Our native mobile app has a new name: Fora Communities. Learn more.

I have the worst luck. Panasonic LIFI bulb blown

29256 Views 78 Replies 29 Participants Last post by Goldenknob, Dec 1, 2013

dexter999

Discussion Starter · Jan 16, 2008

2 months ago, I received my PT50LCX70 as part of the Panasonic class action law suit . This bulb is supposed to last 5 years?! Well, my first one has just blown after 60 days! I don't even know if this is covered under any warranty as it's a replacement for my 3 year old PT50LC13 lemon. Guess I'll be on the phone with Panasonic tomorrow. I was hoping those days were finally over.

See less See more

1 - 20 of 79 Posts

watsonte

· #2 · Jan 16, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by dexter999 /forum/post/12828050

2 months ago, I received my PT50LCX70 as part of the Panasonic class action law suit . This bulb is supposed to last 5 years?! Well, my first one has just blown after 60 days! I don't even know if this is covered under any warranty as it's a replacement for my 3 year old PT50LC13 lemon. Guess I'll be on the phone with Panasonic tomorrow. I was hoping those days were finally over.

Its a shame you have such bad luck, at some point wouldn't you just want to get your money back and invest in a different set, I know I would.

DaveFi

· #3 · Jan 16, 2008

I don't see why they wouldn't replace the bulb, seeing as it's a brand new set anyways. The bulb should still have the 5yr guarantee. If they give you a hard time I'd write a letter to the president listing your whole experience with them.

Speqtre

· #4 · Jan 16, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by dexter999 /forum/post/12828050

2 months ago, I received my PT50LCX70 as part of the Panasonic class action law suit . This bulb is supposed to last 5 years?! Well, my first one has just blown after 60 days! I don't even know if this is covered under any warranty as it's a replacement for my 3 year old PT50LC13 lemon. Guess I'll be on the phone with Panasonic tomorrow. I was hoping those days were finally over.

Ouch - sorry to hear it. Exactly why I took the rebate check. I'd assume you have the full new warranty with your LIFI set - if not, I'm sure the Garden City group would love to hear from you and other new LIFI owners (that have been selling for fire-sale prices at BB, for some reason...)

Please keep us updated as to what Panny tells you.

dexter999

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 16, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Speqtre /forum/post/12831866

Please keep us updated as to what Panny tells you.

I just got off the phone with Panasonic. They're sending a local repair shop out Monday to look at it. It's like Deja Vu!

Luckily after my being without a TV for months at a time with my last Panasonic set, I went out and bought a 40" Sony Bravia LCD for the spare room. At least I'll be able to watch the football games this weekend.

ithaca

· #6 · Jan 17, 2008

Is there any correlation between blown bulbs and uneven power flow to your television? The electricity in my house is not wired up very efficiently and I was blowing quite a few bulbs. I bought an inexpensive line conditioner and haven't had any bulb problems since. Just a thought.

dexter999

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 18, 2008

I do have a relatively cheap Belkin Surge protector/power conditioner. We've also moved since buying the original TV. I've blown 2 lamps in the old house, 2 in the new house. I got the belkin when we moved, so it's been behind 2 different sets & 2 of the 4 lamps I've blown.

dexter999

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 18, 2008

Got a reply email from the Garden City group (the ones that handled the class action settlement). I didn't think they'd be any help, but I thought it couldn't hurt.

Thank you for your email.

Unfortunately, you will have to contact Panasonic's customer service department regarding the problems with your replacement TV. There are no terms within the Settlement Agreement that address any type of warranty for replacement TV's, so it will be at Panasonic's discretion as to how they address and/or resolve your concerns.

Sincerely,

[email protected]

See less See more

Speqtre

· #9 · Jan 23, 2008

Well, wha' happend???

dexter999

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 25, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Speqtre /forum/post/12910558

Well, wha' happend???

The repair shop called and said they couldn't come out until the 29th. So I'm still in a holding pattern.

dexter999

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 29, 2008

The repair guy just showed up with a TY-LA1000 lamp to fix my LIFI set

Needless to say, it's still broken

y_not

· #12 · Jan 29, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by dexter999 /forum/post/12967970

The repair guy just showed up with a TY-LA1000 lamp to fix my LIFI set

Needless to say, it's still broken

LOL, He actually showed up with a std. DLP UHP Type bulb to fix your LiFi bulb?

