My VGN-TZ150N/B melted

Last night, my computer was plugged into the wall and sitting on my bed during the night. When I awoke, there was a small burn on my bed's comforter and my computer was physically melted around the area where the power cord plugs into the computer at the bottom of the screen and the top left of the keyboard area.

I have called sony about this issue, and they have said they will extend my one year warranty that comes with the computer for 2 years, which doesn't help me at all since I purchased the 3 year extended accidental damage warranty from them.

What should I suspect out of sony on this issue? My computer is virtually useless, but I really need one for school and have no other computer. Please advise.

 

I think your TZ is one of the recalled TZ models...

Sony VAIO TZ recalled due to overheating

Sony recalling VAIO TZ models due to overheating risk

To find out if your TZ is one of the affected units, visit this link: http://esupport.sony.com/fixmypc.

 

Now thats scary . So now you cant leave the battery or AC adapter connected unless your right there cause it could start a fire . Thank You Sony .

I would give sony 2 options , replace the notebook & extend the warrantee or get sued .

 

It is one of the effected models. It already has extensive damage from melting and overheating. My question is where do I go from here? Is the best that I can hope for sending it in and waiting weeks to get some kind of notice from sony, or should I even accept that? This is going to be a major inconvenience for me because I am losing my schoolwork, and a computer is required for my classes. (I am on another person's computer right now). Also, while it is not really a big deal to me, my bed's comforter is burned. Should I expect them to do something about that as well? I'm very lucky I wasn't burned by overheating as I was within a foot of the computer all night.

 

hire a lawyer and sue sony.

 

umm I'm really not sure about what you can do..
you should try posting in the TZ recalls thread.. or maybe some other TZ users who have been through the same/similar problem can help you with this
sorry i'm no help

 

haha I'm not sure that I have been wronged enough to justify sueing sony. I don't know much about sueing anyone, but I would think I would be entitled to very little other than them replacing the computer and maybe some negligible damages for the comforter.

 

Is the thread you are referring to on a separate message board or somewhere on this one?

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=295202

 

Hi robertd38606, this is John E52T from Sony. If the computer has melted I suggest not to use it anymore. Please contact [email protected] so someone from Sony can contact you. If possible please include in the email your contact information as well as an Event ID if you have one. Thank you.

 

Sorry a little off topic here... but
So there are people from Sony on this forum... how come none of them response to those GIGANTiC battery drain threads...

 

My TZ also falls under the recall but I hadn't worried about it. But now hearing your story makes me extremely scared.

I've left it plugged in before overnight with no issues and am using it right now to type this.
I'm also hesitant to send it in for repair since its my only computer and I need it for school. And now I have a feeling what happened to you will happen to me quite soon, my luck may run out soon.

Robert, you hadn't heard of the large TZ recall announced last month? The problem with these models is exactly what happened to you, there's a wiring fault in the left hinge near where you plug in the AC cable which Sony has said can cause overheating and burns.

 

John, I have called sony and they are sending a box to send in the computer. However, I'm not happy with the turnaround time that was given to me or the "we'll have to evaluate and make sure that sony is indeed at fault and we will contact you with what we find" attitude. I do not believe that I should have to be without a computer for my classes for weeks because sony's faulty workmanship caused my computer to melt and my bed's comforter to be burned. It seems I would be entitled to a little more than just a repair that might take weeks and a repaired unit that may not even be as good as the first laptop. I mean, the people who didn't have their computers burned are being given 2 years extra on their warranty, but mine actually was burned along with some of my property, and I'm being offered the same thing? How would you respond in my shoes?

 

No, today is the first i've heard of the TZ recall. I guess i've had my head too buried in the books lately for news from the outside world!

 

Many people had someone over to repair their TZ, you could try asking Sony if they can send someone. I don't know if it's possible in your case though.

 

Doubtful.. It's gonna be a pretty serious repair. A lot of the computer panelling will having to be replaced.

 

robertd38606, if you called and they are sending you a box that is part of the process. I still urge you to send an email to [email protected] with your contact information and an Event ID/Work order number so the case can be reviewed. Once you are contacted your concerns regarding this situation including the turnaround time and the damage caused can be addressed.

TonytheTiger: can you please provide a link to the exact thread your referring to. Thanks in advance.

 

I would be happy to send an e-mail there, but the customer service rep did not give me an EventID/Work Order number. If I call customer service back, would they be able to find my call and give me the eventID?

 

robert, was your laptop turned ON during the night or OFF, just plugged into wall?

 

robertd38606, using the phone number you provided to the customer service rep we should be able to look up your EventID/Work order.

 

TZ model sony vaios (or was it their batteries?) have been recalled due to heating problems recently. Apparently you are one of the lucky people who find out about it too late.

I think that if you call ANY sony support number and tell them what happened, they'll flip cartwheels to make you happy, and if you can get a supervisor on the line you could possibly get shunted down the line until you find the department who cuts checks for burned-up bedspreads.

 

The computer was turned OFF but connected to the charger.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=282258

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=299109

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=295886

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=146956

for example.. if i put my laptop (SR190) to hibernate or shut it down on battery, and turn it back on like 15 minutes later.. i would lose like 20% charge...

 

Is this also related to TZ overheating, if the laptop was turned OFF? As I understand the TZ overheating is an issue with some wires that goes into short cirtuit and overheating while using the laptop.

If robert's laptop was OFF I dont see a connection with the TZ overheating issue and it seems something new?

 

I think this could be related to the recall issue. The recall did not specify if the overheating occurred with the TZ turned on or off, just that it occurred near the AC power input due to an internal short circuit.

@ Robert: Take pictures before sending your TZ anywhere! And definitely contact the Sonylistens email that John provided.

@ John: The battery drain problem affects many different models in Sony's current line-up, including my TZ. With notebook completely powered OFF, there is significant battery loss. Only solution is to power down and remove battery, which is unacceptable.

 

OMG!! mine melted about like 3 months ago. I didn't know there was a recall.
Well, I had a questions, i had important info in there, and had my data backed up from the hardrive. Does that void my warranty at all, being that they had to open it up to do so?
thanks

 

Dang, I wonder when mine will melt, it appears as though its only a matter of time isn't it as its happened to a few people here.

If it melts, would Sony still repair it for free or only if I send it in ASAP before anything happens to it? I still need to use it right now for school. I was considering buying a desktop but maybe I should do that sooner now, not have the TZ as my only computer for school.

 

Not 100% sure, but I'd imagine that Sony would still be responsible for fixing your TZ in or out of warranty for any damage caused by the recall issue. How are they gonna know that you keep up-to-date on their recalls? I'm sure most people don't, and I was never notified about it. I'd say either get it fixed on-site, or wait until a break in your classes to have it shipped out.

Just be sure to keep everything backed up during this time, and be careful to keep your TZ in a location where a melt-down would not start a fire! Worse case scenario.. your machine melts in December, the TZ is off the market, and you get a TT replacement instead =)