[Paul Stenning]

I have dismantled it further and am now looking suspiciously at a 1000uF 6.3V capacitor in what appears to be the video output buffer to the SCART socket on the "SIGNAL" board. There is what appears to be some yellow discharge on one of its legs. If it is the signal coupling to the SCART and is unwell (high ESR) it could explain the problem.

A couple of presets on the PCB in that area seem to have a momentary effect on the saturation before it returns to the usual dull. They are now returned to the original positions until I have replaced that capacitor and a couple of others in the same area.

No progress with the audio level indicators yet, but with the number of cables going from the "HIFI/NICAM" board to the front panel, I'm wondering if there is an IC on the front panel PCB for the level indicators.

It will probably be tomorrow evening before I do much more with it.