Problems with my Hitachi TV 32UX59B

Paul E · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 4

I got my HItachi 32" TV model 32UX59B 2.5 yrs ago, and Ive loved the
product, until last night. All of a sudden, the picture shrunk down to a 1"
line running from west to east across the center of the screen. By turning
it off and on, I was able to get it to go full screen again. This happened a
few times last night, but I was always able to get it to go back full
screen.

But this morning, when i turned it on, it immediately went to that thin
left-to-right stripe, and stayed that way ever since.

Could the picture tube go after just 2.5 years? True, I have it on an awful
lot, but still, thats what its for!

Can someone tell me what the likely problem is, and what it might cost to
get it repaired? Id much rather repair it than replace it, as I really enjoy
the tv when its working. There's a Hitachi Srvc center only about 5-7 miles
from me, and Im just hoping they'll come out and give me a repair estimate
on it, as its too big for me to load into my car. I was thinking if I could
get it repaired for under about $250, I should do it, but if its going to
cost much more than that, Id probably opt for a new one. But Id also be
very disappointed that it only had a useful life of 2.5 yrs. I dont know if
anyone can tell if its a new picture tube thats needed by the description,
but I guess this would be the most expensive type of repair on it? Any
advice you could give, Id surely appreciate it.

Thanks.

Paul Elliott

Archived from group: alt>home-theater>misc

Hugh Candlin · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 20

Paul E wrote in message
news:%LVUa.76675$0v4.5056754@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I got my HItachi 32" TV model 32UX59B 2.5 yrs ago, and Ive loved the
> product, until last night. All of a sudden, the picture shrunk down to a
1"
> line running from west to east across the center of the screen. By
turning
> it off and on, I was able to get it to go full screen again. This
happened a
> few times last night, but I was always able to get it to go back full
> screen.
>
> But this morning, when i turned it on, it immediately went to that thin
> left-to-right stripe, and stayed that way ever since.
>
> Could the picture tube go after just 2.5 years? True, I have it on an
awful
> lot, but still, thats what its for!
>
> Can someone tell me what the likely problem is, and what it might cost to
> get it repaired?

I had a similar problem. It was the capacitors in the vertical hold
circuit,
but it took 14 years for them to go bad. Cost was just over $100 to fix.

> Id much rather repair it than replace it, as I really enjoy
> the tv when its working. There's a Hitachi Srvc center only about 5-7
miles
> from me, and Im just hoping they'll come out and give me a repair
estimate
> on it, as its too big for me to load into my car.

I managed to get my 30" down to the repair shop by myself,
using a minivan. With the help of one friend and a van or pickup,
you should manage it easily.

> I was thinking if I could
> get it repaired for under about $250, I should do it, but if its going to
> cost much more than that, Id probably opt for a new one.

Good policy. I just saw an ad in Good Guys for a 36" JVC closeout - $500.

> But Id also be very disappointed that it only had a useful life of 2.5
yrs.

I would write a polite letter to the manufacturer. You never know.

> I dont know if
> anyone can tell if its a new picture tube thats needed by the
description,
> but I guess this would be the most expensive type of repair on it? Any
> advice you could give, Id surely appreciate it.

A replacement tube will almost certainly cost close to the replacement
cost of a new set.

Paul E · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 4

Hugh,

Thanks for your reply. I have no friends with a minvan, or even an SUV, if
you can believe that. But, Id be very surprised if the Hitachi Srvc Cntr in
the next town over didnt have road srvc of some kind.

Im looking at the TV now, and in that 1" horizontal stripe, I can see a
clear segment of the picture. I would think that if the crt tube were shot,
I wouldnt see anything. It sounds more like what you had go wrong...At
least, I certainly hope so.

When I called Hitachi this morning, they were positive most of their srvc
cntrs had road srvc, so Ill just contact them tomorrow.

