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Panasonic DMR-E55 keeps rebooting?

My Panasonic DVD recorder went dead one day so I opened it up and it had blown the STRG6353 regulator, I changed this and back to life came the old girl so no problems.

Now 3 days on another fault has appeared, when I insert a disc (DVD-R, DVD-RAM or normal film) it tries to read the disc and resets to self test, tries to read the disc and resets to self test tries to read the disc ....... you get the idea. The only way to get it to boot back up is the manually remove the DVD from the drive.

Anyone any idea what could be wrong with it now?

Mark Smith, December 2005

home Fix label Video label_important DVD Players category Panasonicdone

yeah change d005...T3D44 that cured mine

keith, May 2014

HELP!!!

I've tried the "cleaning the laser" suggestion 3 times now and it still doesn't work. Each time I put in a DVD to try it out, it goes through the same non-stop reboot-selfcheck-reboot-selfcheck routine, and the only way to stop it is to pull out the mains, open the thing up, and remove the DVD manually again.

Any other suggestions?

Or do I just bin it?

Adam, September 2013

i had the same prob costs about 60 quid to be fixed. hope this helps. paul.

PAUL, March 2011

Cleaning the lens and the spindle seems to have fixed most of my SELF CHECK, disc error, and UNFORMATTED problems. The unit still refuses to read some old DVD-RAM discs and all of my unrecorded DVD-R discs. I'm happy that it is now reading the 4 new DVD-RAM discs that I bought last week.

I've already replaced 2 capacitors on the DVR. I'm glad the unit is easily repairable at home.

A-Non, December 2010

Same problems but cooling fan not working either.

Tony, February 2010

There's a kit of parts available for this fault here in the UK... though no reason why the items can't be bought individually. Check out http://www.chsinteractive.co.uk/electrical-components/general-components/kits-repair-modification-and-upgrade/panasonic-7/repair-kit-panasonic-dmre55-intermitant-shuting-down-with-system-check-displayed.htm

And in case the link above fails for some reason the kit includes:
Kit Contains
1x STRG6353........IC001
1x MA2J72800L......D007(White)
1x MA4068N.........ZD002
1x MA8051..........ZD004
1x RD6.2ESB........ZD107

I'm off to buy one and see if it fixes the problem on my 4 year old E55.

ovendoor, January 2010

I had the same problem with the DMR-E55 not reading discs, and I cleaned it, following Paul Ramsay's instructions, and so far, its working and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Thank you Paul!

Mark Kanges
Marion, IN USA

Mark Kanges, December 2009

Replacing the power regulater str6353 in my DMR-E65 fixed my reboot issue as well.

AD, August 2009

Paul Ramsay, you are brilliant! My partner was given one of these, and it would play but not record. So I followed your advice of January 2009, and now it works perfectly. Very many thanks. (In a nutshell, remove the power cable, take off the top (5 screws and ease the top back) then take off the front by undoing 2 side clips and three at the bottom front, then take off the black plastic top of the disk drive after undoing 4 screws, then clean the dust off the little green laser lens. Reassemble in reverse order. It is quite straightforward and only needs one #1 Philips screwdriver. Note that I could not see any dust, but it was there!)
Again, many thanks to Paul.

Ken Mackenzie, March 2009

This is very common with E85 recorders i dont' know if its the same problem.. if you go to this forum http://www.avforums.com and search for the part STRG6353 it gives you info on changing the voltage regulator or see the photos of how to change it at http://www.rbjtech.net/electrical/e85/e85.htm

apparently it fixes this problem most of the time...

Wendy, March 2009

just wanted to thank tv clive for his excellent solution. cleaned the lens and lubricated the rails for the thing that slides the lens across the dvd tray. did the same with the cylindrical thing that spins the disc. its now working like new and self-checks much quicker. thanks!!

AP, March 2009

Was hoping to get some answers asours is doing the same, my kiddies are pestering me for their films to burn to watch in their room. Looks like after reading these posts we will be binning it, and they will have to wait a little longer!!! Def not buying panasonic again!! Good luck guys

P****D off panasonic customer!!! :-), February 2009

I just got my dad's old Panasonic DMR-E55 which keeps stopping recording after about 50mins or just stops randomly when it feels like it ?

