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52& RCA HDTV

52& RCA HDTV review: Repair is a nonsense! 168

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12:00 am EST
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I purchased a 52" RCA HDTV in 2004 and just yesterday, when I went to turn it on the screen would not come up. There is no sound or picture, I have tried all the options in the owner's manual, but still nothing. I called the customer service team at RCA, but got now where. I informed the rep what the situation was, after she had gone thru all the procedures with out any success, she referred me to an "authorized" repair service in my area. I asked if RCA was going to cover the house call or the repair. She said that since my warranty was over I had to pay out of pocket. It was as if my TV was designed to shut down as soon as my warranty hit its expiration date! Which was 2 months ago. This has never happened before. I have not called the repair people, but come on, the price will be outrageous, we all know that! I think that this is nonsense, i believe that a manufacturer should stand by their product and guarantee the product to work past its expiration date. I would like to get some feedback about this situation.

168 comments
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Betty Smith
Decatur, US
Feb 05, 2009 4:20 pm EST

I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, TV STARTED ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO WITH THE POWER LIGHT TURNING ON AND RIGHT BACK OFF THREE TIMES IN A ROW, THE TV WOULD EVENTUALLY COME ON, THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, IT WOULD NOT COME ON AT ALL. OH, YES, THE POWER LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND OFF THREE TIMES, BUT NEVER A PICTURE.. IM IN ON THE CLASS ACTION SUITE, SEEMS LIKE IT WILL BE THE ONLY WAY WE WILL GET THESE TV'S FIXED OR GET NEW ONES. NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY AN RCA TV NO MATTER WHAT SIZE!

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Mary
Arkabutla, US
Jan 31, 2009 1:59 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I bought a 32' RCA HDTV on 5/5/07 and have started having "on/off"switch problems too. Of course the warranty went out last spring! How do they justify making such an expensive product that doesn't work right after such a short time! How do we sign up for a class action suit?! Sign me up Mary

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AMtheFM
, US
Jan 26, 2009 12:04 am EST

Elaine you are the best! Before I read your comment, I pulled out the hair dryer and my wife looked at me like I was crazy. After a couple minutes I gave up. I kept searching and searching for solutions on the web but came up with nothing until I read your comment. I Immediately jumped up and grabbed the hair dryer again, put it on the highest setting and after 10 minutes Im watching tv again and thanking you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Oh yeah, RCA SUCKS!

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madd2k1
Atlanta, US
Jan 24, 2009 12:55 pm EST

Have any of you tried the "blowdryer trick"? Worked perfectly on my set!

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Susan
, US
Jan 22, 2009 5:00 pm EST

I had this problem and it was repaired for a lot of $$$$$. They put in: a coil #268828
Transister #2SC3374
and a capicator .0087 2 KV
I was going to contact RCA, but I see that from the comments contacting them will do no good.

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Jerry
Corpus Christi, US
Jan 21, 2009 5:30 pm EST

We bought our D52W20 in July of 2004 and now it also does the power indicator 3 blinks and off. I contacted a reputable local repair person and he told me it would more likely than not, cost $400 to $500 to fix the problem and that with the reputation of these sets it would probably not work for long. He recommended that I cut my losses and buy a new TV. If there is anyone who has information about the class action suit please e-mail me at TOTALL_2000@YAHOO.COM

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ned
Phoenix, US
Jan 19, 2009 10:32 pm EST

I have same problem with my tv stupid RCA does the same blinking 3X and off I want in on this lawsuit I tray heir drayer thing and nothing so we need are money from them

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chipoolguy
Worth, US
Jan 10, 2009 4:26 pm EST

Aint this a bit%$! i fixed the cl35 capacitor which took 2 weeks to find the replacement part seeing as how the no longer make it. but eventually found its equal at www.tristatemodule.com now my piece of sheet rca does the same blinking 3X and off i want in on ths lawsuit if anyone has info please e-mail me chipoolguy@hotmail.com Thank you.

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Tammy
Winchester, US
Jan 01, 2009 7:24 am EST

Thank you everybody for your posts, especially Elaine. The hair dryer did the trick! I didn't have to take the back off but I did vacuum the dust first.
I even turned it off and on again and it came on for the first try!
I was berating myself for buying a used tv but I see that I'm actually lucky that I didn't buy it new and pay what everybody else paid. I've learned my lesson. Next time I'll check online postings prior to buying and I'll not buy RCA again.

