E-Trac in the shop

[Ill Digger]

Well before the big thaw comes I figured I better have the E-Trac looked at. Shortly after buying my E-Trac (used) last year. I tryed turning the machine on one day....and nothing! :confused: So I keep pushing the power button and it finally came on. It would happen randomly through out the summer. One time the power button did nothing. But when I pushed the arrow pointing right, right below the power button, the machine fired up. :rolleyes: One time the back light button turned it on :bangahead01: Toward the end of the season it seemed to stop. I took it out about two weeks ago and it did it again so I figured I better get it looked at rather now than when it's 70 degrees outside and prime hunting days ! I heard through a fellow on YouTube and a Whites repair tech that MineLab's new tech center recently came to the Chicagoland area. I called MineLab and talked to Angie on the phone. She verified they defiantly are in northern Illinois.There address' are:
MineLab (main office) MineLab (tech center)
2777 Finley Road, Unit #4 1418 Brook Dr.
Downers Grove, IL 60515 USA Downers Grove, IL 60515
Customer Care: 1-877-SOS-MLAB (1-877-767-6522)
Toll Free: 1-888-949-6522
T: 1-630-401-8150
F: 1-630-401-8180
E: [email protected]
So I got up and took the hour and 20 minute drive to their facility in Downers Grove this morning. They said their usual turn around time has been about 5 business days. But recently is up to 17 to 20 days. 8/ I wish I wasn't such a procrastinator 8/ They said from what I've told them it could be just a bad control panel. To replace a bad control panel it would cost about $50 plus labor which is $60 @ hr. Which is what the tech guy told me he's thinking it is from what I've described. He said he's 99.5% sure. I hope he's right !Which all would've been covered under warrenty if it was bought new :bangahead01: On the other hand it could be a bad board. He gave me the real name of it and I forgot what it is called lol Anyways if that's what is bad the cost is between $250-$270 plus shop rate :crying02: So I took it to them today and Angie took my name, number and symptoms down on a sticky note and propped the E-Trac up against the wall and said &quot:daydream:.K. we'll give you a call when we diagnosed the problem, before we do any repair work.
I'm a little nervous :-\ Has anyone else ever had to send a machine into MineLab for repair? And if so. How was the experience? I'm hoping for just a bad control panel,if that, short turn around time, and seamless transaction!!... :rolleyes:...But that's not usually how things work for me. >:\

[coinnut]

I had mine sent in originally when they came out. They did a real good job of fixing my machine. Not many of them break from what I read about them, but they are a sophisticated piece of electronics and things happen. Mine was under warranty, so I didn't pay for anything. I'm hoping it's a quick fix. They really did make sure it was working well when they gave it back to me. I have never sent it back to them, but I did send mine in to replace the shaft locks at a CT dealer a couple of weeks ago, so I share your anxiety withdrawals rofl

[RonMue]

Please keep us posted on progress of your problem, >:\ I have the V3i and am planning on getting the e-trac in the near future. GOOD LUCK , Ron

[Dixie Rebel]

Hope you get your machine back as good as new. And hope it does not cost you a arm and a leg.

[Ill Digger]

I'll keep you guys up to speed on the progress and communications through out the transaction. This way I'll be able to reference this thread for my own notes too. I'm hoping it's faster than they're predicting. It's suppose to be in the 40's next week!! lol

so I share your anxiety withdrawals rofl
It's not funny !! :girlcry:

[coinnut]

I'll keep you guys up to speed on the progress and communications through out the transaction. This way I'll be able to reference this thread for my own notes too. I'm hoping it's faster than they're predicting. It's suppose to be in the 40's next week!! lolIt's not funny !! :girlcry:


If it's not funny, then why am I laughing rofl Who am I kidding, I kinda like and miss ET :crying02: :crying02:

[Ill Digger]

Who am I kidding, I kinda like and miss ET :crying02: :crying02:
Yeah it kinda grows on ya lol

[Cheap Thrills]

Good luck with your E-trac I D . I hope they go easy on you . Sure hope my SE doesn't break down at those prices I got mine used also .

[Full Metal Digger]

Hey Tim,
It cost me a lot of money to get those guys to go slow on repairing your machine. happydance02 I told them that everytime I make a great find, you beat me the next week with something even better!

[coinnut]

Hey Tim,
It cost me a lot of money to get those guys to go slow on repairing your machine. happydance02 I told them that everytime I make a great find, you beat me the next week with something even better!


