I purchased my TV in November of 2004. It required its first replacement lamp in October of 2005, which was covered by Mitsubishi. That replacement lamp lasted until December 2006. Beginning in December of 2006, the problems with this TV began to mount. On December 28th, 2006, the second lamp was ordered. It lasted less than 3 months and a 3rd lamp was ordered on March 11, 2007. That lamp lasted only 2 weeks, and 4th lamp was ordered on April 5th, 2007. A technician was also sent to my house to determine the cause of these lamp failures and he determined that a new ballast was needed. About 2 weeks later, we were up and running with a new ballast and a 4th lamp. The TV worked fine until June 29th, 2007 when the TV failed again and a 5th lamp was ordered and the technician had to come back. This time, it was determined that the first ballast was no good and a replacement was needed. Again, about 2 weeks later, we were up and running. These repairs were adequate until December 1, 2007, when the TV failed again. The technician came out to the house, looked at the TV, told us we had a bad power supply board and bad signal board and that really we could use a new chassis but they were on Back-order from Mitsubishi, and he had already been waiting nearly a month without getting one on a previous client. Ultimately, he orders a new signal board and new power supply board, which brings us to yesterday, January 29th, 2008. He finally got the replacement parts and came out to put them in. Once done, he turned on the TV, and much to my delight, we had picture. He turned the TV off, to make sure the Power supply board would cycle, and upon turning it back on, there was a pop, and flash, and NO picture. He said that the ballast went out again, and that the flash came from the recently replaced power supply board, and that he would have to replace both of them again.
Needless to say, I am very upset. I never in my wildest dreams thought it would take 2 plus months to get my TV fixed, all because we are/were waiting on parts that actually work from the TV
A 3rd lamp was ordered on March 11, 2007. That lamp lasted only 2 weeks, and 4th lamp was ordered on April 5th, 2007. A technician was also sent to my house to determine the cause of these lamp failures and he determined that a new ballast was needed. About 2 weeks later, we were up and running with a new ballast and a 4th lamp - 3 months
The TV worked fine until June 29th, 2007 when the TV failed again and a 5th lamp was ordered and the technician had to come back. This time, it was determined that the first ballast was no good and a replacement was needed. Again, about 2 weeks later, we were up and running - 2 months
These repairs were adequate until December 1, 2007, when the TV failed again. Ultimately, he orders a new signal board and new power supply board, which brings us to yesterday, January 29th, 2008 - about 4 months
The way I look at it is that I have had this TV which worked fine for essentially 2 years turn into a chronic fix it machine. From 12/28/06 to current, the TV has been not working for almost 6 months of that time (and counting), and the parts that are needed cannot be had with any type of regularity. Mitsubishi is back-ordered on nearly every part my technician has tried to order.
All of my frustration is due to having to wait, and wait longgggggggggggg periods of time for parts that appear to not be adequate. If the service tech came to me and said, I can have your part in a day or two, and it took 2 total months but my TV was fixed, I probably wouldnt have as much problem with this whole scenario. What I have a problem with is reading forum after forum about Mitsubishi's poor customer service, their poor replacement parts issues, and the fact that I am sitting here 2 months after my TV went down and no end in site to getting it back.
I am not sure if I have an incompetent technician or what, but he is the only guy in my area, according to warrantech, so I have to stick with what he says or does.
On another forum, someone had mentioned electrical problems but I have my TV plugged into a Monster HTS 850, as I do everything else I have in my entertainment center, So I do not think that is a problem. I clean my filter every 4-6 months, and the TV sits on an open stand in the middle of the room with plenty of ventilation. (Just commenting regarding your article on extending the life of the bulb).
My extended warranty is 5 years, and Texas does not have a Lemon law for electronics. I am putting a call into a warranty attorney to see if there is anything I can do. I sent a letter to Mitsubishi documenting my frustration, so I guess I will see where that goes.
I am sure every TV company has their problems, and I would also be willing to bet that 90% of Mitsu owners love their TV and have never had any real issue. I would like to see Mitsu step up on TV's which are chronic problems and replace them. This 4th repair I am waiting on will bring my total repair costs up to something like 2000 dollars in repair cost (Excluding this upcoming 2nd power supply board, and 2nd ballast as they were all covered under their individual parts warranty, and also excluding bulbs, as they do not total those to the repair tally per warrantech).
That means my total repair costs are well over the cost of the TV if you factor in the 3 bulbs outside the first two which appeared to work fine, and the 2nd ballast and 2nd power supply.
Did it ever occur to you that your warranty repair person might be incorrectly diagnosing the problem? Not saying it is or isn't but it's something that should be considered when you have multiple repairs for the same problem by third parties.
