A word about bad Electrolytic Capacitors:
Electrolytic caps are of a series of components that are frequently used in electronic devices where AC and DC voltages are present. They are often used to filter the DC supply voltages for a clean DC supply that the device can use. After time, these devices dry out or leak. As a result, they lose their ability to filter and often become resistive. This leads to heat being created by the device which, in turn, adds to the drying out of the device which again leads to more heat. Eventually the device will fail completely.
Sometimes the device will "open" when it fails, in which case no filtering is being done and the usual result is a circuit that is supposed to run on DC now running on AC (not good). The other result is when the device "shorts" and this can lead to fire or damaged circuit boards and wiring (also not good).
Look for "bloated" capacitors, where the "X" on the top of the part is puffed outward or even cracked open. Also look for discoloration or a leak of the electrolytic fluid around the base of the cap, or in the "X" on the top. Also look for the obvious heat damage or shrunken sleeve like the picture on the main page (click below).
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