Appreciate comments from those knowledgeable about TV repair

[Line Judge]

I own a 50 inch Pioneer plasma TV (PDP5010FD) whose extended warranty expired last November. About a month ago the power to the house was interrupted for a second (no storms ect.) everything came back on except the TV. When I turned the TV on there was no picture instead the on light blinked in 12 blink intervals - later 8 blink intervals. A small window at the bottom of the screen said "Starting up. Please wait". This would stay on for a minute and disappear. Called authorized Pioneer repair store who came to the home, diagnosed it as needing a new power circuit which would take a week to fix and cost $400 with a $200 deposit. They took the TV to the shop. After no word for 3 weeks I called them and they said with the power unit they installed the TV stayed on for an hour or two and then turned off. They said the TV needed a new "main" circuit board installed and the total bill would now be $875 and would take two more weeks to fix. Two days later they said it was fixed and would deliver it the next day. After they plugged the TV in it would still not come on (not even the two hour window it was supposedly working for) and the on light blinked in 8 pulse increments. Does anyone have any idea what is going on? This place has been in business for many years and I do not think that it has a reputation for ripping people off.

[MOhillbilly]

Call Stan at service mart.

[Stewie]

I guess I'm lucky. I have a plasma and two LCD TVs. Never had a problem with any of them. I just saw an ad for a 39" LED for $277. Why would anyone repair a TV?

[Line Judge]

I appreciate all the comments. Thank you for taking the time.

I called Pioneer about the problem. The only thing that they did is to give me the phone number and address of the authorized TV repair shop near me.

The Pioneer plasma picture is the best that I have seen. That is why I spent the big bucks. No Samsung Led Lcd picture comes close. It would still take me $2000 for a Panasonic that would be somewhat close.

Any comment from a TV repairman would be helpful.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Line Judge

I appreciate all the comments. Thank you for taking the time.

I called Pioneer about the problem. The only thing that they did is to give me the phone number and address of the authorized TV repair shop near me.
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The Pioneer plasma picture is the best that I have seen. That is why I spent the big bucks. No Samsung Led Lcd picture comes close. It would still take me $2000 for a Panasonic that would be somewhat close.

Any comment from a TV repairman would be helpful.

You're in an impossible situation. The Pioneer Elites were the best TVs made, but as they've been disco'd for several years now support and service will be difficult. With that said, it's not wise to throw good money after bad in search of repairing a TV that has suffered electrical damage.

I think you have three options:


1) Buy a functional, used Pioneer that you can use as a replacement
2) Buy a used Pioneer with a cracked screen, swapping out your screen with the guts of the TV you are acquiring.
3) Buy a new TV.

[cabletech94]

Originally Posted by Line Judge

I appreciate all the comments. Thank you for taking the time.

I called Pioneer about the problem. The only thing that they did is to give me the phone number and address of the authorized TV repair shop near me.

The Pioneer plasma picture is the best that I have seen. That is why I spent the big bucks. No Samsung Led Lcd picture comes close. It would still take me $2000 for a Panasonic that would be somewhat close.

Any comment from a TV repairman would be helpful.

not a repairman, but i work with tvs all day.
my first hdtv was a vizio 42 inch. great tv for the price, and for what i needed.
after a year and a half of owning it, turned it on one morning. no sound. switched to the dvd player. no sound. turned on the (2 different) game systems. no sound. switched to a component cable. no sound. switched the hdmi cables no sound.
not a huge issue for me, as i had an old stereo receiver, so i used that for sound. finally after a year or so, i finally called vizio, as i had taken out the extended warranty (tv was mounted to the wall, and i needed help taking it off to get the serial number and such, which is why it took me so long to call).
vizio repair was more than helpful, set me up with a repairman here locally, they actually made a housecall. sent 2 guys, we took off the tv. they were looking at their workorder, said "oh, you're having sound problems. huh". they were sent with all the parts of the tv, except for a sound card, or speakers or whatever the needed to replace. they actually replaced every part of the tv, except for the screen and speakers.
and of course we still had no sound. they came back 3 weeks later with the speakers, and i've been back to normal ever since.

talk to the manufacturer. keep on them. sadly tho, the general concept is that we are a throwaway society right now. and it is generally "easier" to buy a new tv, than have a great one repaired.

good luck.

[cabletech94]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

You're in an impossible situation. The Pioneer Elites were the best TVs made, but as they've been disco'd for several years now support and service will be difficult. With that said, it's not wise to throw good money after bad in search of repairing a TV that has suffered electrical damage.

I think you have three options:


1) Buy a functional, used Pioneer that you can use as a replacement
2) Buy a used Pioneer with a cracked screen, swapping out your screen with the guts of the TV you are acquiring.
3) Buy a new TV.

these are great options. especially if you are handy.

[crossbow]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

You are unwise paying that much on a repair of a television. Pioneer made great TVs, but that model is still several years old, will be out of warranty even after the repair, and suffered electrical damage. Even if they fixed the main board there is still other damage that the surge/outage could have caused, and it doesn't appear like they seem to know what the hell they are doing.

I was a technician for 35 years. I can tell you this...
they are guessing and you get to pay for their theories.

[BlackHelicopters]

Eat the 200. Buy a Sony. Enjoy football.

[Simply Red]

Go with the Emerson or Craig!!!

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

The weird thing about the world today is that electronics are never repaired any more. It's always cheaper to replace them and typically upgrade at the same time. I'm kind of shocked that a TV repair place still exists.

Yep. Better to buy a new one.

[Bugeater]

I can fix it. My dad's a television repairman..he's got this awesome set of tools.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I can fix it. My dad's a television repairman..he's got this awesome set of tools.

In high school I bet you ordered pizza to be delivered in the middle of class.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by vailpass

In high school I bet you ordered pizza to be delivered in the middle of class.

There's nothing wrong with a little snack on our time.

[Groves]

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

Call Stan at service mart.

Yeah. Stan will do an in-home repair even, heh.


Maximize your TV-buying dollar and go to that special isle at SAMs.

Their generous return policy + jerks who take unrealistic advantage = an isle full of TVs that have been returned, then shipped back to the manufacturer to be reconditioned, then back to the store to be resold. Crazy low prices in my experience.