DIY Amp repair? Symptoms inside!

[scoob8000 10+ year member]

Oldschool Orion Cobalt 265

Bought this puppy used, didn't realize it has issues until it was too late. Still seams like a solid little amp.

Symptom 1:

Sub will be slamming fine one minute, and the next it will be at a much lower volume. It might stay that way for a few minutes and fix itself or not. Sometimes turning the volume up on the HU momentarily will fix it.

Symptom 2:

No output from any speaker terminals with only L channel connected. RCA jack seems loose on the PCB, but continuity checks out okay.

Symptom 3:

Plastic around fuse holder is melted (from previous owner)

Nothing smells burnt, nothing obviously wrong internally.

Any ideas what to look for? I'm pretty comfortable (de)soldering and replacing components if I can figure out WTF is bad. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

[EDIT]

Doesn't seem to be a thermal issue, heatsink is cool to the touch.

Click to read more...

 

[scoob8000 10+ year member]

Did a little closer inspection. Found a bulging cap on what appears to be one of the input channels.

Not sure if this is part of my level problem or the dead channel problem or both?

Look like the right one here?

http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=zsqpZXbm4xz7trQmBGDd9Q%3d%3d