In April 2008, we had the light kit in our 50v500 replaced due to the pink bloom problem. Everything seemed great. But now in November 2008, we have a yellowish oval on the screen. It's fairly subtle, mostly invisible except during dark scenes. It's not as intrusive as the pink bloom...at least not yet.

This has me thinking that maybe it's about time to replace this TV. Now I just have to figure out how to get rid of a huge TV like this....

you won't get anything for it. My advise is keep it for a 'gaming' tv if you have room. X-box, or other console game tv.

If it outright fails, and you don't want to spend any money on it then you will have to get it recycled at an electronics recyclers.

Hello folks. This is quite a long thread and I've read through enough of it to realize Hitachi got a bunch of us good. I'm having issues with my set, but it's a 60V710 and most of the issues in this thread appear to be with the V500. I don't know the difference, but I'm willing to bet they're very similar.

I purchased my set just over four years ago with the four year extended warranty which just expired a month or so ago, and now I have issues. Wouldn't you know it? I, like many others, had a light engine fail within the first week. Splotches on my screen. However, since it was replaced mines been trouble free until now.

I'm not sure if my issue is the same, but I'd like to describe it to see what you guys think. My problem has to do with the color. Skin tones look yellow and over the majority of the screen it produces blues as blue green or green, clearing up toward the very outer edges of the screen. I'm still on the original lamp, but the set seems to be bright enough.

Does this sound like a light engine issue to you guys? If so, has anyone been able to get Hitachi to admit they have a problem? This is a real dilemma because of what we paid for these sets when new. Would it be worth the repair expense only to know that it could very likely happen again. And, what can I expect to pay to have it reapaired? I'll never buy another Hitachi.

Anyhow, I'd like to hear your opinions/recommendations.

Thanks so much.

Hello folks. This is quite a long thread and I've read through enough of it to realize Hitachi got a bunch of us good. I'm having issues with my set, but it's a 60V710 and most of the issues in this thread appear to be with the V500. I don't know the difference, but I'm willing to bet they're very similar.

I purchased my set just over four years ago with the four year extended warranty which just expired a month or so ago, and now I have issues. Wouldn't you know it? I, like many others, had a light engine fail within the first week. Splotches on my screen. However, since it was replaced mines been trouble free until now.

I'm not sure if my issue is the same, but I'd like to describe it to see what you guys think. My problem has to do with the color. Skin tones look yellow and over the majority of the screen it produces blues as blue green or green, clearing up toward the very outer edges of the screen. I'm still on the original lamp, but the set seems to be bright enough.

Does this sound like a light engine issue to you guys? If so, has anyone been able to get Hitachi to admit they have a problem? This is a real dilemma because of what we paid for these sets when new. Would it be worth the repair expense only to know that it could very likely happen again. And, what can I expect to pay to have it reapaired? I'll never buy another Hitachi.

Anyhow, I'd like to hear your opinions/recommendations.

Thanks so much.

Well, I had a 50vx500 that was 4 yrs. old this past Sept. We also had a light engine replaced in the first 3 months. Then - I'm not sure if it's quite the same, but I had a loss of color - first reds, which was very apparent in skin tones and then the green failed as well. It turns out it was the main video board - I argued with Hitachi and was able to get them to supply the board and pay labor. That was about a year and a half ago. Now we have the pink bloom again which is definitely a light engine - I cut my losses and sold the TV on ebay - mentioned the problems and the light engine fix, etc. I figured it was a way to get it out of the house, and if someone had the know how and wanted to fix it that was fine, but I was tired of arguing with Hitachi - will never buy another Hitachi again. In your case, if it's the video board, the labor charge was about $300 - though all they did was pop off the panel and put it in. If you can get Hitachi to spring for the part, it may be worth it? FWIW we settled on a Samsung LN52A650 and have been very pleased with it so far. Good Luck!!

