Oh crap, I blew the engine!

[eetoi]

Ok, not the engine, the circuit board, more or less. I was trying to install some underglow on my civic but I think I shorted from one of the batteries to the antenna, heard a crackling sound (like frying something) and white smoke (like a blown engine!) coming out of the electronics. I tested it, everything works fine except for the less than half-an-inch range (I DID short the antenna). I opened it up and the only suspicious thing I found wrong was that one of the surface-mount capacitors was sightly lighter in the middle (like when you bend clear plastic, it turns white). I was wondering If I should try to replace the cap or get a new circuit board, or even a new xmod Does radioshack sell xmod circuit boards?

[Char-g Ace]

u should replace the cap, even if it doesnt effect anything, a white cap can't be good

[eetoi]

but how do I know haw many microfarads it holds? it's so small and I can't see ANYTHING on it...

[Schr-eng]

Sounds like the problem may be more complicated than just the alterations on the surface.

Any number of components could have shorted.

Even if you replaced that capacitor, which would be a pain, you probably won't regain the performance you had before the short.

I suggest that you take all of that under glow stuff, go back to the RS store and tell them that the board just fried itself. They won't be able to tell.

Then, get them to sell you a returned unit that had mechanical difficulties (probably a lot of returns are differential and u-joint replacements), so that you can salvage a working circuit board.

Even if they won't let you have the whole unit, at least try to get the board.

[eetoi]

Well, I've pretty much gave up on trying to figure out the problem component (already ruined one of my BCG's while trying to replace the cap. Still didn't work). The first time I went to RS to get an Xmod, I asked if they had any returned xmods I could buy, but the guy said nobody ever returned any xmods and even If they did, then I wouldn't be able to buy it. I guess this RS follows the rules So, instead, I looked at the xmod exploded view (found elsewhere in this forum, in the Parts and hop-ups) and found the part number for the circuit board, and searched for and found the parts list... I'll go to RS as soon as I can and just order a new pcb.

[HPIracer]

Originally posted by eetoi
I asked if they had any returned xmods I could buy, but the guy said nobody ever returned any xmods and even If they did, then I wouldn't be able to buy it. I guess this RS follows the rules

The one by me is really cool. He told me some RSs are getting the returns and just tossing them in the trash and some are parting them out. Its just kinda hit and miss.

[eetoi]

OMG, this is frikkin weird.

I went down to RS and tried to order a new pcb but when they checked it was backordered for 3-6 weeks (A lot of other people probably did what I did.) I gave up... again. After buying a new soldering iron to replace my broken one (my new one has dual wattage and a stand, I love it!) I spent about half an hour trying to replace the little SMT capacitor, it was so hard to do. When I finally did get it, The range was better, but not as good as it first was. So, I tried to go farther, and when I came back, and my load-free motor's vibration moved the whole thing off my desk, and the antenna shorted to the negative terminal AGAIN! But then I tested it, AND IT GOT MORE RANGE, AND STILL WORKED! Sure, this will never be brand-new glitch-free operation again, but I am really desperate to get this thing working again