> I had a similar problem. It was the capacitors in the vertical hold
> circuit, but it took 14 years for them to go bad. Cost was just over $100
to fix

I certainly hope thats what it is, or something similar. Keep in mind that
I probably put as much use on my set in 2.5 yrs as most folks do in 10. Its
on virtually all day, for about 15 hrs!! But, hey, mfgs had better realize
that if theyre going to give us an appliance that serves as the center of
our daily activities, able to store schedules, communicate with others, etc,
etc, as they want to do, then theyd better be damn sure they are capable of
this kind of use Smile

Paul

"Hugh Candlin" wrote in message$3o3.4990088@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> Paul E wrote in message
> news:%LVUa.76675$0v4.5056754@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > I got my HItachi 32" TV model 32UX59B 2.5 yrs ago, and Ive loved the
> > product, until last night. All of a sudden, the picture shrunk down to a
> 1"
> > line running from west to east across the center of the screen. By
> turning
> > it off and on, I was able to get it to go full screen again. This
> happened a
> > few times last night, but I was always able to get it to go back full
> > screen.
> >
> > But this morning, when i turned it on, it immediately went to that thin
> > left-to-right stripe, and stayed that way ever since.
> >
> > Could the picture tube go after just 2.5 years? True, I have it on an
> awful
> > lot, but still, thats what its for!
> >
> > Can someone tell me what the likely problem is, and what it might cost
to
> > get it repaired?
>
> I had a similar problem. It was the capacitors in the vertical hold
> circuit,
> but it took 14 years for them to go bad. Cost was just over $100 to fix.
>
> > Id much rather repair it than replace it, as I really enjoy
> > the tv when its working. There's a Hitachi Srvc center only about 5-7
> miles
> > from me, and Im just hoping they'll come out and give me a repair
> estimate
> > on it, as its too big for me to load into my car.
>
> I managed to get my 30" down to the repair shop by myself,
> using a minivan. With the help of one friend and a van or pickup,
> you should manage it easily.
>
> > I was thinking if I could
> > get it repaired for under about $250, I should do it, but if its going
to
> > cost much more than that, Id probably opt for a new one.
>
> Good policy. I just saw an ad in Good Guys for a 36" JVC closeout - $500.
>
> > But Id also be very disappointed that it only had a useful life of 2.5
> yrs.
>
> I would write a polite letter to the manufacturer. You never know.
>
> > I dont know if
> > anyone can tell if its a new picture tube thats needed by the
> description,
> > but I guess this would be the most expensive type of repair on it? Any
> > advice you could give, Id surely appreciate it.
>
> A replacement tube will almost certainly cost close to the replacement
> cost of a new set.
>
>

Brad Clarke · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

On Sun, 27 Jul 2003 19:31:07 GMT, "Paul E" wrote:

>>I got my HItachi 32" TV model 32UX59B 2.5 yrs ago, and Ive loved the
>>product, until last night. All of a sudden, the picture shrunk down to a 1"
>>line running from west to east across the center of the screen. By turning
>>it off and on, I was able to get it to go full screen again. This happened a
>>few times last night, but I was always able to get it to go back full
>>screen.
>>
>>But this morning, when i turned it on, it immediately went to that thin
>>left-to-right stripe, and stayed that way ever since.
>>
>>Could the picture tube go after just 2.5 years? True, I have it on an awful
>>lot, but still, thats what its for!
Same thing happened to my father-in-law, but only after 1 year.

Cost him $300 CDn to get it fixed and it's been since the repair (about
a year ago).

Brad

Hugh Candlin · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 20

Paul E wrote in message$3o3.4993828@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Hugh,
>
> Thanks for your reply. I have no friends with a minvan, or even an SUV,
if
> you can believe that. But, Id be very surprised if the Hitachi Srvc Cntr
in
> the next town over didnt have road srvc of some kind.
>
> Im looking at the TV now, and in that 1" horizontal stripe, I can see a
> clear segment of the picture. I would think that if the crt tube were
shot,
> I wouldnt see anything. It sounds more like what you had go wrong...At
> least, I certainly hope so.
>
> When I called Hitachi this morning, they were positive most of their srvc
> cntrs had road srvc, so Ill just contact them tomorrow.
>
> > I had a similar problem. It was the capacitors in the vertical hold
> > circuit, but it took 14 years for them to go bad. Cost was just over
$100
> to fix
>
> I certainly hope thats what it is, or something similar. Keep in mind
that
> I probably put as much use on my set in 2.5 yrs as most folks do in 10.
Its
> on virtually all day, for about 15 hrs!! But, hey, mfgs had better
realize
> that if theyre going to give us an appliance that serves as the center of
> our daily activities, able to store schedules, communicate with others,
etc,
> etc, as they want to do, then theyd better be damn sure they are capable
of
> this kind of use Smile

>
> Paul

Now that I think back, a couple of years ago there was a major
shortage of tantalum, which is a prime ingredient in tantalum capacitors.
Manufacturers were forced to switch to other types of capacitors.