Has anyone else experienced this and if so how did you fix it ?

Have tried 3 different brands of DVD -R discs and it does the same thing every time.

Darren Reilly, February 2009

I have the dmr e55 and it won't play dvd-r or ram disc's. But i have fixed it this morning.
Here is how.
Firstly remove the power cable.
Then remove the 2 side screws and the 3 back screws and remove cover.
Remove the front facia by gently pull the side tabs to unclip it and then the 3 bottom clips. be carefull not to break them.
Undo the 4 screws that hold the black dvd cover on and then you will see the laser. With a cotton bud put a drop of water on it and squeeze out the excess water. Gently wipe the laser 2 or 3 times then dry the laser with the other end but be gently. Will the cover is off check around inside the laser cover for any other dirt or dust and remove. Put every thing back together and power up

Paul Ramsay, January 2009

Mine panasonic DMR-E55 has the same problem, bud only with recordable dvd's any type, ( DVD Ram single sided and the double sided and also dvd's -R). New and finalist dvd's as well.
Recorded Movie DVD's from the Video store don't give the problem.

Mathijs, January 2009

read a few statements that it is the power regulater str6353 (apparently same in other pana models) black thingy against blank metal in de powersuply part. that would make sence because i had the machine days on as i used it as a av control whitout using discs etc. and it took more and more time to start powering up. so it looks more like a power thing than a laserdrive thing although i had the driveproblem a year before the power problem thats why i used it to loop scarts trough enz.whitout disc inside it worked for a year like that until now it takes minutes to begin at all so maybe it was a powerthing all along.

quasi, November 2008

just start to do same here when i put dvd in he wont give it back and turns off if theres no disc in tray it stayes on and behave normal.He does takes sometimes take a minute to begin whether there is a disc in the tray or not so if it is the laserdrive i dont get why it takes so long to begin powering up before he gets to the laserdrivechecking part first gues was the fact that i made it region free and somehow afected the software gues not by the stories. Afcourse now old model but it is indeed pitty because it was good picture.i will try some of the options of ceaning lens but that darn panasonic made it so difficult to take it apart(laserdrive) anyway i now know where i stand thanks for the info guys

quasi, November 2008

Hello dear sir. I got same problem with my Panasonic ES-10. I had to take the disk out mechanicaly. This problem was solved only when I cleaned the lens, lubricated the little lens carriage shaft with vaseline (after had cleaned it all) as well the spyral shaft too. I guess the mechanical optics fails and it is a question of cleaning only.

Teixeira, November 2008

Im sat here with the same Panasonic DMR-E55 on my desk. It has the same problem and Ive had it apart several times in an attempt to 'oil some cogs'! I did a Google search in the hope that I might get some details so I could flog it on eBay, but found this site. Now that I see so many others who have problems I think I will just bin it! Besides even when working, it was both out dated (No Freeveiw), and rather restrictive (DVD-Ram). I have already replaced it quite cheaply on eBay. Suggest you do the same!

Rob MacIver, November 2008

mine also is self checking for 20mins,and deleteing recorded progs is sometimes impossible. Given up and bought a very cheap dvd recorder which is fine.

pete, October 2008

Same problem with mine. Thought Panasonic was a good brand. Know differently now. Will not buy Panasonic electronics again.

Mike, October 2008

wow, i always thought of panasonic as being quality. i paid £250 for mine about 3 years ago, and i have just had this same problem. it started with turning off when i tried to add to a dvd-r. then when using a ram disc it begun to reboot when i stopped a recording (sometimes the recording wouldnt take) and now when i insert a disc it reboots/self checks about 15 times before reading the disc.
so what now? im gonna open up the dvd tray and clean it, but i guess now we should all look for replacements. is there any reliable dvd recorders that record onto ram discs? i guess name is unimportant now. sony may be just as unreliable, i will not choose a product on name again (altho my tv and home theatre are both panasonic and they are still going strong after 4 1/2 years)

Damian chetwood, October 2008

Mine too, I've tried a DVD cleaner, made no difference. Turning the power off for a while works for us. I will try Clives suggestion.

