DIY light engine

You have a defective light engine and you do not have to be under warranty for Hitachi to replace this part. We just went through this and here's what you need to do. Call Hitachi's customer relations department at 800-654-7013 and tell them that you have a defective light engine. They will act like they've never heard of this problem but they have. They will give you the names of some certified dealers in your area to call. Once a tech comes out and confirms that it's the light engine, call Hitachi back and they will send a brand new light engine to the dealer and Hitachi will cover the cost of the part (cost $1500).

Here is the deal, if you're under warranty, Hitachi will cover the part and the install. If you're not under warranty, all you pay is the install. Our install cost $400. Others on this site have paid $200. Do not let anyone tell you that you have to pay for the light engine part...you do not. Hitachi has not recalled this part but they are replacing it for free. Also, deal only with Hitachi customer realations number that I listed. Good Luck

I had this blue blob appear on my 50V500 one month ago. It started along the right edge and over several weeks got progressively larger. I read the owners manual that suggested color changes means the lamp needs replacement. Called Sears and ordered lamp ($250). Replaced lamp which did nothing, blue blob still appeared.

I found the posts on internet suggesting the light engine was bad with Hitachi providing the part outside of the one year waranty, so I called Hitachi customer relations who told me to call back after technician inspected to verify the light engine was bad. I gave the customer relations agent the model number and the age of my TV. She said that they would need a serial number to verify the correct part.

I called Sears who said a technician could come out in 3 1/2 weeks. This was too long to wait so I called a local Hitachi authorized service technician. He determined that the light engine was indeed bad. This Hitachi service technician called back the Hitachi customer relations agent, who refused to send the remanufactured light engine due too the TV being old (I bought the TV new less than 4.5 yrs. ago ).

After the technician called me to tell the bad news, I called Hitachi customer service agent who confirmed that there computer record now logs me as a out of waranty on the light engine replacement. I asked to talk to the agents supervisor.

This supervisor said that the TV was too old, 3yrs past the waranty expiration, and my TV had not had any prior service problems reported. When I questioned what what time frame was the cutoff time for providing the light engine replacement part. His reply was there wasnt a time limit instead it is replaced on a case by case basis. We went back and forth in a loop conversation for 10 minutes. This supervisor would not give me a person or mailing address to send a complaint or to send a request on the limitation of extended light engine parts replacement. I asked how I could send a letter to request a written explanation. His reply was that he told me the explanation...that the waranty had expired.

May have lost this battle...on to the war!!

I called Hitachi I think 3 times and finally they told me to have someone look at it, diagnose it, and then they would send the light engine for free. All I had to pay for was the $250 for the service man to come replace it. Keep on calling Hitachi and maybe you too will also have them send it to you for free. I also would look up the lawsuit that Hitachi has against them in Dallas Texas. Sounds like a lot of people are having trouble with the light engines.

I have a Hitachi 62VS69A Rear Projection TV, and about 5 months ago started to have some Blue Blob appear. Started so small, I hardly noticed it at the top Right of the screen. Not 2 weeks after noticing it, my Bulb Blew out. (TV is 2yrs old) I purchased my TV through REX Audio and was smart enough to purchase an additional 3 yr warranty.

I had my bulb replaced (Took 2 weeks) and turned on the TV to find the Blue Blob had taken over my screen. Another Call to REX and I have a Service Tech coming out on Wed to take a look. However, the customer service gal at REX...when i explained what was going on with my tv...got quiet and said "Sounds like a Light Engine to me...". I thought it strange she could pin point from the sound of it so I asked "Does that happen often?" And her reply was "With your tv, yes."

After getting off the phone, I jumped on Google and found this site and...shes right. Ive written down the info found here just in case this happens again after my Warranty expires, but...I think I may be looking for a new TV!

Sorry you all had to go through this as well, but thank you for the info.

Hi,
Hitachi 50V500 50 in. HDTV-Ready LCD Television's main problems are Colour and Different Spot problems.
For Colour and Spot problems you can visit a link by just Click Here .

For any other problems with this TV you can Click Here .

I had a light engine problem. I had to pay $50 fro a service call. They determined it was a light engine problem. Hitachi paid for a new light engine, I had to pay $168 for the installation. My TV was over 4 years old. I also live in Canada. Hitachi did not argue that the part was defective.