Measure the voltage on pin 6 again. If still within the 8-10 VDC range then C23 was not damaged. T he stated procedure of measuring the voltage on pin 6 or the MAX232 does not mention the effect of serial port loading on this voltage. Experience has showed that some units which appear to be good by the stated test, fail as soon as a load is connected to the serial port. Since we network people have a habit of loading our serial ports with as many as 5 other matrix TNCs, loading is very important.
Loading can also initiate the intermittent condition noted below.
Don't mess around - change the capacitor. I t is my opinion that PacComm is reluctant to recommend changing C23 when it does not show signs of failure because of their experience with the poor board repair skills of the average user. That may be a valid precaution but no excuse to leave a questionable part installed. S ince the problem was first made public, I have received a number of responses from around the world. Some node-ops reported curing problems on their node stacks after C23 was changed in their Tiny 2 Mk2 TNCs.