Pulsar digital watch Y799-5039

[marktheshark]

Hi all,

First, I'm new to watch repair so I know nothing whatsoever. Just floundering through this.

That said, I bought a digital watch, Pulsar Y799-5039 (can't find much info on the model at all online).

The watch is aesthetically as new, even had the plastic 'water resistant' clip on sign on the band. I opened it up and the battery inside had leaked and was stained with corrosion, but the parts of the module that I could see all looked to be in perfect condition still. I put in a new battery and nothing. I did scrub the battery connection terminals a little but that didn't help.

Anyone have any next steps I can take? Are there 'typical reasons' why a watch would not work from the outset? I'm wondering if it's as easy as some little tab of paper or something I need to pull or remove to get the ball rolling, as it all looks so pristine inside.

Pitctures attached.

*EDIT - also added a picture of the front of the module as I'm wondering if there's something missing there, zebra strips or a polarising film or something like that...

Edited September 23, 2023 by marktheshark

[JohnR725]

when the battery leaked how far did it get like into the module itself? The chemicals in the battery are not good and if they get into the module that would be a serious problem. Then notice the word I'm using module. then typically nobody ever fixed these way back when they came out it would've been a replacement module.

But YouTube is very popular for learning watch repair here's a channel on fixing it LCD watches may be confined something here. Then I have no preference as to what is good or bad I just googled repairing LCD digital watches and this was the first one that came up they seems that a lot of videos. So obviously there should be more videos on repairing digital watches out.

https://www.youtube.com/@VintageDigitalWatches/videos

 

[marktheshark]

Hey John,

Thanks for the thoughts! I haven't seen any leaking into the module, but I can't figure out how to open it up to look properly. I haven't found any videos with modules quite like this one sadly. Will keep looking

[RobertoG]

corrosive liquid from the battery is usually the cause - it spreads to where you can't see it, usually corroding tracks on the circuit which are impossible to find. It also creates a film of oxidization that prevents current flow. Best bet is to immerse the board overnight into a small quantity of CRC-226 or even WD40. Batteries should be removed from the watch once they go flat. I have just repaired one of these watches. The case is shoddy, but the display is intense and clear. It's a nice old piece.

[mpe7383]

Another old post that's cropped up. Doubt it will be of any use to OP but here's what I would be doing.

So the battery has leaked and the chances are high that the battery acid has crept deep inside the module. Looking at the pics, this module wasn't designed for repair but to be thrown out when failed.

But as it's an excellent condition example, worthy of an attempt to repair, so the module needs to be opened up for inspection and cleaning, might be salvaged, it's not working currently so nothing to lose.

I would shave off the tops of the plastic moulded rivets to disassemble. Proceed with cleaning and inspection/repairs. Reassemble and hold together to test with new battery. If successful and now working, use a soldering iron with fine tip and plunge into the middle of the shaved rivets, enough plastic usually forced up to secure the board.