Control Screen Issues on Minelab CTX 3030

[califteacher]

My CTX 3030 is about a year old, but has not been used a great deal. It is stored in a dark, cool room. It has only been submerged in water once, about 3 months ago.

Almost immediately after I did my first computer connected update (a month ago), an intermittent gray line appeared on the control screen--about a 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide, running from top to bottom. I don't know if the update process could have any bearing on the situation.

Last week, I was at the beach on a warm, but not hot day, and the gray line took on the appearance of a small, brown, burning spot, which grew in size over the next hour or two--it looked like the paper we burned as kids using a magnifying glass. All else is working normally. Since this affects only a small portion of the screen, I have just been ignoring the issue for the moment. However, I know that I need to call Minelab and see what they say.

The only other thing I can add, is that I have been using a black, nylon cover for the control box for most of a year. I can't imagine that this has created any heat issues, but I am open to any thoughts.

I am wondering if anyone has had a similar problem with the 3030 and what the outcome was. Luckily, with a 3-year warranty, I should not have any issues with Minelab. However, if there is anything that I should know beforehand, please let me know.

 

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[JJohnson]

Never had any problems with mine. I would send it out to Minelab ASAP. Good luck!

 

[Metal Detecting Stuff]

What you have is a bad LCD screen. A small hairline crack inside the screen allows the "ink" to bleed out. Mine did the same thing. I sent it in and got it back within 10 days. If you don't send it in, eventually it will continue to get worse.

Email support and Darrin Brown will take care of you.

Wayne

www.metaldetectingstuff.com

 

[migrider56]

I went out detecting today after about a an hou,r my CTX started to act up, the retrace started to build up and appeared to be burning up the screen in one spot and went from 12 fe line to about 32 fe and 5 co to about 13 co line. the screen felt hot in the spot so I turned CTX off, hours later the spot is still there. I called mine lab as well as emailed a photo of screen and was told it was a graphics problem with the LCD screen and to send the upper portion in. So i will be mailing it to them tomorow. The CTX will be 1 year old the end of July this year 2014. I haven't got but about 60-70 hours on it. and it has never be submerged yet. I sure hope this is not an issue with the LCD. Sure like the CTX so far.

 

[Another.hole]

Gray Line in CTX 3030 Screen

I went out detecting today after about a an hou,r my CTX started to act up, the retrace started to build up and appeared to be burning up the screen in one spot and went from 12 fe line to about 32 fe and 5 co to about 13 co line. the screen felt hot in the spot so I turned CTX off, hours later the spot is still there. I called mine lab as well as emailed a photo of screen and was told it was a graphics problem with the LCD screen and to send the upper portion in. So i will be mailing it to them tomorrow. The CTX will be 1 year old the end of July this year 2014. I haven't got but about 60-70 hours on it. and it has never be submerged yet. I sure hope this is not an issue with the LCD. Sure like the CTX so far.

Gezzus this CTX 3030 has been in the back of the UPS truck more than its been in the field. 6 months ago the thing wont start completely dead screen. I send it in get t back used it once. I pull it out tonight to get it ready for a trip tomorrow and there is a damn gray stripe down the left side of the screen. I haven't put probably 20 hours on this unit since I bought it and it seems like its not well made considering the type of use it has had. It only goes out on dry days. never been exposed to excessive heat or left in a car. AC system in the house is always set for 74-80 degrees. Im so pissed to read this has happened to other people. This machine is not a cheap purchase and to have these problems is ridiculous.

I swear if this cost me money to repair I'm getting rid of both of my mine-lab units and not coming back. I never had this kind of problem with my Nautilus and that banged up box was dragged thru all kinds of abuse, not to mention the Nauty was bought in VERY used condition



I will update this post after speaking with Minelab and seeing how they are going to handle this. Is there a place that shows you the total hours on a unit?
I'm thinking with all the coils, the head phones and bag I probably have 3100.00 into it. So I'm looking at this unit like it has been a very expensive unit so far. This CTX 3030 has cost me about 150.00 an hour to use it and that doesn't include my time to run it to UPS for drop off and pick up. I will say Minelab was very polite the last time it went in but hey here I am with another issue dealing with the head unit. All the politeness in the world shouldn't cost me 3100.00 for a product that should be built for use, not sitting in the corner of a closet, in a case I might add.


06102014 Update: Spoke with Minelab yesterday. They were very polite, and although I should be ferrous that I have this much money into something that has so little use. Minelab has been polite and easy to reach for service. Unit was shipped today to service center. Will update once I find out more. I am concerned about this unit once it is out of warranty,

07102014 Update: I received the CTX 3030 back today. It appears they put a new unit on the stick. I would like to say thank you to Nadia for her constant politeness even when I was less than happy to be facing this issue. John for his work on the unit. I’m anxious to get out and try it out. Hopefully this weekend.


Sincerely,

Scot Cross

 

[migrider56]

Received my CTX 3030 back from minelab repair on Monday 06/23/14 they received it in 06/03/14 graphics board GUI was replaced due to bad LCD screen. Works like it used to had to enter all my programs back.

 

[apple]

What will a new screen cost after warranty is done ?

 

[Fletch88]

Probably 1200-$1500 I would bet.

 

[sprinter]

Free fix

Probably 1200-$1500 I would bet.

This fault is now so common ,it's obviously a design fault ,needs to be a free fix or recall .

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

This fault is now so common ,it's obviously a design fault ,needs to be a free fix or recall .

Thread is 2.5 years old...


According to the repair center the cost is between $150 to $335 for parts depending on if it is just the LCD or a whole LCD assembly that needs to be replace... labor is about $75

 

[Fletch88]

This fault is now so common ,it's obviously a design fault ,needs to be a free fix or recall .

Oh I agree with you but it's the hottest selling machine made. I simply choose to use a more ruggedly designed water machine like the Excalibur so I am never worried about what number a target is, leaks, scratches, bumps, bruises etc. the CTX is an amazing machine for land, wet sand and light wading but submerging it over and over in saltwater will cause it problems sooner than later. I also scuba dive and would never take the CTX diving.

 

[Chips]

Ctx repair

Thanks that's great to read that repairs are within affordable limits. My one has just developed a vertical line on the right hand side at about a half inch in as well.
Odd that all these lines seem to be on the far right of the screen . Maybe it is coincidental.

Our local New Zealand forum site has a second hand ctx 3030 with exactly the same screen issue (on the right hand side as well. ) I was thinking of helping my son buy it, ( he pays two thirds I pay one third of the price) if it was repairable .. that would be a good detector for him.
They want $1850 .. Is that too much for a year old device I wonder with a faulty screen.
I like my Ctx but i'm not digging my screen fault haha.
Thanks guys

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

If it is a year old it is under warranty, and that is a little high but to be honest I don't know the exchange rate at the moment with out looking it up and I am lazy at the moment so it could be a good deal.

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[smittyman]

Sending mine in today. 3 years and 2 months. I was hoping that since it seems to to so common Minelab would fix it free (I had heard 2nd hand that this was the case) guess not.