LC1/D2 question: Are "hot" pixels a sign of impending sensor failure?

[audidudi]

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I did some photography with my scruffy LC1 this past Saturday and when processing the images last night, found 24 hot pixels that were not present the last time I used it. I double-checked the camera again this morning and they're still there, so the camera has not spontaneously fixed itself...

 

FWIW, this camera's serial number does fall within the range Panasonic has identified as affected by sensor failure and prior to my using it Saturday afternoon, it had been left in the car for a few hours at what was probably a 90-degree ambient temperature (two levels down in an underground parking garage on a 110+-degree Arizona day) hence it was warrm to the touch when I pulled it out of its case. Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

 

(It's too bad the LC1/D2 firmware doesn't have the "pixel refresh" feature of the L1/D3, eh? Manually touching-up all these hot pixels is almost as time consuming as dust-spotting my film scans!)

[ajthornbury]

Jeff,

Don't think it's a sign of sensor failure, mine failed after a series of warnings.

1 Odd streaks of pink on pictures started to appear.

2 Then followed by multi-coloured stripes on the LCD together with flashing battery symbol

3 Finally went completely dead.

I had no evidence of dead pixels.