JVC DR-M10 Loading and Repair Question

[trhouse]

Springerspaniel,

Three units with the fatal loading problem have been identified. One MV1 manufactured April, 2004, one MV1 and one M10 manufactured in May, 2004. That is good news for JVC owners. Seems like the fatal problem units were only made in April and May, 2004.

Now to solutions. Do you have a voltmeter or ohmmeter? In your MV1, locate R5501 and R5502. They will be big, leaded resistors on the power supply board. The manual says R5502 is 820 ohm, 1/2 W and R5502 is 680 ohm, 1/2W. emlsnws has a newer MV1, where JVC has changed both R5501 and R5502 to 560 ohm, 1/2 W parts. If you do not have the newer parts do not change them until the voltage at a point labelled SW-7V can be determined. These resistors help determine this voltage.

[MiG-45]

prolly this is "resistors" problem. As far as I know only NTSC versions manufactured before August 2004 suffering from this problem. It need to upgrade firmaware. I suggest you, since you live in US, to write email to JVC factory & service in the USA. They not only fixing this porblem, but also can help you hw to make it faster and easer! Here it is - SSample@JVC_dot_com. Or can call them (713) 935-9331 Ext. 101.

[emlsnws]

Springerspaniel,
Welcome to the club! You and I have the same unit only mine is PAL.

Actually trhouse is a little incorrect, but no worries, on the MV1 (vcr combo) variant the R5501 and R5502 are on the 'junction' board which you will find under the DVD drive itself. But you may be able to see the 2 resistors concerned, without removing it.

They are located as follows:
Note the DVD drive is supported on a metal frame secured by 4 screws into the chassis. (The frame has closed ends which restrict visibility under the drive, but hopefully not to the area we want).
Looking from the front of the MV1, identify the rear right-hand leg of the DVD drive's support frame. The resistors are on the printed circuit board around the 'foot' of that support leg, on the inside (concealed) area. You're looking for two wire ended tubular resistors side-by-side.

I can post a picture later to help location of these. If you post the coloured bands found on them, or a picture of, we can work out the values of them.

I don't think I've posted my manufacture date and/or serial number, but I can do later on today.

[trhouse]

Springerspaniel,

emlsnws is correct. Those parts are on the junction board not the switching regulator board. Both the switching regulator and junction boards are on the same schematic.

MiG-45,

Have you discovered how your +2.03V is dropping to +1.86V?

emlsnws,

It would be good to know manufacture dates to get a better idea of when JVC made changes, but I had assumed yours and MiG-45's unit to be newer since neither of you seem to have the bug Springerspaniel has.

Can anyone measure the voltage across R5314 in the M10 or R5326 in the MV1?

[Springerspaniel]

Ah.. I suppose that the best thing for me to do is either to bite the bullet and send it to JVC, have them fix it, and then sell it on EBAY for whatever I can get, as I am now scared to even attempt ot use the DVD side of it. I should have stuck with my gut feeling and gotten a Panasonic.

[emlsnws]

Sorry to hear that. It might well be possible to revive your unit if we can just check a few things. However, it will require some measurements making etc though.

(trhouse, do you want to buy springerspaniel's unit?)

I'm going to make the measurement on R5326 later today, and post a link to a picture of the R5501+2 pair.

[Springerspaniel]

Sorry to hear that. It might well be possible to revive your unit if we can just check a few things. However, it will require some measurements making etc though.

(trhouse, do you want to buy springerspaniel's unit?)

I'm going to make the measurement on R5326 later today, and post a link to a picture of the R5501+2 pair.

I have no problem trying to revive the unit... I just don't see how it is possible without sending it back to the factory, because, while I see how the resistors can cause the loading error, after leaving it off for days, it still reappears. It thinks it has a disc in it. Plus, I had some timers that were set for daily record (I'd turn the timers off overnight, and turn them on in the morning) and, even after being unplugged for 3 days, the timers were still set. That makes me think that the memory isn't being cleared, or they are being written to some kind of chip on the unit itself, which is probably where the info that causes the unit to stick in loading is also residing. A simple reset of that, would, I think, do the trick. Perhaps I'm being too optimistic.

Hmm.. I wonder if it'd be possible to get them to upgrade it to a DR-MX1??

[emlsnws]

Hmm I see. It may be a fatal fault, and then the factory is the only place for it. Especially in the US as you have a good returns policy there. My contact with JVC's helpline in the UK was for them to, for every problem I spoke of, refer me to my dealer.
It took me a while to learn that when it's been unplugged for some time, I should allow 2 minutes or so for 'loading' to finish (this is normal operation). Then after loading, the unit goes to 'off' so I press Power to start it up.
I had no desire to be without the unit, and 've managed to get the internal temperature down by modifications, and experimented with media, and now I don't see 'loading' much at all (hope I have not spoken too soon).