I bought a Samsung BR 2550 and hooked it up to the V500 via a DVI to HDMI connection, I have my cable box hooked up to the tv via component. I can now see a blue light in the bottom right hand corner of the tv and when the screen goes black I can see a blue light in the middle. The tv is now about 5 years old and over the years I have had some problems and is till watchable even though I can notice these defects. My question is can anyone tell what is causing this blue light (is it from the blue ray player?) and/or is it the connections. Should I try switching the connections and go dvi/hdmi to the cable box and component to the blue ray player? I am thinking this guy is ready to die but still has some life left and is still watchable.

I just put a new LE in my 60v500a about a week ago, and now the is one red pixel in the middle of the screen!!!!!! It's very annoying and frustrating. Does anyone know how to fix or am I gonna have to call a tech to fix it??? Or is it due to the LE or something else?? Please help. Thank you!!

---> altay-sounds like you need a light engine replacement. sometimes you'll get a green, red or blue spot on screen when it starts to go bad. you should call hitachi.

---> mark - i would definitely call hitachi customer service. or call back the folks who replaced your light engine. might have gotten a defective unit. i would not stand for a dead pixel!

hope that helps!

Thought I'd give an update to my previous post abut the issues I have with my 60V715 and share with you the horrible customer service I've received from Conn's. As it turns out I lucked out as my TV wasn't quite as old as I thought it was and Conn's called the same week I was having issues wanting to extend my extended warranty. In view of the issues I'm having and the poor reliability of these sets I jumped on it. However, an additional two years cost me another $500 (ouch), so I now have almost a grand in the extended warranty's.

Anyhow, I extend the contract and immediately contact the service center. This was the 22nd of Dec. The repairman came out on the 24th and said I need a new bulb and LE and that he would order the parts, but it could take 12-16 days. A month later and nothing. I call the service center and am told they're still waiting on parts. I keep checking weekly and still they say they haven't received the parts. I've been told the parts weren't even ordered until 15 Jan. by one rep., then I'm told the part shipped on the 22nd of Jan., but still they still haven't received it.

I've complained and complained. Pleaded with them to check with Hitachi and to track the part to determine when I can expect service, but they never call back. Went to the store where I bought the extended agreement and they said service is a totally different department and there is nothing they can do.

Man, I can't believe how bad Conn's customer service is. 48 days and counting with no help in sight. Oh yeah, almost forgot. When I ask to speak to a service center manager to elevate the issue the reps (yes, all of them) tell me they will take the complaint, but can't get a manager. Go to they're website and try to find a place to lodge complaints and it doesn't exist. Sheesh. I'll never buy from Conn's or Hitachi again!

We have had the light engine problem with our 50v700 set. The first time we called Hitachi customer service they agreed to send us a new LE. There was no problem, the onlt thing they asked was for us to have someone come out and confirm that was the problem.

Anyways... Now we have the new LE and I want to install it myself. is there any instructions on how to do it?

I just recently had my LE changed on my 50v500A. I now have two problems and I don't know what is causing my problem of getting NO BLUE to show up in any mode or on any screen. How I know that there is NO BLUE, is by multiple methods.

First off, if I go into the user menu - video - color decoding - blue, my screen goes black on antenna, dvd video input, dvd s-video, dvd composite video. If I put it into the red or green mode, the picture clearly goes all red or green as you would expect it to. Not sure why BLUE is missing. I am sure my dvd is working correctly, because I used 2 different ones and they work on my other tv. With the panel off the back of the unit, I can see in thru the filter to see that the blue LED section in the LE is clearly lite up brightly... so I know it is not the blue light causing the problem.

The other issue is that I see I have a 500A and not a 500 (and this seems to be the LE that Hitachi sent me... but it might be that between myself and the service tech, we possibly told them it was a 50v500 and not a 50v500a... but you would think that they would get the part number correct from the serial number).

Not sure if this part number being different would cause the lack of blue. I suspect from the earlier posts, that this should not be the issue, but I would love to hear someone with better experience and knowledge than I to confirm or deny this assumption.

My best guess now is that I either have a cabling problem between the main circuit board of the inputs and tuners and the LE, or this main circuit board has some thing wrong with it and is not sending out the blue signal to the LE.

