Out of all these details I can explain only one of the symptoms with the info you supply. The channel digits are glowing with the power switch 'off' because the two incandescent lamps behind the two meters are blown. The resistance of those two bulbs serve to shut down any remaining voltage on the radio's circuit board. Reason for this is that the Cobra 2000 power button doesn't open the hot side of the DC power supply, but instead opens the ground side. Since the clock/counter is still powered, there is a so-called "sneak" path from the power inside the counter to the ground circuit of the radio's circuit board. Those two bulbs serve to "pull up" the radio's ground to a high enough voltage to shut off the channel digits. When the bulbs go bad, you'll see the 'ghostly glow' when powered off.
If it was broke before you replaced all those caps, it was still broke after they got replaced. Have you had a close look at the solder side of the circuit board with a bright light and magnifier? It's easy to bridge a bit of solder across the gap between solder pads.
If you had told a mechanic "my car won't start" and asked him how to get it running, he might first ask if you have any tools to work with.
That would be a good place to start. Receiver problems can be a major pain in the neck to track down if you can't push a signal into it and then make a measurement.
How good are you at reading a schematic? Big help when trying to follow the progress of the signal through the receiver and pin down where it's being stopped.
Might be possible to tear down a motor, rebuild and make it run again with only screwdriver and a crescent wrench.
Might not. But here's the annoying part. The master mechanic with the instructions already in his head might pull it off. But the shade-tree guy who hasn't done it before is the one who will benefit most from a step-by-step manual with pictures and a full set of tools.
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