If I remember correctly, certain unscrupulous manufacturers and brokers
took advantage of the situation and flooded the market with extremely
poor quality and outright defective capacitors. OEM manufacturers
were desperate, and grabbed at just about any capacitor deal they
were offered. I think that is what happened in your case.

I would definitely write a polite letter of complaint to Hitachi,
and ask them how they intend to rectify the matter
if they wish to retain you and your family as customers.
Remind them of the relative newness of the set,
and also that there is no way that the caps should have failed
so soon unless the set contained defective components.

> "Hugh Candlin" wrote in message
> $3o3.4990088@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> >
> > Paul E wrote in message
> > news:%LVUa.76675$0v4.5056754@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > > I got my HItachi 32" TV model 32UX59B 2.5 yrs ago, and Ive loved the
> > > product, until last night. All of a sudden, the picture shrunk down
to a
> > 1"
> > > line running from west to east across the center of the screen. By
> > turning
> > > it off and on, I was able to get it to go full screen again. This
> > happened a
> > > few times last night, but I was always able to get it to go back full
> > > screen.
> > >
> > > But this morning, when i turned it on, it immediately went to that
thin
> > > left-to-right stripe, and stayed that way ever since.
> > >
> > > Could the picture tube go after just 2.5 years? True, I have it on
an
> > awful
> > > lot, but still, thats what its for!
> > >
> > > Can someone tell me what the likely problem is, and what it might
cost
> to
> > > get it repaired?
> >
> > I had a similar problem. It was the capacitors in the vertical hold
> > circuit,
> > but it took 14 years for them to go bad. Cost was just over $100 to
fix.
> >
> > > Id much rather repair it than replace it, as I really enjoy
> > > the tv when its working. There's a Hitachi Srvc center only about
5-7
> > miles
> > > from me, and Im just hoping they'll come out and give me a repair
> > estimate
> > > on it, as its too big for me to load into my car.
> >
> > I managed to get my 30" down to the repair shop by myself,
> > using a minivan. With the help of one friend and a van or pickup,
> > you should manage it easily.
> >
> > > I was thinking if I could
> > > get it repaired for under about $250, I should do it, but if its
going
> to
> > > cost much more than that, Id probably opt for a new one.
> >
> > Good policy. I just saw an ad in Good Guys for a 36" JVC closeout -
$500.
> >
> > > But Id also be very disappointed that it only had a useful life of
2.5
> > yrs.
> >
> > I would write a polite letter to the manufacturer. You never know.
> >
> > > I dont know if
> > > anyone can tell if its a new picture tube thats needed by the
> > description,
> > > but I guess this would be the most expensive type of repair on it?
Any
> > > advice you could give, Id surely appreciate it.
> >
> > A replacement tube will almost certainly cost close to the replacement
> > cost of a new set.
> >
> >
>
>

Paul E · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 4

Let me update the list...This morning I contacted the local Hitachi cnter,
recommended by the national center they tell you to call at the back of the
manual. They wanted $55 just to make the trip and look at it. If I
accepted the estimate, they would NOT even credit the fee to the repair
price. As if that werent enough, they couldnt schedule me before Thursday.
So I found another local facility which picked it up a couple of hours ago.
I just got the call telling me what the story is..

When I told them on the phone how the picture just shrunk right up to a 1"
horizontal stripe across the center of the screen from left to right, they
said it sounds like a problem with something in the vertical circuit. But
when he called me up, it wasnt that at all, but instead, I needed a new
'tuner module', whatever that is. Anyway, he said that, along with a couple
of circuits he needed to replace, the parts cost him $190, just to show me
hes not socking me with a 'huge labor charge'! The total price to repair,
including delivery both ways, is going to be $275. This is a $900 tv which
most people get for around $700, so Im not too terribly unhappy with the
charge, provided its fixed and fixed properly. Of course, with TVs, it
could have been a 15 cent wire that needed replacing, and Id never know the
difference. If it were cars which I know something about, it would be much
harder for someone to fool me. But with this, Im totally at their mercy.