Hopefully someone out there can help me with understanding what problem is with this lack of BLUE color on my system. I hate to junk this thing since it now has a new blub, a new light engine and lots of time in trying to figure this one out.

Thanks,

Brett

I just recently had my LE changed on my 50v500A. I now have two problems and I don't know what is causing my problem of getting NO BLUE to show up in any mode or on any screen. How I know that there is NO BLUE, is by multiple methods.

First off, if I go into the user menu - video - color decoding - blue, my screen goes black on antenna, dvd video input, dvd s-video, dvd composite video. If I put it into the red or green mode, the picture clearly goes all red or green as you would expect it to. Not sure why BLUE is missing. I am sure my dvd is working correctly, because I used 2 different ones and they work on my other tv. With the panel off the back of the unit, I can see in thru the filter to see that the blue LED section in the LE is clearly lite up brightly... so I know it is not the blue light causing the problem.

The other issue is that I see I have a 500A and not a 500 (and this seems to be the LE that Hitachi sent me... but it might be that between myself and the service tech, we possibly told them it was a 50v500 and not a 50v500a... but you would think that they would get the part number correct from the serial number).

Not sure if this part number being different would cause the lack of blue. I suspect from the earlier posts, that this should not be the issue, but I would love to hear someone with better experience and knowledge than I to confirm or deny this assumption.

My best guess now is that I either have a cabling problem between the main circuit board of the inputs and tuners and the LE, or this main circuit board has some thing wrong with it and is not sending out the blue signal to the LE.

Hopefully someone out there can help me with understanding what problem is with this lack of BLUE color on my system. I hate to junk this thing since it now has a new blub, a new light engine and lots of time in trying to figure this one out.

Thanks,

Brett

The difference between the 500 and 500a will not matter for the light engine. There is no difference. It sounds like your new light engine is bad. In the light engine there are three panels one red, one green and one blue. These three panels are combined or layered to create all of the color. I think the blue panel in your light engine is bad. Sorry for the bad news.

In an interesting development, I just called Hitachi about my 50v500 unit that developed the red blob just last weekend.

Bob at customer service said that they no longer handle this over the phone and he wasn't 'allowed' to transfer my call to his supervisor. My only apparent remedy is to write a letter to a "Customer Service Appeals Committe", submit my bill of sale and service history and my reasons as to why the issue should be "covered".

For reference, the address he provided was:
Hitachi Home Electronics
Attention: Customer Service Appeals Committee
900 Hitachi Way
Chula Vista, CA 91914

So, it appears the answer is always "no" and you must immediately go to "appeal".

Has anyone else had this happen recently? Bob said the new policy was put in place about a month ago. Any ideas? Seems like a rather crappy way to treat your customers who have purchased a very expensive tv.

I have a problem with the light engine in my 50VS810 - after 4 years I finally got a large blotch. Because my light engine did not fail in the first few months they say that my only recourse was to write to the Appeals Committe. No way to get to a surpervisor and they ask me to terminate the call!

Geee, I wonder what they are going to say!

Luis

The difference between the 500 and 500a will not matter for the light engine. There is no difference. It sounds like your new light engine is bad. In the light engine there are three panels one red, one green and one blue. These three panels are combined or layered to create all of the color. I think the blue panel in your light engine is bad. Sorry for the bad news.

I stumbled on this thread and I gotta pull my pant legs up really high for this one. I'm not sure who the bigger R-Tard is, JK318 or the work "tech" who fixed Brettdawnj's 50V500A. That "A" is not there to make you feel better about yourself. "Hey, I bout the A model because it passed math class!" NO! it's there because it is a different Model set with Different parts inside. I know this because, GASP, I too have had the Light Engine replaced in my 50V500A. I went down this road with my service tech and if I knew then what I know now... THE A MATTERS! Luckily I was able to catch the error beofe it went on too long and really dammaged my TV. Jimmy at Hitachi took care of it and a few days later I had the CORRECT light engine in my 50V500A and everything was happy happy joy joy.