[emlsnws]

OK here is what information I have.
Serial number 109B0026. No manufacture date visible, although the DVD drive inside was made in March 2004.

I have put up two pictures, one showing where R5501 + R5502 are to be found:
http://www.geocities.com/simonwalls/r5501-ident.jpg
I want to add an arrow pointing to the two resistors in the lower left of the picture. The green-blue-brown bands are just about visible.

.......and one of my extra ventilation holes in the case. Ambient when photo taken was about 28 degrees C. The thermometer in the picture is reading 36 degrees C, sensor positioned on top edge of digital can.
http://www.geocities.com/simonwalls/case-holes.jpg

Resistor R5326 has 2.38V across it in idle mode, and only 0.58V across it with the unit off (power save = on).

[Springerspaniel]

Well, after a series of E mail with Stacy somebody at JVC (thanks MiG-45) I am going to send my unit to JVC in Houston, TX, to be fixed and returned to me within a week, and with a cable box controller included!!!

My faith in JVC is perhaps a bit restored.

[trhouse]

Springerspaniel,

That is the best solution since the "loading" repair is being done for free outside of warranty in the US.

If you want to help out those who cannot get this service, photograph the same resistors as emlsnws has. When you get the unit back, you will be able to confirm that is what JVC changing. It does not take long to replace two resistors and update firmware.

[edit]

emlsnws,

The date on the dvd drive is a bit of a puzzle. That would make your unit older but it does not have the fatal problem. Either PAL units did not have the bad resistors or you bought one month before the bad parts went in. I saw the "loading" problem in a April, 2004 unit manufactured in Beijing. So far only April and May, 2004 units seem to have this problem.

[Springerspaniel]

Springerspaniel,

That is the best solution since the "loading" repair is being done for free outside of warranty in the US.

If you want to help out those who cannot get this service, photograph the same resistors as emlsnws has. When you get the unit back, you will be able to confirm that is what JVC changing. It does not take long to replace two resistors and update firmware.

I will do just that!!! Anything to help the cause, so to speak.

One question.... I wonder how they update the firmware? Can't be via the DVD drive... because that doesn't work... If we could find that out, and then get a copy of said firmware... well.. that'd be a huge help, would it not? Or would that be like asking bill gates for all of the code to windows and him just handing it over???

[trhouse]

Springerspaniel,

If you are really lucky, JVC might tell you what they will do and it would be nice to have that info and firmware for those in places where the repair may not be free. Not to discourage you, but one of the reasons for this thread is because JVC would not give much advice to MiG-45 about repairs and the repair they did for him did not solve the problem.

P.S. The "Buy it Now" price on eBay for MV1's is about $105.

[Springerspaniel]

I wonder if there is a way to umm... well... fry the digi board or whatever you call it so that they HAVE to replace the entire thing... without, of course, them knowing what was done.

They did tell me to pack it well, because if it is damaged in shipping (i.e. the case getting cracked, etc) they will still fix it under warranty, because it was being shipped for the loading error, but it'll take a whole lot longer.

Just a thought.

[trhouse]

I would not encourage anyone to do that but you raise an interesting point. Both emlsnws and MiG-45 have had heat problems with the media processor chip ( LSI DMN8652 ) which has a thermal pad too small to make good contact with the cover assembly required to take away the heat. This issue may be more serious since it can damage the chip which is expensive. You might want to ask JVC if they would check that on your unit. If they are willing it might save you a lot of pain later.

[MiG-45]

trhouse,

Small correction - it wasn`t JVC who faild to repair my unit - only their authorized service! There is no official JVC service here yet. Thats why I talked to US factory. Of caurse they said that can also fix my unit but not for free (since European warranty don`t cover shipping and fixing unit in USA). So I start to fix it by myself.

Springerspaniel,
Its just a patch of initial designers bug. It works fine after that - no need to worry.

[trhouse]

MiG-45,

Is there no direct JVC service center in Europe? I thought some of these units are manufactured in Germany.

[MiG-45]

trhouse,
Yes, indeed there are JVC service centers in Europe, but they only repairing units covered by local warranty. My unit was made in Germany as well, but when I talk to JVC Gmbh (they presents JVC in Eastern Europe) they told me that warrnty don`t cover shipping to service centers outside the country where unit is bought. So I have no other way just only to try (as they wrote) other authorized centers.

