Need certified technician in Los Angeles who can service a $7,000 Mitsubishi 35" CRT

[waltchan]

I need to find a certified technician in Los Angeles, CA who specializes in Mitsubishi big-screen CRT tube TVs. I have a top of the line Mitsubishi CS-35X7 that is not working at all and needs restoration, and this is probably the only CS-35X7 exists in Los Angeles because of its rarity. The set does not power on at all and blows fuses. When it turned on before, it only shows red color with lines on the screen with no picture, Finally, the PIP/video module board has a lot of leaking, surface-mount capacitors all over and needs rebuilding. Talk about major repairs here; more Mitsucraps I need to waste time to maintain. This set originally retailed for over $7,000 new in 1992 (not a joke) and is OFFICIALLY considered to be the matching TV for Mitsubishi HS-U82 S-VHS VCR, although most HS-U82 owners did not buy the CS-35X7 because of the price. Is it worth rebuilding my rare CS-35X7? Although many problems, this set is in excellent, like new condition, and the picture tube still has a long life left. Thanks for your help.

[Kiwick]

good luck if it has the ITT "Digivision" chipset like many early PIP sets did... this chipset was extremely troublesome...

[kx250rider]

I must have rebuilt 1000 of those PIP boards, often having to use fine filament wire to repair corroded traces caused by the SMD caps. I had a couple of 35MX1's which were the 1993 version of yours.

I would volunteer to work on it, but I'm really tied up with some big projects for the rest of the summer. You can call Bob at Harvey's TV in West LA and tell him Charles referred you. (310) 559-6700. He's usually there from 12 noon to about 8 PM weekdays except Friday, when he leaves earlier. He's the best MGA tech, and I'm sure he can take care of it for you. He's near the 405 & 10 Fwys. Shop has been there since 1936, and Bob has owned it since '79. It's just about the last shop still in business in that area. Bob belongs to the Mitsubishi factory network, but he refused the factory authorization since they take months & months to pay for warranty work, and also they breathe down your neck about what type of equipment you must work on.

Charles

[waltchan]

Charles, have you ever serviced a CS-35X7 before? Just checking to see how rare it is. It's similar to the CS-35MX1, which was more popular, but the CS-35X7 adds a ghost-reduction circuit, fine-dot pitch screen, rare earth phosphor, slide control panel door, side A/V inputs, and separate power supply away from the main PCB board.

[Nakdoc]

Many simply bypass the PIP board. You might also look at the service locator found on nesda.com in the upper left corner. All Mits chassis seem to have leaking cap issues.

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by waltchan

Charles, have you ever serviced a CS-35X7 before? Just checking to see how rare it is. It's similar to the CS-35MX1, which was more popular, but the CS-35X7 adds a ghost-reduction circuit, fine-dot pitch screen, rare earth phosphor, slide control panel door, side A/V inputs, and separate power supply away from the main PCB board.

I don't remember... I know I've heard of it, and I had the service manual (sold all my MGA books several years ago, though.) I must have worked on one, or I wouldn't have ordered the $40 manual. The more I think about it, I think Bob may have one of those 35X7s. I'll have to ask next time I see him.

Charles

[waltchan]

Originally Posted by kx250rider

I don't remember... I know I've heard of it, and I had the service manual (sold all my MGA books several years ago, though.) I must have worked on one, or I wouldn't have ordered the $40 manual. The more I think about it, I think Bob may have one of those 35X7s. I'll have to ask next time I see him.

Charles

Sounds like a rare model then. Looks like I will get it fixed instead finding another CS-35X7 used on Craigslist or eBay.

[waltchan]

Looks like I don't need to fix the broken one I have. I luckily drove 8 hours up to San Francisco to pick another up that is better than mines and works great. The owner threatened me to come up there and pick it up only on that day because he will abandon it (which probably will be sent to the dump) after he finished moving out on Saturday. Why do owners have to be so mean to their expensive TVs these days? He paid almost $7,000 for it and rarely used it. He also placed an old, rarely used Mitsubishi DVD player in the trash pile that was Made in Japan. I picked it up. Crazy, no owners should place a Made in Japan item into the trash pile.

[kx250rider]

Craigslist is loaded with expensive, large TVs in the Free Items column....

Charles

[waltchan]

Originally Posted by kx250rider

Craigslist is loaded with expensive, large TVs in the Free Items column....

Charles

True, but all I've seen so far are under $2,000 when new.