So if you take anything away from this rant, make it the fact that even IG-NANT, inbread, numb nuts like JK318 can sound like they know what they are talking about, but in fact they would lose a battle of witts against Terri Schiavo.

Stumbled across this forum, very relevant to what I found out today so far.

I have a 70VX915, which they no longer make. Picture was fantastic when i got the TV, the original bulb lasted almost 2 years. Swapped out the bulb last year when I noticed the picture going, picture went back to fantastic.

Last year i noticed the light starting to go, but it didn't seem like before when the bulb went out. I swapped the bulb out in Feb 2009 again, and the picture improved, but i could tell something wasn't right. I didn't even realize a light engine could go out that quickly!

Anyways, I called Hitachi customer service at the 1-800-Hitachi, the local video repair shop suggested I call as they had heard that Hitachi might supply a new lamp free of charge, and I would just have to pay for labor. Customer service at Hitachi said no, and when i asked for a supervisor, the dude cut me off and said I had to send a letter to the customer appeals department at the 900 Hiatchi Way, Chula Vista, CA address. Would not let me talk to a supervisor, and said that for the light engine issue, he was not allowed to put a supervisor on the phone.

Stay tuned on the progress...no new light engines are built for these older TVs, only refurbished ones are available.

One of kids cracked the screen on my 60V500A, after much searching i found a replacement screen and ordered it. It's now arrived and i took the TV apart to replace it, now i have it back together and powered up the picture seems fine in the center but darker round the edges and slightly out of focus. Any ideas how to fix this? I've went through the service menu but nothing jumps out as an the right setting.

In an interesting development, I just called Hitachi about my 50v500 unit that developed the red blob just last weekend.

Bob at customer service said that they no longer handle this over the phone and he wasn't 'allowed' to transfer my call to his supervisor. My only apparent remedy is to write a letter to a "Customer Service Appeals Committe", submit my bill of sale and service history and my reasons as to why the issue should be "covered".

For reference, the address he provided was:
Hitachi Home Electronics
Attention: Customer Service Appeals Committee
900 Hitachi Way
Chula Vista, CA 91914

So, it appears the answer is always "no" and you must immediately go to "appeal".

Has anyone else had this happen recently? Bob said the new policy was put in place about a month ago. Any ideas? Seems like a rather crappy way to treat your customers who have purchased a very expensive tv.

Well I had a rep tell me absolutely NO the first time I called but it was about six months ago (Nov-Dec 08). I don't know if there is new rule like your guy says (my rep was telling me all kinds of lies to try and get me to leave him alone). But here is what I did...

I called Hitachi Customer Service to complain about my 60V500A having a pink hue that basically covered the whole screen. I had done my research and I knew the problem was the light engine and I told the representative that I knew what the problem was. He told me my tv was five years old, way out of warranty and that they were doing NOTHING! I continued to argue and he told me to see if it was really the light engine (via one of their licensed repairmen) and go from there. Not to mention he was extremely rude and not cooperative.

Two days later I called back (talked to a different rep this time) and I pretended that the last representative I talked to told me they would replace my light engine for free and I only had to pay for the labor and that I just needed to confirm with their licensed repairman that the problem was the light engine. (The last rep didn't tell me any of that but I knew from my research from other ppl with the same problem that this was hitachi's protocol). Once the rep heard that I had already been granted the light engine from someone else, he was extremely nice and very helpful. The light engine was sent and my tv was fixed and I only payed for the labor. So maybe if you just lie like me and pretend you were already promised the light engine they will just start cooperating! Its worth a try..

Now here is my new problem, however. Its been six months since the fix, my tv has been like brand new, but a few days ago a blue blob has formed on the right side of my tv... I know its the light engine and Im pissed. I haven't called customer service yet because I want to see if anyone else has encountered this same problem (having your replaced engine go bad). Any suggestions as to what I should do?

Well I had a rep tell me absolutely NO the first time I called but it was about six months ago (Nov-Dec 08). I don't know if there is new rule like your guy says (my rep was telling me all kinds of lies to try and get me to leave him alone). But here is what I did...

