Power surge, now stereo emits VERY quiet volume...

[surfersurfer]

After a power outage and I believe some surges/over-voltages, my stereo system failed. When the volume is turned up all the way I can only here a VERY faint sound.

I took the stereo apart and on the circuit board I noticed three very large capacitors (a few inches tall and over an inch wide). I have seen capacitors bulge and leak before but I'm not sure what I'm looking at here.

There is a hardened black goop on the bottoms of the capacitors. I have had my stereo repaired once before...could this black stuff be a glue that the tech used to secure the capacitors more firmly to the board? Or is the black stuff coming out of the capacitors?

And...would the capacitors be the problem anyways?

THanks for any help!

[vtech]

Can't be certain on the capacitors without seeing it (can you post a pix?)

But in general, big electrolytics pop/vent thru the top, resulting in a massive Hum in the audio rather than killing it? While you MAY have a cap issue, problem may very well be somewhere else? ie; (muting , switching tx or ic etc)

[surfersurfer]

Thanks for the quick response! I managed to get a couple pics, please note that the grey stuff on the capacitors is just dust.

Also, a clarification on the problem: when turning the stereo on, volume nearly full and starting to play something I get a hum, then a few sharp crackles and I do here distorted sound coming out.

Thanks!
here are the links to the pics:
http://members.shaw.ca/davempicklyk/stereoproblems/pic1.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/davempicklyk/stereoproblems/pic2.jpg

[vtech]

Ok, that is NOT the capacitors leaking. It is just a type of glue used to hold the electrolytics in place & happen to be that color... Time for more troubleshooting

[surfersurfer]

I tried the headphones jack and other speakers, still the same hum and sharp crackles here and there and very distorted playback.

New stereo time?

[vtech]

If you are not familiar on how to t-shoot, then it may be time for a new one?