TurboExpress repair

[Sabz5150]

I've acquired a busted TG16 Express console, looking for some help/parts to repair it.

If I flip the switch, the backlight on the LCD comes on and that's it. There's no corrosion or busted caps anywhere on the board. There is this odd rubber stuff on places around the board. Sort of like the stuff cheap plier handles are made of.

Any clue even where to begin? Any chance one of you has a cpu board or Express with a damaged screen they'd part with? Thanks :D

[c0ldb33r]

Step one - post pictures.

[SnowKitty]

I've acquired a busted TG16 Express console, looking for some help/parts to repair it.

If I flip the switch, the backlight on the LCD comes on and that's it. There's no corrosion or busted caps anywhere on the board. There is this odd rubber stuff on places around the board. Sort of like the stuff cheap plier handles are made of.

Any clue even where to begin? Any chance one of you has a cpu board or Express with a damaged screen they'd part with? Thanks :D

the caps can just dry out too. you should replace the electrolytic caps. to me it sounds like the cap on the video circuit has dried out it's kind of a common problem on the turboexpress

[Sabz5150]

=SnowKittythe caps can just dry out too. you should replace the electrolytic caps. to me it sounds like the cap on the video circuit has dried out it's kind of a common problem on the turboexpress

Oh yeah... it did come out around that time. Alright, I'll pull out the trusty Mouser catalog and start there.


Step one - post pictures.

Not much to see, really. All that happens when I cut the thing on is the backlight for the LCD display comes on. No game, no sound, nothing.

But it is a TurboExpress, and that's kinda neat in itself. :)

[ooXxXoo]

Yes indeed, check/replace the caps, they dont necessarily have to look/appear busted to be corrupted.....

[Sabz5150]

Yup. Big ol cap leaking from the underside (where the leads are)... it's the one between the contrast and volume dials. I'll post up some shots later this evening, the 640x480 Palm camera just doesn't cut it for closeups.

[Sabz5150]

http://www.enginevoodoo.com/images/collect/tgexbadcap.jpg

Excuse my poor skills in handling a camera. The problem cap is right there between the dials.

[Sabz5150]

http://www.enginevoodoo.com/images/collect/tgexfixed1.jpg

SUCCESS!!!!!!

The audio is still very quiet (those caps need replacing as well), but as Doc says... IT WORKS!!!

:D :D :D

[Sabz5150]

Replaced the audio capacitor, sounds better than ever. The TE is fully repaired!

Not bad for $45 if I do say so myself.

Success X2!

[selfdestroyer]

Sabz5150 Would you mind posting part numbers for the parts you used for other that maybe having the same problems? Thanks

[jb143]

Sabz5150 Would you mind posting part numbers for the parts you used for other that maybe having the same problems? Thanks

Typical electrolytic caps shouldn't matter much for replacing as long as the capacitance value is the same and voltage is the same or greater. Both should be clearly marked on the side of the part.

[c0ldb33r]

Typical electrolytic caps shouldn't matter much for replacing as long as the capacitance value is the same and voltage is the same or greater. Both should be clearly marked on the side of the part.
Would the same work in a Sega Nomad? The audio is piss poor on mine.

[jb143]

It should if you can get into it. The security screw is way down in there. I'm not sure what caps the Nomad uses for audio but chances are it's the "typical" kind pictured below. They might also be surface mount or chip type though which would make them a bit harder to replace.

Are you just asking out of curiosity or does yours need fixed?

http://www.global-b2b-network.com/direct/dbimage/50157818/Aluminum_Electrolytic_Capacitor.jpg

[c0ldb33r]

Are you just asking out of curiosity or does yours need fixed?
Well its just very quiet, even when I turn the volume up all the way, so yeah I think it needs fixed.

[Sabz5150]

I did some googling once I replaced the damaged cap I found and still didn't have a working system. When I stuck headphones in the TE and started it up, I could hear the game playing, just there was no video or sound.

http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=5015.0

http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=702.15

I did exactly what those described, replacing two caps and adding one. Total for the repair was around 5 dollars. I picked up the video cap from Radio shack, the audio cap was salvaged from a Master System and the one I saw first was 3 bucks for 5 on eBay.