[trhouse]

MiG-45,

If I do not misunderstand you, the warranty does not cover shipping but it covers the M10? I would not think shipping is so expensive.

[trhouse]

emlsnws,

Did you mean R5326 above?

[MiG-45]

MiG-45,

If I do not misunderstand you, the warranty does not cover shipping but it covers the M10? I would not think shipping is so expensive.

In fact, including post injurance sending it to the factory and back will costs about 120 USD. Having in mind the new one now costs only 260 US dollars. ) And now it is useless talking about since I made changes inside. )

[emlsnws]

Yes, I did mean R5326. The 47R resistor is mounted about 1/2" up on its leads (for heat dissipation). Original post will be edited.
I measured the right one. The silk screen is a bit hard to read due to lots of tall parts in that area, and you don't want to put your face too close to the switching transformer....

The service manual says they update firmware via the DVD drive, which in springerspaniel's case, they might have to replace before doing so.
Internal pictures would def. be appreciated before return. It looks like to see R5501 and R5502 you have to lift the DVD drive up slightly to see the resistors. (You'll need a long screwdriver to remove them, and some blu-tak to hold screws on the driver's end to replace them).
Mine are visible in the pic because I removed the rear metal curtain of the DVD drive support.... with an angle grinder

The date of my unit is also puzzling me, I'll have another look over it. I thought there was a label stating country of manufacture too.

[Springerspaniel]

Ok.. I took the cover off, took a bunch of digital pics, took the dvd drive out, took more pics, and left my camera at home. I'll put them up tommorrow.

In the meantime, I am writing my letter to include with my unit when I send it to Houston.

I know that I have to tell them that I get the pretty, blue flashing loading message constantly. What else could I put in there to make sure that they check any and everything that may be wrong with it, or is it pretty much up to them what they do???

[alanb49]

I have a JVC DR-M10S that is at times having a "loading" error. I want to send it in to get fixed. Which one of the service centers (USA) is turning the product around the fastest? E-mail contact and or telephone number and name of contact would be appreciated.

Thanks

[emlsnws]

Thanks springerspaniel,
It would be worth mentioning that it thinks theres a disc in the drive when there is none, that way you may get a replacement drive.
Look forward to seeing the pics, but it may be Monday before I can read the forum again.

[trhouse]

alanb49,

Could you tell us what the manufacture date is of your unit? It will help us narrow down which months these units that develop this problem were made. The manufacture date is on the serial number sticker on the back.

emlsnws,

The measurement of that voltage helped determine the following. 51 mA is drawn by SW-7V, the -29V zener, and the display in idle mode. In power save mode, the display is off and SW-7V is switched off which leaves the 12 mA in R5326 for the zener. Your previous measurements set the SW-7V current at 18 mA so the display must draw 21 mA ( 51 mA - zener current of 12 mA - SW-7V current of 18 mA ).

springerspaniel,

Thanks for your efforts with the photos. It is much appreciated. I am not sure how you would phrase it, but it would be good for JVC to check on the heatsinking of the media processor chip ( DMN8652 ).

MiG-45,

Any luck determining why +2.03 became +1.86V?

Here are some interesting items from the manuals for these products. The temperature spec for both the MV1 and M100 have been lowered relative to the M10.

For the M10,


For the MV1,


For the new M100,


and the "loading" message has been replaced with,

[Springerspaniel]

I have a JVC DR-M10S that is at times having a "loading" error. I want to send it in to get fixed. Which one of the service centers (USA) is turning the product around the fastest? E-mail contact and or telephone number and name of contact would be appreciated.

Thanks

Houston has about a 5 day turnaround, and Stacy Sample was very helpful.

Ssample@jvc.com

Stacy Sample
Service Coordinator
JVC Service & Engineering
10700 Hammerly, suite 110
Houston, Texas 77043
(713) 935-9331 Ext. 101

[alanb49]

trhouse:

The manufacture date is September 2004. How long is JVC taking to fix and return the DVD recorders?

[alanb49]

Thanks Springerspaniel. I was posing a question as you were answering.

Alan

[MiG-45]

MiG-45,

Any luck determining why +2.03 became +1.86V?

As far as I try to measure a found resistance betwenn two points - connector from powersupply board and connector to digital board. I still trying to find out what is the easiest way to look under th main board - but aparantly no other way just to complete disassemble the unit (


springerspaniel,

I suggest you to check out your DVD drive yourself if you can. It have standart ATAPI interface so you can simply plug it to your computer as a usual DVD drive and see if it works.