Concept2 Forum

I got a rower with a PM3 that does not power on. I checked for oxidation at battery, and there is none. Replacement batteries do nothing, screen stays blank. Pulling a few strokes does nothing, screen stays blank. Plugging into USB does nothing, screen stays blank. Computer does not detect any USB device when I plug it in. C2 utility does not detect it when plugged in. I took the back cover off, circuit board is very clean, no apparent burns, cracks, corrosion or marks. I tried the reset button with batteries in, nothing.

It is one of the newer PM3 - Serial number #400025xxx. Build sticker 2009/09. I do not need to "put my hand in my pocket" since I have a functional replacement PM. But I would prefer not to add to the amount of plastic/electronic waste. I am willing to do more testing if I knew what to do. Any pointers on how to proceed before adding this to the waste stream?

Electronic waste. I doubt anyone would want it as it's likely been destroyed by batteries leaking.

I would say its probably dead.

If you plug a USB printer cable into it then it should still power up with a message "Battery Empty or not present" and you can hit continue and it works fine.

You could try a USB cable and hold down the Change Units and Change Display buttons at the same time and paperclip the reset in the back. If a factory Default Reset doesn't bring it back to life, nothing will.

That has fixed a PM5 or two for me.

Personally I would list it and sell it for parts, the LCD Display and the battery terminals are worth money. If you were in New Zealand I would take it off your hands.

Thanks, Carl, that was useful information. It did not respond to a factory reset as you spelled out, so I'll just put it aside for parts use.

And Citreon, you clearly didn't read what I wrote, since I made it clear that there is no corrosion damage AT ALL. Which is why I was surprised that this monitor is totally DOA, but it is.

jag wrote: ↑

December 11th, 2021, 4:01 pm

And Citroen, you clearly didn't read what I wrote, since I made it clear that there is no corrosion damage AT ALL. Which is why I was surprised that this monitor is totally DOA, but it is.

Wow, so you have X-ray vision and have been able to inspect all the vias on the circuit board.

Jag,

I have responded to your PM 3 times but they just sit in my outbox?? I don't understand why they won't send.

q445187 wrote: ↑

February 1st, 2022, 10:17 am

I have responded to your PM 3 times but they just sit in my outbox?? I don't understand why they won't send.

PMs sit in the outbox until the recipient opens them - they get moved to the sent folder after that.
Should get fixed if Jag goes to ucp.php?i=pm&folder=inbox

Got it, thank you. Weird way to do that…

Citroen wrote: ↑

December 12th, 2021, 5:27 pm

jag wrote: ↑

December 11th, 2021, 4:01 pm

And Citroen, you clearly didn't read what I wrote, since I made it clear that there is no corrosion damage AT ALL. Which is why I was surprised that this monitor is totally DOA, but it is.

Wow, so you have X-ray vision and have been able to inspect all the vias on the circuit board.

Its a multilayer PCB and that BGA arrangement on the micro with a matrix of solderball connections below that you cannot even see without x-ray inspection is highly susceptible to corrosion. Internal vias in the board also go open circuit, not sure if its external corrosion over time or the board cleaning was not perfect at the time of manufacture and it gets slowly eaten away over the years.

The later version of the PM3 was 10 times more reliable than the earlier hardware version using the Motorola Micro.

I have a working PM3 I can make you a deal on