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redgs95
Elizabethton, US
Dec 22, 2008 3:02 pm EST

The hair drier trick worked for me. Thanks so much .

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Ruth Ann Ulmer
Reidsville, US
Dec 21, 2008 11:58 am EST

sORRY MY EMAIL IS, ruthannulmer@windstream.net. all little letters. But I could use some help I called RCA custumer sevice they said knowone else had repoted a problem with the TV's. Anyone please let me know of any laws suits. Thanks

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Ruth Ann Ulmer
Reidsville, US
Dec 21, 2008 11:53 am EST

I have same problem, push power button it blicks then nothing, would like to know about any law suits, and about parts I could get to fix our selfs, we had it fixed 1 year ago now the same thing has happen again. I NEED HELP!CAN EMAIL ME AT RUTHANNULMER@WINDSTREAM.NET

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laone
San Antonio, US
Dec 14, 2008 10:36 pm EST

Well add me to the list. It blinks 3 times and nothing. The sad thing is is that I bought this one in 2005 and another RCA LCD in 2006. The LCD's sound and front inputs went out 4 months after purchase. It was a year later after the extended warranty kicked in that I finally got help in the repair. Now, this one. I think im done with RCA.

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Melissared26
Columbus, US
Dec 14, 2008 12:59 am EST

Wow.. This is crazy. I just came home from spending ALL of my money Christmas shopping, went to turn on my TV.. Nothing.. The little green light comes on and blinks three times.. But nothing.. It's done it before, but it only took a couple of times to turn it on, so we had just quit turning off.. Well, one of the kids turned it off.. I am lost. I can't afford to go buy another TV, I was lucky to be able to buy Christmas this year in this economy! I can't afford the repairs either.. Does anyone know the name of the part, so that maybe I can get one at the local repair shop and have my husband install it? ANY help or suggestions would be helpful.. If anyone can tell me more baout the law suit, let me know.. You can email me at melissared26@aol.com

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David
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Dec 03, 2008 6:44 pm EST

I have this same tv. Bought it in 2005. It lasted 2 and a half years then one morning we got up to turn it on and it just make a sizzling noise and saw sparks in the back of the tv, then it went off. Also there was a burning smell to it too. Will never buy a RCA product again!

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Michael Montgomery
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Dec 03, 2008 12:50 pm EST

good news is misery loves company...bad news is we all have the same problem..mine started blinking also..I am in on a class action lawsuit

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Jonathan
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Dec 02, 2008 6:29 pm EST

I join all of you with the same problem, my rca 52"-hdtv ready tv today got the problem with the red blue and green lines going across the top and the screen is off balance and has the red blue and green convergence problem. The convergence problem been happening for a couple of months now but all I would do is run automatic convergence and it will fix temporarily but it never had the problem with the lines across the top of the screen and off balance like today and I don"t even have the auto convergence option anymore. I'm out of warranty and I would also like to know any info on the class action lawsuit, I don't have any money to get a new one.If anyone has any info that can help please e-mail me.

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MG
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Dec 01, 2008 4:28 pm EST

I have the same problem... We bought this TV 3-4 years ago. The repair man is on the way to fix the issue. I agree RCA sucks... Will never buy an RCA tv.

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Dan F
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Dec 01, 2008 8:17 am EST

We have a 5 yr old D52W15 model that won't turn on. It goes through the same process as most others with the 3 cycles. We're VERY unhappy with this issue and agree that we will NOT buy another RCA in the future!

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Art
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Nov 30, 2008 3:55 pm EST

i have the same problem with my same model the RCA hdtv D52W15 and its really really pathetic...if anyone really know of any suit going on please fwrd me some info...this is injustice...all i know is im spreding the work about RCA...its terrible
Raping
Customers in the
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i hope RCA gets punished for this crap

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sherri turner
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Nov 22, 2008 8:52 pm EST

well elaine said the hair blow dryer fixed her issue and a few others said the same thing, but we had already gotten someone to fix our tv and it was the capictor. they had to replace 3 of them and solder the connections for about 200.00 bucks. but dont go to a high name tv place. just your local place. try the hair dryer first. good thinking elaine

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Larry Wade
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Nov 22, 2008 1:26 pm EST

Thanks Elaine! The hair dryer trick worked on ours, too! We didn't even take the back off. We just vacuumed out the dust from the air vents and then used the hair dryer for about 10 minutes on the lower left side (moving it around over the air vents as the plastic was getting pretty hot)... pressed the power switch... and the beast came to life! All I can say is... HALLELUJAH! And it will stay on for the rest of it's 'unnatural' RCA life. And when it finally dies, "HELLO SONY!"

