help with Fender PD 150 Deluxe (Passport POS)

[tim]

OK, I've always said that I would NEVER work on one of these after hearing the horror stories from friends of mine that have. But...because I am Fender Certified Tech, working for several Fender dealers, I got one that is covered under warranty so I gotta do it. Can't pick and choose.

This is one of those that has a CD player in it and the CD player isn't working...I'm gonna try and get Fender to exchange it (the CD deck)...if I can ever figure out how to get the darn thing apart and get the deck out! Hints?

Any help would be appreciated...

The only service manual I can find, even on Fender's Service website is one for the PD150 without the CD player and there is no info on disassembling the cabinet. Basically just a block diagram and schematic.

Thanks!

[Enzo]

Fender considers the SMPS to be a swap out, I don;t know why they wouldn;t do the same for a CD transport. Call your inside service guy and ask.

Passports all seem to come apart the same if I recall well. I have to remove the mixer panel from the front. Part a few connectors. Then I can remove the shield over the SMPS. Then a few screws and the power amp assembly can be freed. I have no idea where they stuffed a CD drive.

[tim]

I'm at a complete loss as to how to get this apart. I have about 20 screws out and the side shells off but i can't completely remove the shells because there is wiring attached to them with hot glue that goes to what I assume is a wireless antenna which snakes around the top. I really think that every screw has to come out of every panel to actually get deep enough to gut out the CD player. This is going to turn into a 2-3 hour job.

[tim]

I found in one of my Fender CD's a better manual of just the PD150 (no CD) with exploded drawings but still pretty much useless. I just emailed the customer and told her to contact Fender and see if they'll replace the complete unit. It's just too difficult to get in and out of. The sad thing is that she wouldn't buy it from the local dealer but she found it a few bucks cheaper (literally!) in a "web" store...guess where she brings it when it doesn't work? You bet! The very place where she didn't want to buy it from.

[Enzo]

Seriously, man, CALL Fender. You will get to a technical person there, and while i don;t often need to call them, when I do, guys like Jody are extremely helpful.

Did you look to see if this model was on the "replace only" list? That would save the day right there, no questions asked. They'll send a call tag for the carcas.

But ask them how to get into the unit. And they can probably send you the service material for this one.