2300 Puzzling Problem

Question

Have been using the projector with no issues for 1400 hrs on the bulb.  Now all of a sudden the light gets to flashing and then shortly after it goes out.  When you let it cool down and reset the plug it will come back on and work for 3-4 min then go out.  Lamp light comes on.  Dell said it must be time for new bulb.   I replaced bulb and it did the same thing.   Dell says I must have gotten a bad bulb in the mail.  Sent a new 2nd bulb.  Does the same thing... 3-4 min after start up it starts to flash and picture gets grainy then it goes out.    Does any one have any idea what is going on?  I tried cleaning all dust from everywhere I could, I reset the hours on the bulb, I did a factory reset as well.  Is there something I am missing that it could be?

whitsle433 · Answer

Do a quick search on here for 3200mp and you'll see that your problem is somewhat common.  Mine's doing the same thing, its not the bulb, it's something on the main board and Dell isn't doing a thing to help us if we're out of warranty.  Dell's award winning customer support.....right

Hotrayz · Answer

Well, NO THANKS to tech support because I am a whole 15 days out of warrenty even though I have had this issue for over a month now thinking it was a bulb!!  I have found the issue on my own.  Apparently when the main board is dusty it causes this.   I took the bulb out and left the case open and went out to my air compressor and blew out the machine even though cosmetically it looked very clean there was dust inside that I could not get to.  Put the bulb back in and fired it up and volia! It works like a champ now!   Though now I have created a new issue!  The dust was also blown inside the lens area and there are specs on the backside of the lens.  Has anyone ever taken all the panels off the projector?  I have removed all the screws but the panels do not come loose.  Has anyone ever done a deep cleaning with panels off?   Thanks for any help.

whitsle433 · Answer

Oh my god it worked! Ya clean the case out like Hotrayz said.  No more problems for me.

fett19 · Answer

I have the same issue with dust inside the lense compartment. Not sure how to get it out. I had the same issues with my warranty and Dell saying one thing, then my warranty being expired. It's amazing to me that they take zero responsibility for their errors and processes.

Anyhoo, I can even see the big dust pieces in my lense system and I'm not sure how to get the dust out without literally taking the lense apart...I would do it myself, since I am out of warranty, but I would like instructions. I understand doing it would void a warranty but since mine has "apparentely" expired the instructions would be nice at least...but of course Dell won't supply those either!!!

In finding the dust is actually residing inside the lense unit I also found a little O-ring that has broken inside the lense unit. I would imagine this is where the dust is coming in and also I can see a ring of escaping light around my displayed picture during dark scenes. You might want to check this as well. With the projector off, and in good lighting (no direct light via a flashlight or something) look into the lenses unit at an angle...you should be able to see the dust and if you are having the same problem with some type of O-ring inside the lense unit, you will be able to see a broken ring in which light escapes. Cleaning the lense unit is one thing...fixing that broken ring, for an "out-of-warranty" DELL projector will be impossible based on their stellar support.

Dan523 · Answer

I have read these posts about cleaning out the dust solving the problem but I have only read that for the 3200.  Does the dust clean out procedure work for the 2300 as well?  Has anyone had any experience cleaning out the 2300?   Thanks

Hotrayz · Answer

The whole thread is about this dust issue happening on the 2300.  I don't know about other models but I can tell you this... my next projector will not be a dell seeing they will do little to help with any issues and finding a tech that knows anything about the projectors is about impossible.   Heck they should at least let those that are out of warrenty have some sort of manual that shows how to break one of these units down so we could attempt our own fix.   I have had to give me unit another dust off just recently again for the same problem and once again it fixed it but I need to get into the lens area and get that cleaned as it is eventually going to cloud my picture.   Any one have any ideas as to getting these lens apart??

dehartauto · Answer

Just cleaned my 2300, I removed the front panel to expose the lens.. There are three small screws on the bottom front, then the top just clips snaps into the top cover. Its best to remove the lamp too. You can also remove the top cover after you remove the front panel, But thats more complicated. There are 3 hidden scres in the back panel under small caps that must be pried out. Then there are a few screws from the bottom holding the top cover. And don't forget the connectors on the back, you must remove the screw recievers. Both these covers have sensors/switchs attached to them so be careful not to damage or pull wires sharply. I used a high  powered vacuum and slurped the crud out of it. I don't believe in air pressure as your just blowing the dust around. :smileyvery-happy:

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2300 Puzzling Problem

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