Now, if they return it today or tomorrow, fixed, Ill have considered it a
good decision Smile

Paul E

"Hugh Candlin" wrote in message$0v4.5104353@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> Paul E wrote in message
> $3o3.4993828@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > Hugh,
> >
> > Thanks for your reply. I have no friends with a minvan, or even an SUV,
> if
> > you can believe that. But, Id be very surprised if the Hitachi Srvc
Cntr
> in
> > the next town over didnt have road srvc of some kind.
> >
> > Im looking at the TV now, and in that 1" horizontal stripe, I can see a
> > clear segment of the picture. I would think that if the crt tube were
> shot,
> > I wouldnt see anything. It sounds more like what you had go wrong...At
> > least, I certainly hope so.
> >
> > When I called Hitachi this morning, they were positive most of their
srvc
> > cntrs had road srvc, so Ill just contact them tomorrow.
> >
> > > I had a similar problem. It was the capacitors in the vertical hold
> > > circuit, but it took 14 years for them to go bad. Cost was just over
> $100
> > to fix
> >
> > I certainly hope thats what it is, or something similar. Keep in mind
> that
> > I probably put as much use on my set in 2.5 yrs as most folks do in 10.
> Its
> > on virtually all day, for about 15 hrs!! But, hey, mfgs had better
> realize
> > that if theyre going to give us an appliance that serves as the center
of
> > our daily activities, able to store schedules, communicate with others,
> etc,
> > etc, as they want to do, then theyd better be damn sure they are capable
> of
> > this kind of use Smile

> >
> > Paul
>
> Now that I think back, a couple of years ago there was a major
> shortage of tantalum, which is a prime ingredient in tantalum capacitors.
> Manufacturers were forced to switch to other types of capacitors.
>
> If I remember correctly, certain unscrupulous manufacturers and brokers
> took advantage of the situation and flooded the market with extremely
> poor quality and outright defective capacitors. OEM manufacturers
> were desperate, and grabbed at just about any capacitor deal they
> were offered. I think that is what happened in your case.
>
> I would definitely write a polite letter of complaint to Hitachi,
> and ask them how they intend to rectify the matter
> if they wish to retain you and your family as customers.
> Remind them of the relative newness of the set,
> and also that there is no way that the caps should have failed
> so soon unless the set contained defective components.
>
> > "Hugh Candlin" wrote in message
> > $3o3.4990088@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > >
> > > Paul E wrote in message
> > > news:%LVUa.76675$0v4.5056754@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > > > I got my HItachi 32" TV model 32UX59B 2.5 yrs ago, and Ive loved the
> > > > product, until last night. All of a sudden, the picture shrunk down
> to a
> > > 1"
> > > > line running from west to east across the center of the screen. By
> > > turning
> > > > it off and on, I was able to get it to go full screen again. This
> > > happened a
> > > > few times last night, but I was always able to get it to go back
full
> > > > screen.
> > > >
> > > > But this morning, when i turned it on, it immediately went to that
> thin
> > > > left-to-right stripe, and stayed that way ever since.
> > > >
> > > > Could the picture tube go after just 2.5 years? True, I have it on
> an
> > > awful
> > > > lot, but still, thats what its for!
> > > >
> > > > Can someone tell me what the likely problem is, and what it might
> cost
> > to
> > > > get it repaired?
> > >
> > > I had a similar problem. It was the capacitors in the vertical hold
> > > circuit,
> > > but it took 14 years for them to go bad. Cost was just over $100 to
> fix.
> > >
> > > > Id much rather repair it than replace it, as I really enjoy
> > > > the tv when its working. There's a Hitachi Srvc center only about
> 5-7
> > > miles
> > > > from me, and Im just hoping they'll come out and give me a repair
> > > estimate
> > > > on it, as its too big for me to load into my car.
> > >
> > > I managed to get my 30" down to the repair shop by myself,
> > > using a minivan. With the help of one friend and a van or pickup,
> > > you should manage it easily.
> > >
> > > > I was thinking if I could
> > > > get it repaired for under about $250, I should do it, but if its
> going
> > to
> > > > cost much more than that, Id probably opt for a new one.
> > >
> > > Good policy. I just saw an ad in Good Guys for a 36" JVC closeout -
> $500.
> > >
> > > > But Id also be very disappointed that it only had a useful life of
> 2.5
> > > yrs.
> > >
> > > I would write a polite letter to the manufacturer. You never know.
> > >
> > > > I dont know if
> > > > anyone can tell if its a new picture tube thats needed by the
> > > description,
> > > > but I guess this would be the most expensive type of repair on it?
> Any
> > > > advice you could give, Id surely appreciate it.
> > >
> > > A replacement tube will almost certainly cost close to the replacement
> > > cost of a new set.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>