If you pay them enough, they may even misplace his machine for a couple of months lol

[Ill Digger]

Hey Tim,
It cost me a lot of money to get those guys to go slow on repairing your machine. happydance02


If you pay them enough, they may even misplace his machine for a couple of months lol
Whaaa :girlcry: :bangahead01: :crying02: :bangshead02: crying01
Dave when I get it back and dig my first Reale you'll be the first to know buddy lol ;) thumbsup01

[jkress]

Bummer brother. :crying02:

I can see how that would get very frustrating as the season went on last year. From my experience with somewhat similar devices... it does sound like a control panel issue. I hope it is an easy/inexpensive fix for you. :yes:

Thanks for the Minelab info. I'll file that away... hopefully never to be needed. thumbsup01

[zrickkid]

Wow Digger that place is two minutes from my house in Glen Ellyn. If you ever go there again let me know maybe we can hook up and get in a quick hunt. I've got a few places we can go, nothing special but who knows? :angelic:

[coinnut]

Wow that place is two minutes from my house in Glen Ellyn.

Well then go pound on the door and ask them where Coinnut's detector is. They are holding up a beach hunt rofl It would be really nice to live that close to a major manufacturer of detectors. Mine was just recently sent there, so I'm kidding about the progress. It seems it needs some minor tweaking. The dealer that was looking at it was amazed that it wasn't completely broken given the amount of, let's say abnormal use, lol it was showing. But that machine was still hitting deep on a bench diagnostic test. Go Minelab :happydance01:

[Dixie Rebel]

Yeah I think I would go nuts if I only had one detector. Do you all have a back up just in case?

[coinnut]

Yeah I think I would go nuts if I only had one detector. Do you all have a back up just in case?


I have a back up and it's a good one, but I just can't seem to pick it up after I tried the E trac. I probably should buy another one to back the first one up rofl

[Dixie Rebel]

I would love to have another one myself coinnut. But I think the wife would :boxing: :blackeye:

[Ill Digger]

Wow Digger that place is two minutes from my house in Glen Ellyn. If you ever go there again let me know maybe we can hook up and get in a quick hunt. I've got a few places we can go, nothing special but who knows? :angelic:
Man that is close! PM sent.

Do you all have a back up just in case?
Yeah I hung onto both of my White's machines. It's nice so the kids can use one if I can talk them into going out. lol I even got my dad to swing the DFX for a day in a park down the road from their house. Last fall the better halves uncle was really pumped about trying out a metal detector. So I let him use one for a day. And I'm really glad that I kept them now lol

[Ill Digger]

Update: Monday the 7th and I still hadn't heard from Minelab on my E-trac's repairs. So I called Minelab and no one answered the phone :rolleyes: So I left a message to please call me back, after I explained the estimated time of repair was upon us. I received a call back about 2:30 telling me that they basically forgot about my machine until I called, and that it was still leaning against the wall were I left it four weeks ago 8/ :mad: They said they were sorry and it was put on RUSH now. Great :rolleyes:
They said I'd get a call on Tuesday the 8th to set up payment arrangements. :dontknow: Once that was taken care of then they would put in the work order and start repairs. WHAT!? :hairpulling: So i waited for the call on Tuesday and it never came :rolleyes: Today around 2:30 again the phone rings...it's Minelab, saying the repairs are done and it's ready for pick-up!! So I'm going to get my machine in the A.M. All I can say is I'm less than pleased with this whole ordeal. I just hope it's fixed and fixed right.

[Cheap Thrills]

Man, they sure dropped the ball on that one . Sure hope the guy who repaired it , did it right . I'm anxious to see how much it costs you to bail your machine out . Good Luck with this . Check the serial number on it before you sign for it and before you drive home be sure to try it out on their lawn . :yes:

[Ill Digger]

Man, they sure dropped the ball on that one . Sure hope the guy who repaired it , did it right . I'm anxious to see how much it costs you to bail your machine out . Good Luck with this . Check the serial number on it before you sign for it and before you drive home be sure to try it out on their lawn . :yes:
I went and picked up the E-Trac from MineLab today/yesterday :rolleyes:. All I can say is that it works great and they set things right with me! <: :happydance01: :clapping: |:confused:)
Sheik I took your advise and before I pulled out of the parking lot I took it over to the grass median and threw down a quarter and fired that baby up!! I gave it a quick test and I was off :yes: I could tell it was different before I even ran it over the quarter. When I used to turn it on there was always a hesitation before the E-Trac logo and music would come on. Not anymore!! As soon as I hit the power button it fires right up!! :clapping: I'm glad that's over with! Now it's time to go find some silver!!! :drool: :peace:

[Cheap Thrills]

That's great to hear Timmy .I'm glad to hear they made it right by you .Looking forward to seeing you post some great finds . <: thumbsup01 thumbsup01 8)

[del]

hey Tim glad to hear you have your e-trac back into your loving arms again lol lol George is still without his , i did one better as i paid off the guy shipping it . yup a few worth while green backs and its lost in the mail somewhere :devilish: <: :happydance01:

[jkress]

Great news Tim!! Just in time for some nice detecting weather. :happydance01:
Happy times are just ahead. :peace:

[Fire Fighter 43]

Now it's time for some digging, go get them Tim