Sony HCD-GX450 laser

Maybe a KSM 215DCP/C2np?

Bob

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Bob,

There's a service bulletin on this - the laser has to be replaced and a mod done on the board underneath.

Warning: The HCD-GX250 and 450 models seem to suffer from a variety of unusual problems. I've been all over several of these. They are so bad that a cash repair on one of these is simply too risky - it's highly likely the unit will be back sooner, not later, and essentially be unrepairable. I'm going to stop taking them in for cash repairs, and the warranty ones will go to Sony in Laredo, TX.

Mark Z.

Thank for the reply. I will probably give a high repair estimate with a no fix recommendation. What exactly is the service bulletin about? Is it about the laser lens? I just never saw one that looked like this one. Its like someone dropped acetone or some strong solvent on the top of the lens and it melted inward. With air bubbles embedded into the plastic to boot. damnedest thing i have seen on a laser.

Bob

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I've seen that on a "new" PS2 laser from Ebay. Needless to say it didn't work, solvent or heat are about the only things I know of that can do this.

-A

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I'm a consumer, not a tech, although engineer with a lot of hands on experience - read "dangerous" -

Nonetheless, my son bought a HCD-GX450 in 2004, and loved it - until the CD unit stopped reading disks. Out of warrantee, and with Sony's local service shops not answering their phones on the weekend (sorry guys, but get an answering machine) - I bought the manual, and started looking.

To no avail - the software tests never get going, and the unit appears to have a bad laser. Sony Laredo is $132 flat rate to fix, but it's $55 to ship to the - getting real close to the original purchase price. The online support appears to be robotic, glad they found a use for Asimo.

So now I have a dilemma - the unit was the first thing my son purchased with his own money from his first teenage job. Unfortunately, it appears from my experience, and these posting, to be far from worth fixing.

Advice?

By the way, the part number is -

8-820-244-01 OPTICAL PICK-UP KSM-215DCP/C2NP

Accord> Bob Urz wrote:

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Try calling Sony sustomer service and complaining. They might fix it for free.

Mark Z.

I really don`t think sony is going to fix this for free. They can be a real pain to try to get something from them. You will need to pay the shipping on this both ways and they will try to sell you a reconditioned one and take yours as a trade in. I would sugest to try to find a repairshop in your area where you can take it in to have it serviced.

Problem is, and I say this as an authorized Sony servicer, the HCD-GX250 and

450 models are so bad that if your shop repairs it, you cannot put a shop warranty on it. There's a high likelihood it will be back with other unrepairable problems. Besides, the thing with the pickup is a known manufacturing defect, there's a service bulletin on it. In fact it's about the only common, repairable problem on these.

If the customer approaches this correctly, Sony Customer Service should take care of him, at least to the point of a reduced-price repair.

Mark Z.

So far, all I've gotten from Sony is the standard repair procedure - despite the fact that I have pointed out that, with shipping, the questionable reputation of the unit, and no stated warrantee on the repair, this might not be a very smart move on my side. Apparently this has not escalated beyond the normal, and it doesn't look promising. Shame on them.

Were this not the emotional "first purchase" of my son, I would have tossed the unit, and learned that Sony's reputation is not as sterling as I once believed. However, I'm stuck - Sony will only give me canned answers, and I'm not thrilled with paying more than it's worth to fix, on spec.

Getting back to the repair option - someone mentioned a board modification on a service bulletin - is this on the optical pickup assembly, or elsewhere in the unit? I've found where to buy the optical unit (apparently there's a demand for this), but is that the solution, or will this get fried without the board mod elsewhere?

The mod is to the board underneath the pickup. Not all boards need it, as there are different versions, but if the pickup fried I would say it's a good bet yours needs it. The mod is not for the casual do-it-yourselfer.

Mark Z.

A-4751-431-A - the part listed as BD-81A CD Board, Complete? From the schematic, it doesn't look all that simple. I'll pass on that one. How do I tell if I need the mod?

I have not been into the unit far enough to tell if the bubbling/flat lens thing is the problem - whether it's fried, or just died. I can certainly get into it to find part numbers, mod numbers, etc - any way to get hold of the service bulletin details? Sony?

On the support track, Sony has gotten back to me by e-mail, and 'fessed up that you have to call a real person. Did, and they guided me through the cold restart procedure, to no avail, and are passing me on to escalated service on Monday. We'll see if that brings an economically viable solution to this one.

They actually asked if I bought the extended warrantee with the unit - As I explained, I bought Sony for the quality, thinking I wouldn't need the warrantee...

Frustrating.

Meanwhile, thanks for the help, from all on the site - it's nice to know I'm not alone...

There are supporting JPEG pictures to aid the servicer. Please DO NOT copy this post to Sony, merely make reference to the known problem and service bulletin. Servicers are not supposed to give them out.

SYMPTOMS

The CD will not play. Upon closer examination of the optical pickup the lens or lens cover is found to be deformed due to heat.

RESOLUTION

Read the following text completely before upgrading the unit. Perform the following counter measure* before replacing the Optical pick up. *Check the part number on the CD board before performing the upgrade. If the part number on the board is 1-860-502-13 no action is required. Add the insulation material to the board before you solder the components. See figure 3 for details.: 1. Cut the pattern as outlined in figure 1 (see attached). 2. Remove R163. 3. Connect DIODE RB441Q as shown in figure 2 (attached). Connect the diode with the anode to land of R163 on IC101 side. Connect the cathode to XTCN (CON201 PIN20). 4.Connect a second DIODE RB441Q as follows, Anode to the land of R163 on IC101 side. Connect the cathode to XRST (CON201 PIN19). 5. Connect a 33K ohm Carbon Resistor to the land of R163 on the IC101 side and DVDD TP (R204). 6. Connect a 100 ohm Carbon Resistor to the land of C163 on the IC101side (IC101 PIN100) and XRST (CON201 PIN19). See figure 2 (attached) for more details. Replace the defective Optical pickup.

Mark Z.