Master thread for Panasonic plasma not turning on - Page 11

Count me in as another. I purchased my 42" last June; I'm about 2 weeks past the 1 year warranty. I watched TV today just fine, came home from work tonight, and got the 10-blink result.

I will call Panasonic tomorrow, and hopefully a combination of mentioning others with similar problems, and the fact that it's so close to the 1 year mark, they'll do that appeal like some of you have had success with.

Will it being a 10 blink, not a 7 blink, be an issue? Seems like most of you have the 7.

Today i got the blinking light!

it only blinks 2 times though...the first time it happened i just unplugged it for about ten seconds and then plugged it back in and it worked fine. Later on in the day i turned the tv off and came back 10 mins later to fine that it was doing it again...only this time when i unplug it and plug it back in it continues to blink 2 times...

i'll be calling them in the morning tomorrow, but anyone have an idea as to what the 2 blinks mean? and what it might take to fix it?

Here's a poll and a list of the Blinking Light codes:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1160806

I heard back from Panasonic customer service today and set up an appointment for a repair "assessment". The customer service rep said that if the problem is due to a specific component (I assume this is the particular circuit board others here have mentioned) then they will cover the repair at no charge.

The appointment is set for Monday afternoon and I will post my experience here.

So far what Pansonic is doing is the first step in the right direction. Please give an update as this may give some hope to others that may have this type of issue. And good luck terminator6.

My TV is now up and running again. The repair shop that Panasonic contracted the work out to got the part in earlier than expected so they offered to come on Friday night and install it (very nice service, they could have just as easily waited until Monday).

The repair guy took the back off the TV and unplugged various boards and tried to turn the TV on a few times and then said it was a definite candidate for the replacement part. I asked him what he was checking for and he said he wanted to make sure there wasn't an issue with the panel itself, which would be a much bigger (and more expensive) issue to deal with. He put the new part in (I was surprised how big it was, like a PC motherboard), updated the firmware, checked the voltage, and it was back up and running.

Assuming this fixes the problem long term I have to say I am quite impressed with how Panasonic has handled this. They admitted to an issue with a particular part and executed the repair without charge even though I was about 8 months out of warranty. I hope everyone else experiencing the same issue is able to get it resolved to their satisfaction as well.

That is great news terminator6 and thanks for the update. Did they happen to mention what board or boards was replaced? Any detail description on a receipt?

The P board is the largest in the 77U.

Larry

On the receipt it says part no. TXNSC1NZTU

LarryInRI

terminator6

Good information, thank you.

JChin,

That board costs over $300 from Panasonic.

Larry

Larry,

I wonder if they allow you to keep the old defective board? And I wonder what they do with the old board if not?

I believe there is a core charge on the replacement boards so the tech probably returns it to get his core charge back, then Panasonic refurbishes the board and resells it.

That board is an SC (scan) board and yes it costs over $300 as do most of the large boards.

The "duds" are returned to the Elgin refurb facility where they are repaired and put back into the replacement board pool.

TW

So meaning Panasonic is senting these repaired boards to repair shop to replace bad boards (either within or out of warranty)?

This is what the tech told me, they send it back and refurb it to use in other repairs. He was complaining that for some of the 'off' brands they don't do a good job of keeping a supply of parts because they just tell techs to keep them or throw them out. If your TV breaks under warranty they have to give you a new set because they don't have parts (of course you might have to wait 3 months to get it), and if it's out of warranty you're just out of luck.

Thanks guys for the explaination.

Correct. An initial amount of spare boards are ordered by the parts group when new models are introduced, and the ball starts rolling from there.

TW

I was recently affected by the 7 blink problem after 18 months of enjoying the fantastic picture from the tv. 42pz700. I called Panasonic Plasma Concierge, waited for 20 minutes to talk to someone. They had me fax a copy of my sales receipt to them.
The repair person came out, put in a scan drive board (SC) and upgraded firmware. He said that the firmware caused the TV to draw too much power and blows drive board(s) (7 blinks) . He left, it worked, everyone was happy.
A couple of hours later, the tv smelled hot, that distinctive smell of frying electronics. Not too long after, it went blank again. This time with a 10 blink code. I called Panasonic, waited 35 minutes, and told them my issue. They said they would contact the repair shop again. The repair shop called, said that they had been contacted by Panasonic and they would not cover the problem. Panasonic told the repair shop that they would not cover the new issue because it was not related to the first issue. The repair shop even pushed back on Panasonic, but they stuck to their story.
Panasonic warranty department then called me and told me the 7 blink issue and the 10 blink issue that happened less than 3 hours after the fix were unrelated. I was arguing with a non technical person and getting nowhere.
I called Concierge back and was told the same thing. While I was explaining why they were related, the agent was typing and recording everything I said. I mean everything. I felt like I was being deposed for a trial. Not sure where it will end up, but my respect for Panasonic has gone down the tubes. I was told that I needed to get an estimate, fax it to Panasonic, and then they would decide whether or not they would pay to get it fixed. I am not really sure how this is going to shake out, but I am hoping for the best.

RKZ

Welcome RKZ, sorry to hear about your problem. Did you happen to purchase this with a credit card. If so most credit card will cover a purchase for additional year after manufacture warranty is out.

Well, color me red, blinking red. My 46G10 is less than one month old and I've had it die on me. There were blinking lights (more than 10 . . . 13 or 14) until I unplugged the set and plugged it back in. I got no picture, no sound, the set won't respond to any commands, either from the side or the remote.

