Guy, I love you. my VU+DUO is working as fine as brand new.
basically the solution was replace the three capacitators by 330uf 25V 105º (that's what I could get from my electronics shop)
I built a new nullmodem just to make sure that nothing was coming out on the rs232.
then I went directly to remplace the 3 capacitators. might be only one was damaged, but I did all three.
I tryed to un-solder them from the mainboard but I don't know what the hell the vu guys have used my tools were not able to melt(undo) the soldering.
so I apply a workarround. carefully cut the legs of the capacitators and solder the new ones on top of thos remaining legs.
it's fairly easy and it cost me 40c per capacitator.
The support here in spain asked me 110€ for a brand new main board 70€ if they can keep the old one. (it's not that expensive)
but is like a armed robbery if you think I did it for 1,20€. this guys need to think a bit more about their customers.Even more when it looks like a lack on design. bigger capacitators and bigger fans I suspect would have prevented this from happening.
In the following weeks I will upload some pictures and the rs232 log output just in case someone whant to have a look but I need to read thos first to remove any password or sensible info ;-)
The simptoms were:
Red light.
No fan.
Nothing on the rs232
not booting from usb either.
Although everything has been said about this issue, I'm posting this first to thank all the guys that posted the info.
and just in case it might help any other user.
Thank you guys from truly deep in my heart.
Guybrush.
By the way a bit oftopic, is there any mod to add some fans or improve airflow on the box.