I am not sure if I have an incompetent technician or what, but he is the only guy in my area, according to warrantech, so I have to stick with what he says or does.
I would hope that it's not the case, but who knows. Unfortunately, even if that were the case, I don't know what options I would have at this point. You would think they would send someone else out, to evaluate the problem.
My point was people are so quick to blame the mfr when they're having problems only to find out the repairs were done by extended warranty companies. If the warranty tech screws up or misdiagnoses a problem that's not the mfrs fault, but they seem to get all the blame.
People tend to lump the mfr and warranty companies together and that's not always fair.
No, what's not fair is to have a product that still doesn't operate after multiple fixes and the fixes are over months at a time. All this time, without an operable TV that cost thousands!BEYOND FRUSTRATING!!!
redogleader
I understand and I am sympathetic - I'd be pissed off too. And if this was a Mitsubishi factory warranty repair I'd agree with you 100%. I'm just not 100% sure it's all Mitsubishi's fault.
Don't you find it suspicious that this technician just keeps replacing different parts that keep failing? You don't know where the parts are coming from or whether he's installing them correctly.
Why did he wait 4 times before checking the ballast? Sounds like your technician is just shooting in the dark hoping to hit something and that is most definitely not Mitsubishi's fault.
In my case, I know where the parts are coming from. I have confirmed that they are coming from Mitsubishi directly. I called the Mitsu cust. serv number and talked to them at length about this. Warrantech has nothing to do with the parts. My service guy is certified with Mitsu, and orders his parts directly from them. He even gave me the Technician's line to mitsu to call. Needless to say they were not happy when they found out I was not a tech. But I was simply trying to get information on why my parts have not been sent.
I am sure in some cases I am sure there is more to it than the mfr's fault.
I have been browsing through many forums and it seems as if many people are having the same problem I am. Either there are a bunch of incompetent technicians out there (which isnt completely out of the realm of possibility), or there truly is a mfr. problem with some of these replacement parts.
In my case, the tech said I needed a new chassis for my TV, but there are none available. There is a customer he has that is still waiting on a new(rebuilt) from Mitsu and their TV broke down in the beginning of November. That is a mfr problem. There is absolutely no reason to wait 3+ months for parts from the mfr.
I believe its the entire back part with all the component boards attached to it. I am not sure to be 100 % honest. From what I do know is that the signal board and power supply board are part of it somehow.
I actually watched what he did one time, and just to replace the ballast, he had to remove like 50 screws and take off damn near the whole back of the TV. Seems like they would make things a bit easier to access than that.
Who thinks about service? That's somebody else's problem! Service is always the worst on the first gen of anything...
The chassis represents over half of the display, very expensive, and there are few parts left after that one! It is a huge metal can with a world of wires coming out of it. Very difficult to service so many opt to replace instead along with providing the Mits 6 month warranty that comes with it.
These can be difficult to service depending on the problem and lamp lighting is probably one of the more difficult to diagnose on this particular chassis.
They do. It flashes out digits with the power light creating a code and then you refer to a chart. This is best left between you and your service center when you actually have a problem. Bear in mind it is very similar to idiot lights on your car; they don't tell us much and only get us pointed in a direction.
Have been, and am currently going through exactly what everyone here has gone through. Bought TV over three years ago and has beeen nothing but trouble. Thank god for the extended warranty. Went to Fry's today, where I originally bought the TV, to get yet another loaner, and there were 10 Mitusbishi's all returned for repairs/returns.
Repair guys have told me on multiple visits that they work on these TV's all day. Had another visit for my second power pupply board and before they came to my place, they had to do the same thing to the same TV right down the street. Not only did my power board go out again, but the DM board, and now I'm dealing with a chassis having to be re-built. Over three years this TV has been broken down for over three months. Three years, three bulbs.
Customer service, non-existant. Mitsubishi, doesn't care. Fry's keeps putting the same defective parts being back in. Stay away!
I worked at Best Busy stores promoting DLP technology for Texas Instruments and I met many consumers who were picking out a new TV b/c their Mitsubishi DLP failed during the warranty.
When their sets were made in El Toro, CA next to the El Toro Marine Base they were reliable
great sets but they moved production to Mexico and quality went down the toilet. In these third world plants, there is a high turnover of assembliers and the Q & A reflects it.
I have a Yamaha DPX-1 DLP projector that is 7 years old...yes seven...and I have had no problem other than normal lamp changes (done under warranty). The unit was made in JAPAN.
I know surgical instruments made in Germany are 1000% better than those made in India
and I think where it is made makes the difference.
But I was simply trying to get information on why my parts have not been sent.