[Elecraft] KX3: New VFO noise issue - out of nowhere, and not just on 6m,

[Adi Andrei]

I have KX3 #410, kit.
It had no VFO noise issue while I used it on all bands for about 2 month, in shack or portable.
Then it was stored in a box, in the house, nicely packaged, for about 2 month.

Today I turned it on, and it has horrible VFO noise issues.
Significantly over band noise on 14Mhz and 18Mhz, and ridiculously loud, to the point of making the whole experience a bad joke (could do DJ stuff with it) from 21Mhz up.
Without an antenna the VFO noise is clearly audible from 5Mhz up.

I am absolutely positive that for about 2 month of intense use in the summer there was no VFO noise whatsoever.
I have uploaded to the latest firmware but no change. I reverted to previous firmware but, again, no change.

How is this possible? Is this a HARDWARE problem? Some component or contact that degrades in time?

I know I could do the Rx Shift, but this is will disable the roofing filter.
What bothers me is that it was working fine before, and that it is not just 6m, but 20m and up.

Anyone have any ideas?

Cheers,

Adi M0THX