TurboDuo issues - I'm all out of Turbo!

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Gunstar
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TurboDuo issues - I'm all out of Turbo!

Post by Gunstar »

Hello, I thought I'd seek the advice of the pc engine fans and experts on here about some issues I have with a TurboDuo I recently got.

First problem is the corrupted graphics:
Image
Image
Image

I've come across Fagin's video which is somewhat similar although the problem was missing pixels rather an all over gibberish corruption. He fixed it by swapping out the video ram.

The second problem is that the machine won't spin a CD. I'll hit run and the access light comes on and I can hear the laser trying to focus but no spinning, the message on the screen will then return back to 'press run' and 'set disc'. Checking the drive with no CD and holding down the lid sensor I can see the laser activating and the lens also moves up and down a bit. I'm guessing this might require a pot adjustment to get it to focus? or an entirely new drive?

And the third problem, which at this stage isn't worth mentioning, is that the hu card needs to be pulled out a little from the slot otherwise I get a purple or beige boot screen but seems to run when pulled out a little further. Not sure if I came across a fix for this but it's something that can wait.

I know the first port of call is to recap the machine so before I order a kit does anybody recommend I purchase any additional video ram or some other chips? Appreciate any help.
Last edited by Gunstar on Sat Oct 07, 2017 2:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
kamiboy
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Re: TurboDuo issues - I'm all out of Turbo!

Post by kamiboy »

No, do the recap first, then if the problems have not gone away you can start looking at swapping other parts.
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Gunstar
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Re: TurboDuo issues - I'm all out of Turbo!

Post by Gunstar »

Thanks for the input, kamiboy. I've got a cap kit on the way and will update when I get it.
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Voultar
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Re: TurboDuo issues - I'm all out of Turbo!

Post by Voultar »

Looks like you could have:

Floating address lines -Bad caps have vented and the electrolytic fluid has eaten some traces on the bus, quite possible

Bad VRAM

Bad 6270
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Gunstar
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Re: TurboDuo issues - I'm all out of Turbo!

Post by Gunstar »

There was some fluid on the pcb :/ I'll see how I get on with the recap first but those other parts you listed are good to know about and will be my next steps to troubleshoot. Appreciate your help, Voultar.
jwo825
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Re: TurboDuo issues - I'm all out of Turbo!

Post by jwo825 »

I agree with the previous post that says recap first. Pay attention to capacitor placement in the front center as they may interfere with reassembly. After that there are easy to find tutorials online for adjusting the laser. Could just be the pots are not adjusted correctly as this can cause it not to spin. I suggest you do it with an official disc as the Duos can be finicky with burned ones.

About the fluid all over the board. Mine was full of brown fluid. I assume this was flux that was just never cleaned off from the factory and darkened over time. 99% isopropyl and a toothbrush took care of that.

Mine has the same issue with the HU card. I have read other accounts of it as well. I assume its a design flaw.
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Gunstar
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Re: TurboDuo issues - I'm all out of Turbo!

Post by Gunstar »

I've got an official cd game which I used to test on it, a copy of Browning which I got cheap. I'm hoping it'll be fine after the recap but the corruption really makes me think it's going to be a chip. The fluid was pretty dark so it could definitely be old flux, I'll make sure to give it a clean with iso. Thanks for the tips, Jwo825!
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Gunstar
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Re: TurboDuo issues - I'm all out of Turbo!

Post by Gunstar »

Update on this: The recap didn't solve the issue so I tried reflowing the C6270 and ram and it appears the ram was at fault as the reflow on that worked. The first time the console booted it was still displaying corrupted graphics with the game's intro appearing buggered but then hitting run and starting the game the screen was suddenly error-free. So far the console seems to be working fine with no corruption in-game or on the dashboard. Just the CD not spinning left to fix now!

I used GamedoctorHK's Cap kit but he doesn't provide 100uf 16v rated capacitors for the caps at C136 and C163 which according to the wiki require 100uf 16vs, I'm assuming the 100uf 10vs in the kit aren't suitable replacements?
kamiboy
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Re: TurboDuo issues - I'm all out of Turbo!

Post by kamiboy »

The 10v caps should be fine.
jwo825
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Re: TurboDuo issues - I'm all out of Turbo!

Post by jwo825 »

Great to hear you got it fixed. It's such a great system.
mvsfan
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Re: TurboDuo issues - I'm all out of Turbo!

Post by mvsfan »

Turboduo has 10v hooked up to its power supply im pretty sure, And thats why the cap kit has 10v caps. nothing inside really needs 16v.

you can use a higher voltage cap, just not a smaller one.
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