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Member since 5/28/10
Posts: 29
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Posted on: 10/9/17 8:28 PM ET
My certified technician said that my 440QE needs a new motherboard. He's going to check with a senior technician for a second opinion. I've had problems with "needle down" and with the light turning off. Has anyone had experience with these problems?
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caroljeanne
  
Member since 3/24/04
Posts: 26392
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Posted on: 10/9/17 10:28 PM ET
In reply to carolrv
Did he try resetting the boards into the sockets to make sure the connections are tight?
  
Member since 10/8/16
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Posted on: 10/10/17 3:48 AM ET
In reply to carolrv
Carolry

Yes i bought a used 440 and the light went out. But bulb replacement did not work. So took back and was told it was board issue. Too expensive to replace so dealer exchanged for a 165 with embroidery. Love that little machine

Rob
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Always worked by Hand.

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Member since 5/28/10
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Posted on: 10/10/17 6:19 AM ET
In reply to kayl
I'll ask him about that.
Thanks for the suggestion.
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caroljeanne
  
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Posted on: 10/15/17 11:32 AM ET
I don't know about the 440QE, but, after attempting several cheaper repairs for similar issues on my Ellegante, my tech finally suggested replacing the mother board as the last resort. That solved all the problems for about 1/5 the cost of buying a new machine with comparable features. My takeaway from this experience: the life expectancy of these electronic machines that cost $5000 plus is, regrettably, only 10-12 years. I wish some enterprising soul would come up with a leasing program similar to auto leasing!
-- Edited on 10/15/17 at 11:33 AM --
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Indecision may or may not be my problem. -Jimmy Buffet

  
Member since 1/25/09
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Posted on: 10/15/17 12:33 PM ET
In reply to schmammy
I'm going to disagree... I think it really depends. On what - who knows?! I say that only because I know of so many machines going for so long with no computer related issues at all. My 20+ year old Pfaff which is now my daughter's works perfectly. So do 14xx models others I know have. Bernina 1130 and 1230s from sometime in the 90s going strong. When working for a dealer I saw so many machines come in, all brands, all ages, for nothing more than service/tune up with no electronic or computer issues at all - many at least in the 20 year old range.
It doesn't mean it can't won't happen of course, just as anything can go wrong with your computer or a computerized component of your car, or it can last a long long time. I do know of a handful of people who've had to replace a board in a Bernina 4 series, don't know if there was something particularly age sensitive about those, not so much in the Ellegante (I had a Brother version with no problem at all - but I know someone else whose board was out in a few years and we even replaced some boards on virtually brand new tol models in recent years). I guess it's just a cr*pshoot and yes things will happen but by far and away I think to generalize that the life expectancy of electronic, computerized machines is only 10-12 years is not credible. I think it's good that your tech was trying to save you $ but in the long run did it cost a lot more to pay for cheaper repairs several times? Hopefully they gave you credit for those when it turned out to be an undiagnosed mother board issue.
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