Panasonic DMR-EH65 broken burner?

[Shagis]

Hi!
I recently noticed problem with burning DVDs on my Panasonic DMR-EH65 machine. It doesn´t read or burn any DVDs,it shows on display symbol for DVD even if DVD is not in it. It lights on all the time. After closing DVD and disconnecting from power when I put it on again the symbol lights again after while. And it´s on in stand-by state as well. Recording and reviewing on/from HDD is OK,so I assume something happened to burner. How to solve this problem ´cause it´s very good machine and works very well for my needs and I´d rather prefer not to change it. What and how to do with the burner,is it possible to repair or change it somehow?
Any recomendations and tips very welcome!

[lacywest]

There is a guy on Ebay that fixes Panasonic DVD Recorders ... you can do a search on Ebay and find him and see if your model is one of the ones he fixes ... He knows how to fix my Panasonic EH50s ... send him a message ... he has answered my messages.

[lacywest]

Also to mention ... Please put in a normal store bought DVD movie ... Blockbuster DVD video or your kids favorite action DVD movie and see if your unit sees it and or plays it ... the rubber spindle within the DVD tray area might be super dirty and need cleaning.

Blank DVDs will be the first to have problems with dirty spindles and normal store bought DVD videos will keep working.

[orsetto]

If you are located in USA, the best private repair tech for Panasonic recorders is a guy with the handle "mickinct" who can be contacted by PM over on AVS forum. Many Panasonic fanatics there have posted glowing reviews saying his work is impeccable and prices reasonable. Examples here.

Panasonic itself once had a superb flat-rate repair service, but as of last year has dropped all USA repairs for DVD/HDD models and is now ironically considered the worst possible choice in repair options. So avoid local Panasonic service depots, they will just ship your recorder to the Panasonic Texas facility where they'll hold it hostage or even discard it without asking you first. Considering Panasonic all but owned the USA market for DVD/HDD recorders, it's disgusting that they won't repair them anymore. But they haven't sold DVD/HDD models in US since 2006, so they're not legally obligated to provide service.

[Shagis]

Thanks for all replies. I came to solution it´s no use to send machine to USA,costs more than it´s worth it. Unfortunatelly seems I have to retrieve HDD to connect to PC and get my files. Rest will go away,today you can buy for cheap money with USB and net access. You could think such company as Panasonic should provide service for their equipments...
Thanks again for help.