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Michelle
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Nov 19, 2008 5:34 pm EST

Elaine, thank you very, very much! I had just called a tv repair man, waiting for him to return my call, when I came across your blow dryer trick! It worked, I had seen how dusty it was, so i was sure that something was blown because of the thick dust inside the tv, but as soon as I got done blow drying all the dust off, I turned the tv on, and it magically turned on. I'm so hoping the dust was the problem. All I know is that it is working now and i have you to thank for it. So again, thank you very much!

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elaine
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Nov 13, 2008 5:01 pm EST

We bought our rca 52 inch rear projection in 2004. It lasted four years without any trouble. We had the same problem with the power button flashing three times without turning the picture on the set then the light would go out. RCA support center was useless and gave us a number to call that worked with warranties in which we no longer had. Anyways I went on line to fixya.com and found others with the same problem with their rca. One of the solutions was to take the back off the tv and blow a hair dryer on the lower left area for ten minutes on a hot setting for the hair dryer then turn the tv on. We did this and it worked on the first try. Although we have vowed not to switch the tv off ( only by the satelite not the rca remote or button on the tv). Because we are not sure if the problem was dust or the power control needed to be heated up. BUT RCA SUCKS!

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mario nero
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Nov 11, 2008 10:53 pm EST

I AGREE I HAVE THE SIMULAR PROBLEM WITH MY SET ASWELL POWER LIGHT COMES ON BLINKS THREE TIMES SHUTS DOWN ..AFTER ATTEMPTING THIS SEVARAL THOUSAND TIMES IT COMES BACK ON...IVE READ SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY SAY ITS A BAD BULB OR SOMETHING ...I TOO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS SUIT GO FORWARD...

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diane drum
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Nov 09, 2008 5:28 pm EST

OMG! I READ ALL THE REVIEWS ABOUT THE 52 INCH RCA D52WD20. I HAVE TO SAY I'M NOT SHOCKED. RCA SUCKS. I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER RCA PRODUCT! MINE WAS BOUGHT IN 2005 AND NOT EVEN 2 YEARS LATER IT STOPPED WORKING. I GO TO TURN IT ON AND IT SHUTS OFF. I TRY SEVERAL MORE TIMES AND THE LED LIGHT BLINKS 3 X'S AND SHUTS OFF. NOW, I HAVE A SMALL TV SITTING IN FRONT OF THE RCA TV WHERE I ALSO, HAVE A BEAUTIFUL ENTERTAINMENT CENTER SURROUNDING MY PIECE OF CRAP RCA. I'M EMBARRASSED TO BRING FRIENDS HOME. I LAUGH AT MYSELF. WHY DID I EVER BUY A RCA? WHEN THEY CAN'T BACK THEIR PRODUCT UP. I CALL UP AND GET THE RUN AROUND. TIME FOR A LAW SUIT IS FINE BY ME. SOMEONE LET ME KNOW...

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Chris Gleason
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Nov 05, 2008 8:44 pm EST

I also have a RCA hdtv and it had just started doing this green light on green light off stuff three times and then nothing. There is so a problem with this products and it is sad if RCA dont stand by there product. They should lower there prices way down if they are not going to last at least 2 years when most big srceens last 10 to 12 years.This will be the last RCA product I will ever own.

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Jamie dougharty
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Nov 04, 2008 3:49 pm EST

I 2 HAVE 52" RCA HDTV 3 YEARS OLD I PADE 1550 FOR A PICE OF ### . IF THER IS CLASS ACTION SUIT PLEAS LET ME KNOW. IT WILL TACK$800TO 900 TO FIX MY TV BUT RCA DONOT MAKE THE PARTS ENTY MOOR .THAY KNOW THIR WAS PROBLEM65

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barbara
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Oct 25, 2008 3:17 pm EDT

i got my RCAHDTV 2 years ago, when i press power the green light turns on then off 3 times, and thats it! when it first did this every once in awhile it would finally turn on after trying dozens of times, but then 1 day the power went out and since then it wont power up at all! i think RCA owes it's customers to fix this problem or give us back our money for the tv ! thats just not right to spen 1, 000 dollars for a tv to last only 2-3 years for most of its customers! class action suit needs to be filed! ASAP, BECAUSE THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FORM ALL THE REPLIES I HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM.

