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Old timer told me to always check the solder joints first, even when the fault code says something else
Back when I was a greenhorn at a regional shop in Dayton, we had a G1000 unit throwing a weird comm error. The book pointed straight at the LRU. My lead, a guy named Frank who'd been at it since the 70s, just grunted and said 'Pull the rack, look at the pins. Bet you a coffee it's a cold joint.' I thought he was nuts, the diagnostic path was clear. Spent half a day swapping boxes with no change. Finally gave in, pulled the unit, and sure enough, three pins on the main connector had cracked solder. A ten minute reflow and it was solid. Frank never said 'I told you so,' just sipped his coffee. That was maybe eight years ago, and I still start with the physical connection now, no matter what the computer screams. Anyone else have a boss or mentor who drilled in a rule that seemed wrong but saved your skin later?
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josephs262mo ago
Sounds like Frank knew how to save you a half-day headache. (And hey @nathanh44, at least you learned it yourself, even if it hurt.) Some lessons just stick better after you've wasted a whole afternoon, right?
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garcia.miles9d agoMost Upvoted
Isn't there something to be said for figuring it out on your own though? Sure Frank saved you a headache, but now you'll always know how to fix that issue from scratch. Nathan probably understands the deeper cause of the problem, not just the quick fix. Those wasted afternoons tend to build real confidence when you finally crack it. I'd take the long way every time if it means I actually learn the system instead of just getting a bandaid from someone else.
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