old 2 ch receiver issue, how to fix?

[yepimonfire]

so someone gave me an old pioneer receiver awhile back, occasionally one of the channels won't kick on until i crank the volume up, it then functions perfectly throughout the listening session, i'm thinking maybe its a capacitor about to go bad? what could be the cause of this and how can i track it down?

 

[TLS Guy]

so someone gave me an old pioneer receiver awhile back, occasionally one of the channels won't kick on until i crank the volume up, it then functions perfectly throughout the listening session, i'm thinking maybe its a capacitor about to go bad? what could be the cause of this and how can i track it down?

Sounds like a solder joint going bad someplace, and when you crank the volume you spark it and make contact for a while. It might even be the control. That is a problem as those old pots are hard to come by now.

Unless you are lucky you will need instruments to find the fault.

 

[highfigh]

so someone gave me an old pioneer receiver awhile back, occasionally one of the channels won't kick on until i crank the volume up, it then functions perfectly throughout the listening session, I'm thinking maybe its a capacitor about to go bad? what could be the cause of this and how can i track it down?

Get some contact cleaner, open it and give all of the controls/switches a shot of it, then flip the switches and rotate all of the controls. Spray them when it's off and turn it on when you flip/rotate them. If it's a dirty control, it will show this by working normally. Radio Shack sells Caig cleaners/lubes.

If the receiver wasn't used for a long time in a humid place, it's possible that the volume control is corroded and has a dead spot or range because AFAIK, they didn't use sealed pots on their receivers. If this happened, it will need to be replaced but it should be available. Most likely, the control was made by Alps and it will have a part number on it.

 

[yepimonfire]

well the funny thing is that once i turn it up enough, it begins working fine and will stay working fine the entire time, even if i turn the volume all the way down turn off the receiver etc, it only does this when i first start it up.

 

[TLS Guy]

well the funny thing is that once i turn it up enough, it begins working fine and will stay working fine the entire time, even if i turn the volume all the way down turn off the receiver etc, it only does this when i first start it up.

Then the receiver probably has a delayed speaker connection via relay to avoid turn on thumps, and you likely have to replace the output relay. It is likely a sealed relay and non serviceable. However if you can open it, give it a shot of tuner cleaner. Do not use anything abrasive on the contacts.