Mitsubishi DLP 06 - Failed light engine

[RTHVZB]

I purchased an '06 WD73732 on Nov 10th.

After five days in service the television began to show signs of malfunction consistent with a failed light engine (image ghosting, halos, loss of clarity and discoloration throughout the entire picture). At first, this issue occurred only occasionally and at random intervals. However, over the course of the following five days, it worsened to the point where the television picture is no longer viewable.

The TV can be

[Richard]

We have always recommended buying from brick and mortar stores that offer a no questions asked refund or exchange just in case you have a problem like this.

[RTHVZB]

I DID buy from a Brick and Mortar location - a reputable one too.
Problem is, they refuse to replace a defective product without first having a tech inspect it - Even then they said it would be Mitsubishi who would replace the TV and NOT them.

[Richard]

Apparently you do not have a no questions asked return policy. What does it say on your sales receipt? That is the part you have to check and don't assume a thing! Lot's of people in my area found out the hard way about HHGregg, they have a 15 day policy and they stick to it; lots of folks assumed it was 30 days...

[RTHVZB]

Unfortunately for me, they don't have a no Qs return policy.

I read and was fully aware of their policy before I contacted them but was hoping they might give me an exchange if I complained loudly enough. No such luck.

The sales receipt states they have a "14 day return or exchange policy" but with exceptions. Specifically excluded are "All LCD/DLP rear Projection Televisions..." which "will be serviced within 30 days of purchase." If after servicing it is determined that the television "cannot be repaired, it will be exchanged for the same model only."

I'm in NJ and have already called the state board of consumer affairs who informed that that I have to follow the store's written policy before I have a valid complaint - defective or not. So I'm stuck and hoping they can come and fix the thing SOON!

My next step is to contact Mitsubishi directly and inform them of this issue and the store's response and see what kind of action I get there.

I was definitely sold a defective television - but no one seems ready to do much about it other than send a tech and make me wait.

[RTHVZB]

Well.. the tech came out yesterday and of course, the TV would not act up. It was fine for over an hour while the tech was here (he was kind enough to hang around as long as he could).

After he left it was still OK for another 6 hours or so. Then it started its usual issues.

Since the tech could not see first hand what the issue was, he took down my description and agreed it sounded like a light engine problem. But said they'd probably have him replace the main board prior to a light engine. Based on his notes (my description) he was going to attempt to order parts and said he's let me know the status.

So.. here I sit.. No idea when or if the TV will be repaired. I'm going to call today to get status and possibly schedule another appnt. This time, I'll leave the TV on the day prior and all night so he can see the issue in all its glory.

I'll keep you posted.

[Cherylabq]

This is pretty much my exact experience for my Mitsubishi WD-73927. We paid about $6800 in December 2005 and about a year and a half later (this past September 2007) our TV went from bad to virtually unwatchable. It was the same symptoms...TV colors were fine until the TV warmed up and then all the colors went pink, purple, hazy, etc. We HATE buying extended warranties as they are usually not necessary.

My service center, Baillios in Albuquerque, NM has been waiting for the part (I was first told it was the Optical Block...now being told it's the Optical Engine that went bad). They first said November 14th which then extended to the December 15, 2007 as others have quoted.

I too get the runaround when calling Mitsubishi. They want an ORDER NUMBER to "expedite my order." I haven't been able to procure the order number from Baillios as of yet (keep getting the parts department voice mail).

Please inform us if you are able to get Mitsubishi to provide a NEW television set as I am at my wits end!

Thanks to all who have written in and who have helped shed light on this issue!

[RTHVZB]

The tech is coming out again tomorrow and hopefully the TV will act up accordingly.

I've had it on today for 3 hours and nada yet. While last night, watching football it started within 10 minutes of the set being turned on and forced me back to my 4x3 50inch in the other room after an hour of turning it off and off for another 10 minutes of clarity. Grrrrrrr...

Anyway, I'm hoping Mitsu will replace it entirely since I had it only 5 days when this started. But, I'm not keeping my hopes up. Based on what I know thus far I think the best I can hope for is for it to be repaired by next year (if I'm lucky).

I'll keep you posted though. Once I have a definitive diagnosis from the tech I am going to be getting in touch with Mitsubishi North America and requesting they replace an obviously defective product that I was sold at no small expense.

[Richard]

If it acts up today I recommend you leave that TV on over night until they arrive!

[hjlanda22]

This is a long one but it has alot of information reguarding this mitsubishi bull$#!%

I bought a wd-73727 november of last year (06) I loved the tv because its cabinet design and matching base made it look as one unit instead of tv on top and base on bottom, plus it was silver/grey, Anyhow the tv just would not turn on In the moring on AUGUST 16 2007 the lamp light came on Well the tv was still under mitsubishi reg warranty so I called them up (I also purchsed the extended 5 year warranty throuh a warranty company, but there was no need to get them involved at this point because the tv was less then 1 year old) So they said sure well send you a new bulb because that seems to be the problem, I am thinking WOW that bulb gave me no warning PLUS we dont watch that much TV I was concerned but thought maybe it was a fluke bulb who knows right?....... WRONG!