I called Hitachi Customer Service to complain about my 60V500A having a pink hue that basically covered the whole screen. I had done my research and I knew the problem was the light engine and I told the representative that I knew what the problem was. He told me my tv was five years old, way out of warranty and that they were doing NOTHING! I continued to argue and he told me to see if it was really the light engine (via one of their licensed repairmen) and go from there. Not to mention he was extremely rude and not cooperative.

Two days later I called back (talked to a different rep this time) and I pretended that the last representative I talked to told me they would replace my light engine for free and I only had to pay for the labor and that I just needed to confirm with their licensed repairman that the problem was the light engine. (The last rep didn't tell me any of that but I knew from my research from other ppl with the same problem that this was hitachi's protocol). Once the rep heard that I had already been granted the light engine from someone else, he was extremely nice and very helpful. The light engine was sent and my tv was fixed and I only payed for the labor. So maybe if you just lie like me and pretend you were already promised the light engine they will just start cooperating! Its worth a try..

Now here is my new problem, however. Its been six months since the fix, my tv has been like brand new, but a few days ago a blue blob has formed on the right side of my tv... I know its the light engine and Im pissed. I haven't called customer service yet because I want to see if anyone else has encountered this same problem (having your replaced engine go bad). Any suggestions as to what I should do?

I had the LE in my 60V500a replaced under extended warranty about a year ago. Since then, my warranty has expired, and the LE is starting to fail again. About 5 months ago I started to get a light blue hue in a blob in the center of the screen. The good news is I can only see the hue when the TV is displaying bright white, otherwise it's impossible to see. The other good news is it hasn't gotten worse at all in 5 months and it does not make the picture blurry at all, so it doesn't bother me too much (Glad I don't watch hockey though, because it would be pretty obvious there).

I don't have any suggestions for your issue but just trying to encourage you that maybe it won't get any worse at least :)

I'm tired of searching the threads... its getting late. Sound is fine on the 50V500, but no picture - turned around one day a couple weeks ago and the picture was black. Not black like when it is off, bit black like between programs. So it is getting light, but I cannot even access the menu because it will display NOTHING. Still have the same solid blue power light on the front that I've always had and I can hear the fan spinning. WTF is wrong with this thing? Thank you

I only recently learned of the lawsuit that had been filed against Hitachi in federal court in Dallas seeking class-action status (http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS145367+29-Aug-2008+PRN20080829) regarding the horrible way in which customers like myself who had spent thousands of dollars buying Hitachi LCD TVs have been treated after discovering a manufacturer's defect in the television. But I wasn't surprised. The company's callous disregard in this situation for the thousands of customers who had bought its LCD TVs was bound to catch up with them sooner or later.

In my case, I own a 60V500A, which cost more than $3,000. I began noticing that in one part of the screen, the picture was appearing read and blurry. I called Hitachi and was told that the lamp needed replacing. So I spent the money on a new lamp and installed it, only to find the problem still there. I then went online and was absolutely stunned to read literally thousands of posts on numerous websites from angry Hitachi customers who had invested a lot of money in a variety of Hitachi LCD models, only to have the same problem. It's a failure of the optical engine which produces what is called "blooming" on the screen.

So I called a Hitachi-authorized service center to get a repair cost estimate, and they said they needed to see the TV to vefify the problem and give an accurate estimate. They charged $60 to come out and confirmed the problem. They also verified that it was a manufacturer's defect in the optical engine, and that Hitachi had been well aware of the problem since they first started manufacturing these units. When I told them that when the problem originally started, Hitachi said it was the light engine, he smiled and shook his head and said they knew what the problem was. They also told me Hitachi was providing no more new optical engines, so I'd have to buy a refurbished engine for $450 and the total repair cost would be around $800.

I called Hitachi back and asked why, if they had known about the problem since the beginning, that they told me the problem was the lamp, but was given no answer. I said that since it was a defect in manufacturing that they were well aware of, what would they do for me, and they responded absolutely nothing because the TVs 12-month warranty had expired! Now that explanation might work for a random problem that crops up, but not a manufacturer's defect that they had known about from the beginning but done nothing to address. Just as with automakers, even when warranties have expired on cars, they issue recalls to correct problems that are manufacturers defects---it's just the right thing to do.

