What's Wrong with my TV?

[Hack&Lube]

This is my parents TV and they are a bit hesitant to throw it out. It's an older 50" Rear Projection CRT TV that has served them well.

One day, the picture suddenly became very dark with a bit of distortion at the top edge. The colors are all messed up with red & blue overpowering everything and the greens the most faded. It doesn't seem like there is any "white" being added to the picture that needs to balance it out as it's all really dark. It almost looks like a negative picture.

Any ideas what this could be? Is there a bulb or lamp that is burned out? I also hear you need to replace the coolant fluid in the color lamps sometimes. Could it be this?

What I can't figure out is why the picture from cable, DVD, AV in, etc. are all like this, but the menus are all fine and sharp and full color. If it was a color tube that was physically out or something was damaged, shouldn't everything on the TV be messed up or is the menu system projected by an alternate system?

[sclitheroe]

Let's start with some troubleshooting basics, sir. Have you tried moving your television set to another room?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Let's start with some troubleshooting basics, sir. Have you tried moving your television set to another room?

As it weighs 275 lbs, no. Is this what you ask people to do when you offer tech support? "Have you tried moving your computer to another room?"

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Let's start with some troubleshooting basics, sir. Have you tried moving your television set to another room?

Pure Gold!

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

As it weighs 275 lbs, no. Is this what you ask people to do when you offer tech support? "Have you tried moving your computer to another room?"

Not exactly. I did once tell someone to take their laptop down to the hotel lobby and test the wireless there before calling back, because I wanted a smoke break

[wooohooo]

From my experience, when it's really dark that it's almost hard to see is when you need a new bulb. But I don't think that's the problem in your case.

[Vulcan]

First thing I try with any electronics is unplug it so it resets, otherwise I know nothing, uh about rear projection TVs.

[red sky]

Most likely a convergence issue. It will run you $250-$350 to have that fixed. You can do it yourself but I wouldn't recommend it.

[Hack&Lube]

It is a Proscan 50700 from around 1998.

Here are more images of what the picture looks like. If the OSD is on different RGB pins of the IC, aren't both images projected from the same tubes? I haven't disassembled the TV yet to take a look at the physical tubes. I am moderately okay with basic electrical/electronic/mechanical things but I've never worked on a TV before and wouldn't know where to start.

Any ideas what the culprit behind this is and if it is worth fixing? Could it be as simply as coolant fluid replacement?

[photon]

That's bizarre, is it just the TV's internal menus that work ok, or is it all menus from all devices that work fine? From what you said I'm assuming just internal TV menus but just confirming.

I'd probably unplug everything and start from a single source using different kinds of input and test the inputs, though if they all are messed up there's probably something wrong internally with the stuff that processes the incoming signals.

[burn_this_city]

12 years on a TV from a maker no ones ever heard of. I'd say its time to spring for a new set. Can you even find parts for a brand like that?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

12 years on a TV from a maker no ones ever heard of. I'd say its time to spring for a new set. Can you even find parts for a brand like that?

I'll probably buy them a new plasma but my nature is to hate throwing things out and I need to fix things, especially with how the picture is fine with the OSD but not the actual signals it makes me feel like there is something else going on. I also have good memories with this TV :P

It's not an unknown make, it's just one that doesn't really exist anymore. Proscan was to RCA like Lexus is to Toyota. It was their high end line.

I am asking on various TV repair message boards and stuff as well, but I was just curious if anybody on CP knew anything.

[burn_this_city]

Its true about the memories, I never throw them away, I have the original tv my folks bought us in the basement. Never knew that about Proscan. We had an RCA and I always figured that was their sole brand. I knew that some makers made cheaper versions under other names.

[cal_guy]

Looks like some gave you an answer in one of your other threads.

http://forum.doityourself.com/entert...-no-white.html

Since you checked all of your other inputs, there's probably no real hope of fixing it.