I got the new bulb put it in reset the tv and all that turned it on AND NOTHING! NOW another red light is on. Very long story short the sent a tech out he replaces the bulb yet agian still nothing NOW he comes back saying the BOARD needs to be replaced (one week later) he replaces the board still NOTHING, Now he says its the light engine and mitsu is backordered on these they will not be in unil sep 16th, now
I call mitsu give them the damn order number the tech gives me they say ok we have expedited your part youll get it next week, I CALL EVERY WEEK (as weeks go by) They say the same thing next week, next week, next week. (I kept a log of every phone call and every person whom I talked to and what was said) So Finally I am MAD I am being lied to and have no answers ( I am dealing directly with mitsu not the tech because I am not the type of person that relies on others to be aggressive for me) So I wrote a letter to the general aterneys office ( I too am in california)

Oh yes before I forget ANY WARRANTY COMPANEY INCLUDING MANUFATURES DO HAVE A TIME LIMIT IN WHICH YOUR ITEM IS TO BE REPAIRED IT IS CALIFORNIA LAW i BELIVE IT IS 60 or 90 days AND ARE REQUIERED TO HAVE A LEMON POLICY BUT IT HAS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM MORE THAN 3 TIMES these companies know that most people dont know this and the chances of you doing anything about it are slim to none.

Ok back to the issue.... atterney general got thier attention somewhat but not entirely, By OCTOBER I was calling almost every day sometimes twice a day (I would get different answers contridicting each other sometime ON THE SAME DAY) Now I pushed and pushed and always wanted to talk to a supervisor in the "second level" Finally get a call back and I put my husband on the phone because he is far more aggressive then I, He told him he was going to contact the local news station and make this problem more public (our local news station has a PROBLEM SOLVERS program that takes care of consumers) as well as contacting the atterney generals office which they were allready aware of but we hadnt heard back from the atterney genrals office yet, We also made sure he 100% understood as if he was in this situation (its kind of like word play this takes some skill sometime, when you explain something to someone it never really hits home for them unless you put them in your shoes) So after that he says I am very sorry for this and I am going to replace your tv and tv stand that you purchased fax me your recipts for the stand and I will send you the new model wd 73733 and new stand I faxed that right after they hung up the phone

I still called everyday to check on that this happened oct 29 I believe no one never knew if the tv was shipped no one ever had a tracking number but they did acknowledge that the tv was ordered and hat I will get a call from the company that will be delivering the tv (its a 3rd party)

I called the tech and told him to come get the P.o.s. Tv out of my living room as mitsu was junking the tv. ALL BECAUSE OF THE STUPID LIGHT ENGINE what a waste!

I got the NEW TV AND STAND on NOV 16 they delivered it in its box and I told them to leave it in the living room I WAS SO EXCITED after 4 moths I FINALLY got my tv back in MY NICE living room OR SO I THOUGHT!!!!!!

I opened the TV BOX after cutting the tie straps and GUESS WHAT, THEIR WAS A F'ING HOLE IN THE SCREEN I run outside and the shippers have drove off already ( I know that they are not the ones whom caused the damage) I looked like a damn forklift went right through the screen afterwards I looked at the box and noticed the whole in the front NOT extreamly noticeable on the box I was SO PISSED It was not funny! it was 505 pm so by this time mitsu was not answering the phones and the shipping company was not either to make matters worse it was friday so I would not be able to talk to anyone until monday. AS OF TODAY DECEMBER 4TH 2007 I still have the tv with a whole in it! It works but we are thinking that this tv was man handled and who knows what eles was damaged so mitsubishi says ok we will repair it my husband says NO we did not agree on getting a broken tv that needs to be fixed we agreed on a NEW tv, Someone came out to look at the tvto asses the damage ( SHE HAD A HUGE ATTITUDE) I felt like she thinks we caused this damage because mitsubishi one guy said well its funny how...... my husband cut him off immeditaly and had very stong words for him and then told me NOW tell me whats funny, he promptly apologized. I am not sure what they are planning to do. I have not been calling everyday like I used to. They did say If we keep this tv and get it repaired that they will give us an extended warranty for free. We have a 5 year extended warranty, But We want a NEW tv my we old them we will go pick it up in irvine CA so that we know it will make it home with us without forklifts!


NOW TODAY I get a letter saying that they have been experiance a large number of problems on thier light engines and they are going to extend the warranty on the tvs effect by this light engine problem and their are about 6 tv models on this list and my OLD models WD 73727 is one of them MY NEW model TV is not on the list so I guess it have a different light engine I dont know WD 73733

I will post with the final outcome if we get it replaced yet agian or the screen replaced on this one they sent us.

Sorry its so long but this is how it went................ There is even more but I am tiered of typing
[email protected] If you have any questions I can help with.....