993 Blaupunkt Bremen RCM 43

[Wozy68]

Logicdr said:

Faulty capacitors would make sense as they do deteriorate over time - I fixed 2 duff Sky+ boxes by replacing a set of capacitors, it's a known problem.
That also makes sense with many people having the same intermittent problem.
I might just pull my system out as it seems to have stopped altogether now and see how easy it would be to replace likely looking ones.

Did your contact give you any details which ones?

The guy sells blaupunkt on eBay and he only responded back to me the once and I then heard no more from him. So unfortunately no idea which ones

[Geneve]

Old Blaupunkts are notoriously unreliable, and can get very costly to keep repairing.

Best OE replacement is the Porsche/Becker CDR-21 - this one:


However, as 993 values rise, these are now getting very sought after and expensive.

The later Porsche CDRs (Pre-2002)are also very good and compatible, but the screen isn't quite so clear in the 993 dash. Porsche also dealer-fitted Sony Radio Cassette/CDs to 993s

[Logicdr]

Well I have got the unit out, had a look inside and ordered some replacement capacitors. I'll get the soldering iron out at the weekend and let you know how I get on.

[Wozy68]

Logicdr said:

Well I have got the unit out, had a look inside and ordered some replacement capacitors. I'll get the soldering iron out at the weekend and let you know how I get on.

Coolio, I'd be very interested to see iif it works. Where the heck did you source the parts?

[gizlaroc]

I was going to say dried caps or even juts dried joints.

With dry joints they tend to work when they get hotter as the metal expands and causes a contact.

[paralla]

Service book available here.
http://elektrotanya.com/blaupunkt_bremen_rcm_43.ra...

Unfortunately I couldn't find a free downloadable circuit diagram

I think the power supply capacitors are the culprit here. They shouldn't be too hard to find, even without a diagram. They will be the physically biggest ones on the board and should have their ratings printed on them. Probably only a single layer board so easy enough to de-soldier and remove the old ones, buy some replacement ones from Maplins/RS for pennies and replace them. Make sure you take note of which way they came out and put the new ones back the same way, they might have a white stripe printed on them with a "-" indicating the negative lead.

[Logicdr]

I did swap out 6 capacitors at the weekend as discussed, used a bit of common sense on which ones, still a bit hit and miss without a circuit diagram, and no luck I'm afraid. Only a couple of quid so worth the gamble. I'll have another look when I have more time one day.

So instead I have fitted a replacement unit which to be honest I will leave in even if I get the Blaupunkt going. For £99 and 30 minutes work I now have a fairly subtle looking unit (you can choose the button and display colours to match your interior and turn off the blingy display these things have) which sounds great, streams music and iplayer radio from my phone with bluetooth, and has a £5 16GB USB stick in the back with all my music on. Even has a mic, easy to hide the cable in the A post seals so I now have great sounding bluetooth hands free.

[andy993]

It is the capacitors. I had the same problem in my unit in my 1994 993. I sent it to an electronics specialist in Christchurch New Zealand who fixed it for me. Details:
Rex Bunting Electronics
Unit 14, 60 Vagues Road,
Papanui
Christchurch
03 3526793