Pace 4001 Stuck in Tune

[kimigonzales]

Hi guys! I'm following the stuck in tune guide to fix my box but I'm a bit stuck...I was wondering if someone could please explain to me as to how I can remove/replace the caps?

Thanks in advance!

Kimi.

[blakey_8]

What cable area are you in? These boxes are meant for Pure and they aren't compatible in other areas - i've tried.

[kimigonzales]

I'm in a pure area mate.

[kimigonzales]

From the guide, I'm under the impression that the caps are easy to remove but they just feel like sharp metal parts which cannot be removed. Do you therefore think that they have already been removed? Any advice will be greatly appreciated guys!

[MorriSoft]

Originally Posted by kimigonzales

From the guide, I'm under the impression that the caps are easy to remove but they just feel like sharp metal parts which cannot be removed. Do you therefore think that they have already been removed? Any advice will be greatly appreciated guys!

Removing components from pcbs can be tricky, especially when trying NOT to damage the board.

If you are serious about doing it, get an old vcr, cassette player, anything with a pcb, and practice removing the caps/resistors anything you wanna try, you need to remember heat will kill components and pcbs - try not to keep the soldering gun/iron touching legs/pins of components for too long, caps are pretty easy out of most removable components, but thats only because i took apart 2 old pc motherboard pcbs before even trying it with boxes and other such equips.

Good luck

[kimigonzales]

I've got an old pace which I 'blew up' last time so I'll try on that first. Cheers mate!

[MorriSoft]

Originally Posted by kimigonzales

I've got an old pace which I 'blew up' last time so I'll try on that first. Cheers mate!

All good my friend.

If you want any advice, post away, I will do what I can to help

[abaaba]

let me know how u get on coz i got da same box stuck in tune and soldering kit too afraid to try it.

[kimigonzales]

Ok mate.

[kimigonzales]

Ok guys, I think I've managed to sort the stuck in tune issue...I think the problem was the Cable Interface Module (CIM). If you take out the CIM where the cable feed goes into, you will notice something called the PL5. A working connection will be soldered onto PL5. However, mine had snapped and the connection was no longer soldered onto PL5. I therefore got some thin soldering wire and using the solder iron, I managed to bridge the broken connection. I then put the box back together and fired it up.

When I first did this, it came up as stuck in tune again. In my complete depression, I left the box as I'd put in fair amount of work and was gutted that it did not work. However, after about 5-10 minutes, the box started doing stuff. Instead of 'tune' coming on the LED display, it started to go through all the channel numbers rapidly, then it went through a couple of error numbers before eventually loading up. At this stage I was still sceptical as my old box used to do this before eventually dying.

However, as the box had not been used in months, I thought it is possible that it's taken a while to fire up in order to update the firmware. To test this, I unplugged it and fired it up again, with my fingers crossed...It went to 'Pace' and then to 'Tune', but only for a couple of seconds this time before loading up no problems! Thus, I think I have managed to fix it but only time will tell...

All I need to do now is purchase a LED simm and retrieve the BK, programme a fun and then enjoy the mighty Reds storm to the top of the league next Saturday before pumping Chavski at Anfield in the Champions League!

If anyone else wants to give this a go, I recommend using Dalmations 'stuck in tune' tutorial. I found this the most thorough for a novice like me. Also, don't be tentative when dismantling the box - obviously be careful but just go for it. I was a bit worried about breaking parts etc by using too much strength pulling at parts - but don't worry as the box is pretty solid. Also, remember if your box is stuck in tune, it's not of any use to you anyway so just 'go for glory' as you can only make things better rather than much worse to be honest!

Obviously, the CIM may not be the problem in every box and you may have to replace/remove caps etc but I do hope others find my own experience useful...sorry for boring you with the big spiel.

Kimi.