WOW!!

How these techs ever get jobs is beyond me, 90% of them aren't worth their salt.

Keep us posted!

Don't worry, your not alone. I have had similar experiences with Mitsubishi & Sears stretching on for years now. Just when I thought it was over, it's all possibly starting over again, this time minus Sears, thank goodness!

Are you by any chance yourself in the technology field as your line of work?

Just wondering, as electronics that fail seem to favor those of us that work with them, whether indirectly or not. I have a whole list of things that died out of the box on me in the past several years, all major brands and not their low end stuff either.

It's almost like we go out and buy a CED & it see us coming. BAM!!!

See less See more

Speqtre

· #13 · Jan 29, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by dexter999 /forum/post/12967970

The repair guy just showed up with a TY-LA1000 lamp to fix my LIFI set

Needless to say, it's still broken

OUCH!

I hate to say it, but I seriously question whether anyone even has repair parts for these sets yet. The lamp isn't available for order online through Panasonic (it says to call them), and if it were, it's a $685 part!!!!!

See less See more

dexter999

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 29, 2008

I don't blame the repair guy.. Panasonic scheduled the repair and sent them the part.. Funny thing is, I left him alone with the set for 10 minutes.. He was taking it all apart, trying to find where the lamp was. I noticed the new TY-LA1000 on the floor next to him and informed him he had the wrong part. He gave me a funny look like "how would you know that?!"

They're supposed to be calling Panasonic for the right lamp. No ETA

DaveFi

· #15 · Jan 29, 2008

Yeah, but it's also the part of the repair-person to know they have the right part for the job before they make the trip out. Luckily I have a good authorized Panasonic repair shop right by my house.

sant471

· #16 · Feb 1, 2008

Well, I received my replacement PT-50LCX70 yesteday (1 month later than the 12/20 I was supposed to get it)! Problem is, there appears to be pixel damage on the screen, there is a line of fuzzy dots that show up about 2 inches down from the top and 2 inches up from the bottom on all inputs. Service tech is scheduled to come out Tuesday and take a look at it. One thing, first impression is that the picture quality is not as good as my old PT-50LC13...manual states it will support 1080p with HDMI, but I think it converts it to 720p...

See less See more

Speqtre

· #17 · Feb 1, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by sant471 /forum/post/12999697

Well, I received my replacement PT-50LCX70 yesteday (1 month later than the 12/20 I was supposed to get it)! Problem is, there appears to be pixel damage on the screen, there is a line of fuzzy dots that show up about 2 inches down from the top and 2 inches up from the bottom on all inputs. Service tech is scheduled to come out Tuesday and take a look at it. One thing, first impression is that the picture quality is not as good as my old PT-50LC13...manual states it will support 1080p with HDMI, but I think it converts it to 720p...

This set is native 720p, as indicated by the X in PT-50LCX70 - so yes, it does convert it to 720p, but it will take the signal

Not to start anything, but all y'all who got this set instead of the rebate cert towards another tv (Panny actually does make a really good PLASMA set) look like you're getting screwed. Between blown light sources, bad pixels, and the fact that Best Buy was clearing out the 56" model for under a grand... bad mojo for Panasonic

See less See more

2

DaveFi

· #18 · Feb 1, 2008

Lots of us are more than satisfied with the 1080p model.

Speqtre

· #19 · Feb 2, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveFi /forum/post/13003371

Lots of us are more than satisfied with the 1080p model.

DaveFI, I'm glad you like your LIFI set. I wasn't passing judgment on the TV in general, but rather making a statement about those who were members of the LCD RP TV class action against Panasonic.

After many of us spent ~ $3000 initially for the sets and had many bulb or light engine failures, and then had to spend hundreds of dollars more out of pocket to fix them... yes, I believe if you went through that, then received the orphaned LIFI 50" 720p set (that was never officially sold in the US) as a replacement and now are having problems with it, then yes, I think they kinda got screwed.

DaveFi

· #20 · Feb 2, 2008

I would have taken the cash. My previous TV was a 18mos old Samsung DLP which cost me $1900 and the light-tunnel collapsed. I got nadda. Squat. Diddly. I vowed to never purchase another Samsung product ever again.

1 - 20 of 79 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.