[Elecraft] K3 problem

[David F. Reed]

  My K3 (serial number 1476) was working fine this morning, but started 
exhibiting a problem this afternoon...

I occasionally get a "ERR PL1" message on the screen; I have the 
following behavior:

   1. other stations report my transmission is off frequency or garbled.
   2. sometimes the receive acts like there is no antenna connected
      (Noise floor at -140 db, as opposed to the more normal -120 db on
      40 meters)
   3. Sometimes the TUNE produces 0 watts out (set to 100); other times
      it gives the full 100.

I suspect all these symptoms are related to the error message.

I note that the rig is warm (on for a few hours) but not hot; I don't 
know if it will do this from cold, but I will try to find that out (rig 
is off now waiting to cool down to about 80 deg. F.).

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks and 73 de Dave, W5SV