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Kevin
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Oct 19, 2008 10:03 pm EDT

I also have the same problem. Mine went out about 1 year after i got it and it was fixed for free. Now I guess its on me. Let me know about this suit if you don't mind, I think that 1600 is way to much to pay for crap.

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jeff shada
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Sep 24, 2008 1:43 pm EDT

i to have a problem with my 52 inch rca i have the three differant colors blue red yellow and tv bows in from the middle i to would like any info on this class action suit thanks

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sherri turner
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Sep 23, 2008 6:16 pm EDT

we also bought an rca 52 inch model d52w20 october 2004 and this year 2008 around july the green light comes on and blinks off and on 3 times like everyone else had said. i tried looking for solutions on line and they talk about the flyback 259296 or the cp 150 capictor but who knows where to get it and how to fix it. Might as well buy another TV but not an RCA...

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Amber
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Sep 03, 2008 1:20 pm EDT

Well this just seems to be an ever lasting problem with RCA mine too was bout in 2005 though and just a few months ago went out. I had an instructor at the college I work at look it over and he can not figure it out. He can not go any further because he can not find a full schematic to keep looking. I am furious because I do not have the money to fix the darn thing and I also do not have the money to buy a new one!

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Cindy
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Sep 02, 2008 9:12 am EDT

Wow. i have had my rca for almost 4 years. paid over 2000.00 for it. now all of the sudden, the power wont come it. and yes it blinks on and off in the same 3 pattern. it takes me hours to get the thing to come on, but once it is on, i have no problems out of it till i turn it off for the night and try to get it to come back on the next day. if you guys find out what the problem is, please let me know. i dont have the money to fix the thing right now with our vacation coming up.

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TOMAS CHAPA
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Aug 19, 2008 4:53 pm EDT

same problem with my RCA 52" it started going off by itself until finally a circuit board burned out
it was good for three years it is a "shame " on how RCA doeas not stand behind its product
count me in if there is a class action suit. and just for the hell of it I will never buy any RCA products again...

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Maria
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Aug 12, 2008 11:16 am EDT

OMG. Me, too! We bought this crappy TV 3 years ago and started experiencing problems after 1 year (1 month after the warranty expired!). My husband adjusted with the bulb controls inside the TV and was able to make it work for another 2 years. Now here we are today and we think the blue bulb finally blew. Who knows what else is wrong with it. We chose RCA b/c they'd been around so long, but after this $1000 fiasco, we will NEVER buy RCA again. Mark my words.

--Maria

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Marcus
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Aug 11, 2008 9:14 am EDT

Thank you for your comments. I was about to but a guy's T.V that is three years old, but I will just keep my money. Thanks again!

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Gail Stout
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Aug 09, 2008 2:46 pm EDT

I too, have a 52" RCA HDTV purchased in July 2004.It's a model # D52W15. The same thing happened to us just recently.Whenever we turn on the power button, it comes on appproximately 3 times, then stops. The TV never comes on, just tries to. I'm furious at this. After paying $1600 for what we thought was a "top of the line TV " that we believed would last us for many years. Now we have a huge big screen Tv thats JUNK! Someone should be held accountable for this.

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Joshua Quimby
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Aug 05, 2008 10:08 am EDT

I also want to know about the class action lawsuit. I've had mine for 2 1/2 years. Yesterday, the screen started bowing in and trying to turn it off. Before I could get it to a pawn shop and sell it, the thing crapped out. Same thing happened to my roommate's 28". My tv only cost $550 anyway, I'm still pissed about this though. Screw RCA.

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Jacquelyne Means
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Aug 03, 2008 6:57 pm EDT

I Purchase my RCA D52W14 HDTV 52" lasted 2 years to the date 8/3/08, I heard popping in TV and two days later I now have three lines of rainbow colors at the top of the screen, and all of the images are shown in threes consisting of the three colors at the top, red blue and yellow. Something should be done about this. It is so unfair for us to pay this kind of money and have no repercussion. How do I find out about this class action suit? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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