Now I'm about 2 days away from my return window at Amazon. It will be a pain repacking everything. But based on past experience I'll have the money back within a week.

Would you guys go ahead and return the set or take a chance with the repair people?

After what is happening with RKZ after his TV was repaired i think i'd just punt and return the TV instead of getting it fixed - providing you don't get penalized too much. But getting it fixed is free, and is probably quicker than returning it and buying a new one.

Thanks.

I was trying to edit this question into my OP but system wouldn't let me. The question is; given the number of blinks and the code list, it suggests a problem with "communication." Could my Motorola/Comcast STB resetting have caused the problem?

I bought my TH-42PZ80U from ABC Warehouse and was very happy with it until it went to the same 7 blinking light thing. I called Panasonic the first time the lady that I spoke to was very nice and told me that Panasonic was aware of the problem and said that they would send a warranty verification letter to me and that some one would call in 24 hours to set service no call so after 72 hours I called them and they appologized and said that they would get someone that could help me and put me on hold and then they came back and said that they could not get anyone to take my call and someone would call me in 2 to three days big suprise no call again. I called back and then they told me that the lady that had told me that the blinking light thing was a problem that they were aware of told me wrong information that that was the 2007 models that they had the problem with. So I was very disheartened that they would treat their customers that way after spending nearly 1500.00 on the thing with new cables and wall mount and the like. I then the next day got the letter in the mail that the lady sad would come it took two weeks. So I called just to make sure that I would not be charged for the TV when I took it in for evaluation and the guy I talked to said that I would not as long as the managers approved it. So three days later I called and set the service only to hang up with them to have panasonic then call me and say that they were not covering it at all because I was past my 30 day grace period for the warranty coverage I told her that the letter that they sent me had till the 08/01/09 typed on it and that I was not past that 30 day grace period that it was only 17 day past the day on the letter and she said no that they were not covering it end of story. So if any one knows of a class action suit against them I am ready willing and able because I documented every call I made to them,

Bought a TH50PZ800U in Feb of this year.

Died in April (8 blinking lights--which seems to be fairly rare, according to these forums)

Took over a month to fix.

Got it back in June.

Died again in July (8 blinking lights!).

Sent a letter to Panny about 2 weeks ago asking them to give me a new TV as I believe this one is obviously a lemon. They haven't responded yet.

For the 6 months I've had the TV, its only been watchable for about 2 months.

If you can return the set, I would.

Update:
As I'm headed to Hawaii soon I decided to just get it repaired. It didn't take long, just took Panny a long time to send the part. It wasn't really a power issue, it was the signal board, and given the # of flashes it was the communications board (tech called it signal board).

After he finished I asked him about whether the box could have been behind it and he said no problems (yet) with the DCX3400. I told him I used to have the DCH3200 and he said they've been causing all kinds of trouble, but figured it could have just been a bad board, too.

But, I also had a problem w/ a new receiver I bought not being able to send video to my set after one day of use (connected via HDMI to STB and to flat panel). Now I'm pretty sure that it was the box. I will be telling Comcast abt my experience, they are just lucky I opted for using the warranty and return options rather than going after their butts.

Also, I started the return process w/ Amazon at the same time as contacting Panasonic about repairs just to cover all bases. Amazon asked that I contact Panny first anyway.

At any rate, the set is working fine and given what we think is the root of the problem is gone now (bad STB) I wont have more problems I hope. I am considering getting a surge protector w/ Coax but I hear people are having signal reception problems. I could by-pass by running coax into box first then to sp but I use HDMI to connect so that's not going to help me.

My 42" 80U failed as well. Purchased new in november 2008. Turns on for about 4 seconds then turns off and stays off - blinking 11 times.

Sucks.

Sorry to hear about your problem. 11 blinks is normally a fan not running or a voltage to the fans thats bad. Just call Panasonic's Concierge Service to have a tech come out. Should be in home service if its a fan replacement.

TH-PZ85U (still in warranty) connected HDMI #1 to:
Yamaha receiver RX-V665
DirecTV HR-22-100
Panasonic BD35
All connected HDMI

Several months ago I got the "11 blinks" (fan problem)
Called concierge and together we got it working finally with a factory reset.
I had tried other reset combinations: pulling power cord with/without HDMI connections before that with no joy. Concierge said I'd need to duplicate the condition with the blinking light so a tech could examine it in that condition. (I guess that makes sense like having a noise in an automobile and taking it to a mechanic.)

This problem had been intermittent for about a week before this solution.
I kept checking the fans (with a mirror; it's on the wall) and all were running.

Just yesterday it did it again, first time since the solution. I restored it by pulling HDMI, pulling power, holding power button and replugging. Reset screen (not factory reset) came up and all has been fine.

I've read all threads. Found the one interesting about the cut wire to a fan.
So . . .

1. Anyone had this problem intermittently?
2. Could it be related to signal the AV receiver is sending to the HDMI in? (I've read about the Panny shutting down with HDPC's connected to inputs other than #3, but that's a 10 blink problem right?)
3. I'm trying to think of an intermittent fan/temp problem.
4. Any comments?

If I could just reproduce the condition predictably or permanently then I'd be on a more direct road to getting it fixed. (also bought a 3rd party 5 year warranty)

Thanks