into operation. I'm in
the state when you feel like throwing the tuna hard in the wall, but I
know that's gonna make me even more pissed off when the customer asks
for it back.... ;-)
Here's my goal with this message: 1. Get in touch with a Pioneer
tuner expert/professional who can tell me what's going on. 2. Get in
touch with someone very familiar with the LA1265. 3. Get in touch
with someone who's gonna tell me "everythings gonna be alright".
Thanks and regards

Stefan