So here I sit with a $3,000+ TV that I already have to replace. Hitachi has done incredible damagae to their reputation in consumer electronics by their actions here---all you have to do is go online and enter 50V500, or 60V500 or the other model numbers to discover that. I've heard that they are getting out of the HDTV business, which is just as well. We don't need companies like this in the marketplace. Attorney Eric Pearson of Heygood, Orr, Reyes, Pearson, and Bartolomei, who represents the plaintiff, said, "Hitachi has been more than willing to take people's money for these TV sets and they should be more than willing to fix them. In some cases, people paid $3,500 or more for these TVs. You can't take that kind of money and deliver a defective product." Exactly, or expect that consumers will EVER buy your products again after being treated like this. Glad to hear they're getting out of the HDTV market---others won't have to suffer their horrendous treatment.

O.K., so what now? I can tell by the posts that I am not alone in being screwed by Hitachi on my 50VS810. Funny, I find no comfort in that. I paid $5,000 for this tv plus $700 for the extended warranty. The fan went out when it was 2 years old (major dollars fortunately covered under the extended warranty) and now I have a never-ending blinking lamp light. After replacing the lamp unit, the brightly colored blinking light is still there, which means the tv does not come on at all. Did I mention I paid FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS for this tv???? So that's what, like renting from Hitachi for $1,000 a year and then NOTHING to show for it?

O.K., so what now? I can tell by the posts that I am not alone in being screwed by Hitachi on my 50VS810. Funny, I find no comfort in that. I paid $5,000 for this tv plus $700 for the extended warranty. The fan went out when it was 2 years old (major dollars fortunately covered under the extended warranty) and now I have a never-ending blinking lamp light. After replacing the lamp unit, the brightly colored blinking light is still there, which means the tv does not come on at all. Did I mention I paid FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS for this tv???? So that's what, like renting from Hitachi for $1,000 a year and then NOTHING to show for it?

I had this same problem with my 50V500. I got the schematic and found that the switch that detects that the lamp access door is closed was loosing it ground. It has 5 volts supplied to it and when it is closed it drops the 5 volts to 0 volts. The ground is supplied from the power module. I was able to re-route the ground to the chassis and it worked fine. Of course I have electronic training so possibly you could show this to a tv tech or a friend and have them check this out. Hope it helps.

Thanks for the info JK. As a last resort I will try that. I know that any modifications will give Hitachi the "out" they are looking for. I wrote Hitachi and I was SHOCKED to find this response in my inbox. Wish me luck!

Thank you for visiting the Hitachi website and for your inquiry.

We apologize for the inconvenience. Due to the nature of your situation, we would like to have someone in our Customer Relations department contact you. If you would please write back with your telephone number and the best time to call, we will forward your message to have someone contact you.


Or, if you so desire, you may also contact the Customer Relations department directly at 1-800-654-7013. We have representatives available from 8:00 AM to 7 PM (CT) Monday - Friday. Please reference your e-mail address if you call in as a customer service file has been created based upon your e-mail contact.


Thank you again for writing Hitachi.

I have the same issue. I looks like a urine stain in the middle of the TV.

sirslur.com/2009/11/03/hitachi-lcd-tvs-are-lemons/

I called hitachi again today as they never emailed me the appeals committee information.

This service rep (Nicole) told me that she nor any other rep could send an email. So the previous rep lied to me. I despise being lied to. Nicole said the only way to submit my appeal was through snail mail.

I asked was there any way Hitachi would fix this. I was told that i did not meet the qualifications to have hitachi fix it for me. When i asked what that qualification was, she said having a previous issue with the light engine would have qualified me. What that means to me is, they want me to pay extra $$$ to get the light engine they should have put into the tv in the first place.

I asked what I should expect from the appeals committee. Nicole said they would respond in about a month. She was very nice but Hitachi has poor service policies and worse products.