Berni, September 2008

MINE TOO DON'T BUY PANSONIC EVERYONE THEN THEY WILL DO SOMETHING OR GO BROKE

Gaylene 2008, September 2008

July 2008
Glad I found this forum as I have been having exactly the same problem. Guess I shall be off to Comet to buy a non Panasonic DVD.

RoyP, July 2008

the answer to Grayham Watts problem is definitely the strg6353 in the power supply starting to fail. Don't bother to use a generic ,use the genuine Panasonic one

TV CLIVE, July 2008

I have come across this fault many times; this is what i do and 9 times out of 10 cures the fault.
disconnect from the mains, remove the top and front, now remove the 4 silver screws to remove the cover on the dvd. clean the lense, the small round glass object middle of the unit; use a cotton bud dipped in water(shake it to remove excess water)dont use alcohol,make sure you clean it thoroughly, dry it with the other end of the bud.If you look in front of the lense a round thing that looks like a small record player platter;this spins the disc and if it slips, it can cause this fault. I use a cotton bud dipped in isopropyl alcohol, clean the top and the edge a few times. Put the machine back together and try. The machine will self check on initial power up and then be ok. good luck

TV CLIVE, July 2008

I'm having the same problem with my two year old DMR E55. Very disappointing!

Dartmoor, July 2008

I'm having exactly the same problem, which implies Panasonic DMR-E55 are 'not fit for the purpose' or as previous contributors say 'built in obsolescence'.

Does anybody have a suggestion how to cheaply repair mine or do I throw it in the skip?

Geoff Slater, July 2008

Hi I have aquired a problematic DMR-E55 with similer problems, upon a carefull strip down and examination, I replaced the STRG 6353 and added a larger better heatsink to the device, which will solve thermal runaway.
A friend has discovered what appears to be killing my unit is a small very compact pcb on the left of the DVD deck, which appears to have dolby marked IC's on it, my geuss is it is the sound processing board, numbers on it are 4705HK and REP3717. Two Samsung memory IC's numbers K4S641632H-UC75 these look very slightly blistered, and that ain't right!
on the reverse there is another chip though not blistered it is a Samsung K9F6408U0C-QIB0 this again looks like some kind of memory IC. and looks a little stressed heatwise! I shall try to see what happens if I can source and replace these IC's, if not I shall try to source direct equivalents! not the best but better than nothing! I am not saying this is your solution but some info is better than non!

Mr Les Kownacki, December 2007

if it's rebooting whilst trying to read a dvd then it could be dust on the lens. try cleaning the head. you can get a dvd disk with a tiny brush on it that will spin and clean dust from around the lens. can also try an air duster in the disk drawer. - hope that helps!

berthoud, November 2007

Guess what - my DMR-E55 is doing the exact same self test - power down loop. It is four weeks outside the dealer two year warranty! John Lewis plc (supplier) offer an additional 1 yr warranty to the mfr 1 year.

They have had their engineer look at it and have said that it will cost £146 to repair!!!

Needless to say I won't bother getting it repaired and won't be buying Panasonic again.

At least the plasma has a five year warranty.

I will ask when I pick up my E55 what the diagnosis is and will post here soon.

Mark W, February 2007

27th January 07

I have the same problem, looks to me that these machines are celebrating their second birthday by retiring!

ColinB, January 2007

im having same problem, did you figure out what it was?

Revnit Lal, January 2007

My DMR-E55 started having disc errors when I put in discs, whether new DVD Rams, DVD-rs or whatever, which I could cure by switching unit off and on again several times, and / or removing and replaceing the disc, and then it was ok, so long as that disc was in the drive.... All this about 2 weeks ago.

Unit now dies on me after about 2-5 minutes of being switched on, although it seems to sit quite happily there with the clock showing when switched off. It will power-up again if I disconnect it from the mains power for a couple of minutes, only to fail again as above!!

I have read elsewhere that Panasonic DVDs seem to pack up after about a year, just after the warranty expires!!! Built in obsolescence? I am beginning to think that this could be so, as
this is not the first piece of kit I own that has packed in after just over a year!!!.....

Graham Watts, May 2006

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