Audio Systems: Pioneer VSX-D812, pioneer vsx d812, jack of all trades

Question
Hello and thank you for taking my question. I own a Pioneer VSX-D812. After several days of not using it. I attempted to turn the unit on. The "standby" light would blink and the unit would not turn on. Even after 30 minutes of being unplugged. I took it into the local repair shop and they gave me a quote of $210.00 to fix it. My thoughts are that for another $100.00 I can go out and buy a new one. Being the person that I am...Jack of all trades and a master of none. I'm going to try to fix it on my own. I know basic electric. I took the unit a part and looked inside to see if i saw any indication of what went wrong. I didn't see any thing nor did I smell anything. I took out the ohm meter and started working my way back from the power cord. I found that the power outlet (the power plug for other equipment) on the back of the receiver had straight continuity across it. 0 ohm. I traced the circuit all the way back to the power transformer. When I disconnected the the 2 wires that went from the power board to the transformer the meter went to open. My question is should the transformer have straight continuity across the 2 wires on the 120v side? My thoughts are that the transformer might have over heated and burned the coatings on the winding causing a short across itself...Just a thought.
Thanks,
Matt

Answer
the transformer will have low resistance, sometimes just a few ohms. it sounds to me like you got hit by a 'spike' and probably took out a section of the supply. the way pioneer's vsx series are, you will need a service manual with complete schematic to even attempt finding the fault. there are 'standby' supplies that should be up as soon as you plug it in to keep remote functions working, then relay voltages to fire relays and initialise the computer electronics, if there's a failure in any of the power sources, either in standby or run modes, unit will not start up. you need to confirm all standby voltages before you can go anywhere else. i'd get it fixed, equal or better quality units cost a good bit more now, and you won't be satisfied with a new one unless you about double what you paid for that one.