Teac A-7010

When I push the power button to on My VU meter needle moves to the center of the scale with no input connected. Can someone explain why? Thanks.

A couple scenarios are possible. Dirty switches and contacts are the obvious easy ones to solve using minimal amounts Deoxit D5, exercising each switch 50 times. The other deeper and likely reason would be a failed electrolytic capacitor. Caps block DC voltage allowing AC thru, acting like a filter, without that filter, Dc voltage would cause the meter circuit or audio channel associated with it to act as you describe. A failed cap in the audio portion of that meter will cause it. All of electrolytic caps in these A40XX, A60XX, and A70XX decks need replacing NOW, polar and non-polar. Their intended lifespan was 20-25 years, these are pushing 50 years or more now. Get them out before one shorts and takes the entire machine out.