What's the weirdest fault you ever fixed?

[star882]

My solution to that problem would be to separate the good sides from the bad sides and then pair two of the good sides together.

[Geek]

Originally posted by Enzo
"Matching shorting plpugs." I like that...

Reminds me of the early (late 70's) SS Panasonic console TV's. Everything easily unplugged from the PCB for easy removal. But when replacing the chassis, every plug went into almost every set of pins

[unclejed613]

Originally posted by star882
My solution to that problem would be to separate the good sides from the bad sides and then pair two of the good sides together.

they were the typical cables with the molded plastic "keepers" to keep the cables from separating like lamp cord.

[unclejed613]

Originally posted by Geek


Reminds me of the early (late 70's) SS Panasonic console TV's. Everything easily unplugged from the PCB for easy removal. But when replacing the chassis, every plug went into almost every set of pins

i remember those....... that's when i began keeping a magic marker pen on the workbench. magnavox (or was it motorola) had one of the first "digital" tuners. problem was the connectors going to the CPU board weren't keyed, and easily plugged in backwards if you didn't mark them

[star882]

Originally posted by unclejed613
they were the typical cables with the molded plastic "keepers" to keep the cables from separating like lamp cord.

Use wire cutters to carefully cut those away without damaging the good side.

[Pano]

Ah Ha! So color DOES make a difference. I knew it.
Sometimes when stripping different colors of the "same" wire it sure strips different.

Not long ago I was building several similar prototype circuits for testing. Kept coming up with the strangest problems that seemed impossible to track down. Even contacted tech support on some of the parts to ask what was the trouble. No one could figure it.

Turned out to be the ribbon cable I was using. The red wire - and only the red wire - had intermittent breaks in it. Sometimes continuity, sometimes not. No problem with the other color strands.

I had to apologize to the tech support guys.....

[firechief]

Once while working as a repair tech at the North American repair center for a major communications radio company. I got a high end SSB radio on my bench. The complaint was nothing exotic, new just how to approach it. Imagine my suprise when I pulled the top off and there was a 50 dollar bill inside. Well it had to be delibrate, there was simply no way it could have gotten in there by accident. How would you handle this situation?

[Richard Ellis]

A bit off topic..
While working at a Honda dealership in the mid-eighties I was the troubleshooter et.al.
A customer came in with a new Honda that leaked water onto the drivers floor while parked at her house.
Under SOP we ran water over the car by hose for several minutes as I searched & searched..no deal. Myself being the "disassembler " extrordinaire I gutted the car completley....Still no water. Called up front for more info on the circumstances...She said she parked the car in a steep driveway in front of the house.
Jacked the front of the car some three feet in the air. Had a co-worker shower the car with water and water POURED into the passenger compartment. A six inch body seam at the firewall windshield interface had NO seam sealer applied!!!..What a mess.... Two seconds or so and gallons poured onto the floor. Applied a large bead of sealer & moulded it into the gap & voila' no leaks...
____________________________________________Rick.. ........

[gmphadte]

This also happens...

The oceanographic and scientific instrument manufacturers from Europe and American subcontinent sell their instruments to India and some instruments do not work here, especially during humid seasons. Then, they are sent back to the manufacturer only to be found working perfectly OK. Buyer has to pay for the to and fro charges.

If only they had used some better protective coating on the PCBs.

This happened for two instruments and costed us lacs of Ruppees and I can understand what the manufacturer must be thinking about the techs here.

I knew the problem and did not want to mention it.


One European over-enthusiastic scientist started manufacturing oceanographic instruments and also assembled the acoustic receiving sensor for making more profit. On the first hauling, by looking at this sensor, I mentioned to his technician that this is s**t. I used this exact word.

We had to pay a lot of price to get the system working.

If only...

[infinia]

Originally posted by gmphadte

If only they had used some better protective coating on the PCBs.

I knew the problem and did not want to mention it.


We had to pay a lot of price to get the system working.

Hi
What are the correct coatings? You should mention these things upfront to the dealers or manufacturer, rather than saying nothing and hoping. Maybe cheaper in the long run yes?