OK... it seems like fixing one problem breads another on this infernal machine. I've double checked the left audio circuit and note I have a weak signal but, can't figure out why. I double checked my connection at pin 17 of Hu6280 and that's all good. I used a small home made probe to test the audio sound at different points in the circuit going to op amp 4558. Left audio input is pin 2 of 4558. Using this probe on pin 6 of 4558 (right audio in) the audio is nice and loud. Check left audio in at pin 2 it is pretty faint. I have this faint audio all along the left audio circuit. I tried to bypass all of the circuit and vias by running a wire directly from pin 17 of 6280 to C878 which is a small smd cap. This yielded no change.
It seems to me the circuit itself is fine but where is runs through all of the small smd stuff must slightly boost the signal before going into the op amp. My only guess at this point is one of the small smd components has failed. If the op amp failed I suspect I would have low or no sound on left AND right. Also, I noted that the left channel has much lower sound than the right going INTO the op amp.
The rage is beginning to build again. Any suggestions?
