Electrically inclined Oppos: Is this glue or have these capacitors died?

"ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability" (italianjobr53)
08/14/2018 at 21:34 • Filed to: Help

I think its glue since the probability of all caps dying is low.

This is the amp in the Mini which has stopped amping.

DISCUSSION (23)

sony1492 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/14/2018 at 21:50

Id imagine it's glue but is it wet?

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > sony1492
08/14/2018 at 21:52

It isn't, its rubbery to the touch, like molten plastic.

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/14/2018 at 21:53

Yes it is some sort of glue. When caps leak they will usually corrode the pcb. Seeing as how this an automotive application it’s most definitely glue.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition
08/14/2018 at 21:55

Aah. Thanks!

404 - User No Longer Available > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/14/2018 at 21:58

Definitely glue. Usually the first sign of a leaking capacitor is the capacitor canister expanding and sitting slanted.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/14/2018 at 22:00

Staking adhesive for vibrational resistance. Though properly applied it should go up the component body 25%.

Source: I train people on these standards.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > 404 - User No Longer Available
08/14/2018 at 22:00

Got it. Thanks!

Urambo Tauro > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/14/2018 at 22:04

G l u e , o r a g e n e r o u s d a b o f c o n f o r m a l c o a t i n g . I’ m s u r e i t ’ s t o h e l p a g a i n s t v i b r a t i o n .

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
08/14/2018 at 22:16

Thanks!

Please train the Harmon people. This thingy is expensive to replace!

Spaceball-Two > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/14/2018 at 22:20

Taste it.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Spaceball-Two
08/14/2018 at 22:26

Tastes like smores.

Urambo Tauro > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
08/14/2018 at 22:41

“ S t a k i n g ” a d h e s i v e . S o t h a t ’ s w h a t i t ’ s c a l l e d . Neat!

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
08/14/2018 at 23:16

Counter: this isn’t staking, this is just “please don’t vibrate loose.” Otherwise, it would look like this:

Kinja'd!!!

edit: also, just to note, all three of the CapXons in this photo are blown.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/14/2018 at 23:46

I think you’ve pretty much gotten it answered by now, but in my experience capacitor goo is usually white or beige and you’ll also be able to see where it is leaking from. So that looks like glue added to help pot them in.

HammerheadFistpunch > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/15/2018 at 00:11

looks like silastic shmoo.

HammerheadFistpunch > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/15/2018 at 00:12

whats the product? I know an EE that works for Harmon and I can pass it on.

Wacko > HammerheadFistpunch
08/15/2018 at 00:36

That's your answer for everything

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/15/2018 at 00:41

In my experience, when caps pop, they pop on the top.

Unless they’re supercapacitors, then they wake the dead when they go off and everyone knows it (and it can attract police).

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > HammerheadFistpunch
08/15/2018 at 02:20

Its the Harmon Kardon amp used in 1st gen Minis (2002 to 2007-8). Supposedly, these units are not hermetically sealed and they were placed in a location where moisture can and does get into them.

It has had 8 - 10 revisions over its life and the thing still keeps failing. Mini forums are full of failed amps. The issue is that these amps have some sort of processor in them such that other i.e. aftermarket amps dont work with the stock headunit.

Part numbers(each one is for a different revision):
65129146708
65126959010
65126949719
65126940205
65126929795
65126922974
65126801093
65129146709
65126959011
65126948522
65126932145

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/15/2018 at 02:23

Thanks!

HammerheadFistpunch > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/15/2018 at 11:31

I’ll pass it along but truthfully these contract jobs are tough. it sounds like the board itself is well vetted but the enclosure and placement are the problem. Im not sure who to blame on the enclosure but placement is surely MINI. Its likely that BWM contracted Harmon for the board only.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > HammerheadFistpunch
08/15/2018 at 13:38

It’s definitely BMW’s fault for installing it in a stupid location.

However the fact that it underwent so many revisions indicates there was something wonky with the board.

HammerheadFistpunch > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/15/2018 at 13:55

or attempts to correct a problem with bandaids.