# Kawai K3 Dead, No Display, No Sound

**URL:** <https://forums.syntaur.com/t/kawai-k3-dead-no-display-no-sound/9571>\
**Category:** Synth Repair\
**Tags:** no-power, kawai\
**Created:** [October 1, 2026, 4:15am UTC](https://forums.syntaur.com/t/kawai-k3-dead-no-display-no-sound/9571 "2026-10-01T04:15:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RICHAudio](https://forums.syntaur.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@RICHAudio](https://forums.syntaur.com/u/RICHAudio)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 4:15am UTC](https://forums.syntaur.com/t/kawai-k3-dead-no-display-no-sound/9571/1 "2026-10-01T04:15:36Z")

</div>

Kawai K3 – Dead

I have a K3 on the bench and the power supply all checks out. 5V, 12V and -12V all in spec. I have checked the supply voltages on all the PCB’s and the same levels as at the power supply is measured. So the power system is working properly. I checked the RESET line on the 8051 CPU chip and it is being reset on power up. The 3V Lithium battery was dead so I replaced it. So far nothing has changed and the display is dead even though the synth is powered up. I checked the Clock Crystal and 14Hmhz and no issues. I tried the 3 lowest white key press on power on , still nothing. I am quickly running out of options.

Anyone seen this before?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Remodulator](https://forums.syntaur.com/user_avatar/forums.syntaur.com/remodulator/32/2046_2.png) [@Remodulator](https://forums.syntaur.com/u/Remodulator)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 3:51am UTC](https://forums.syntaur.com/t/kawai-k3-dead-no-display-no-sound/9571/2 "2026-10-06T03:51:25Z")

</div>

If you have an oscilloscope I’d be checking the MPC clock is running, then the RD//WR and PSEN lines as they should be strobing whenever the MPU tries to access anything external. I’m not an expert but did resurrect a brain dead Roland Jx-3p with the same symptoms. Good luck with the repair.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![midnightvisions](https://forums.syntaur.com/user_avatar/forums.syntaur.com/midnightvisions/32/774_2.png) [@midnightvisions](https://forums.syntaur.com/u/midnightvisions)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://forums.syntaur.com/t/kawai-k3-dead-no-display-no-sound/9571/3 "2026-10-08T21:37:37Z")

</div>

There needs to be a reset procedure when you change the 3V battery.

Did you do that?