problems with Thermo Trace GC-TSQ Quantum GC

[Sku]

we bought a Thermo TSQ Quantum in october 2008. The first time we were very glad with the system until we changed the board into a new one (3000 transitions) Nearly the same time we installed a backflush system. Then we had many problems with sensitivity and small areas. We increased the injection volume from 1 µl to 2 µl but we did not reached the same level than before. Then Thermo changed the source into XLS.But there was no improvement.
e.g. area of Triphenylphosphat at 1 µl injection volume, old board and without backflush round about 900000 and now with the new board, XLS source, backflush and 2 µl 300000.
Then we realized that the wire of the filament bends so that there's no signal left anytime.

Did anyone make the same experiences?

[yangz00g]

You are not alone.

Search my previous post and you will see my frustration with this system. We called in the service engineer at least once a month in about two years after the installation. After updated to XLS and backflush, the instrument seems to stabilize itself, but the performance is no better than an Agilent GC-single Q-MS.

Check your S/N, even the peak is buried under noise, the software still gives you a double digit S/N. So the theoretical LOD is great, but it simply doesn't deliver in the real world.

[Sku]

Is your Quantum GC still in use or is it out of order?
What does Thermo say to your problem?Our guideline (SANCO) says that within a sequence the difference between beginning and end is not allowed to be more than 20%.Because of the guideline we think about changing our instrument.