# Can my 20 yo TV be saved? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 17, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678 "2009-08-17T01:25:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/1 "2009-08-17T01:25:31Z")
I bought an MGA TV in Aug of 1989, twenty years almost to the day. It’s had some minor problems over the last year (turning off unexpectedly, color losing blue) but all intermittent and rare. Suddenly, I turned it on and it makes a gastly, loud noise, unchanged by the volume control. It did it once before, several months ago, but turning it off for 5 minutes fixed it. Is it unsalvageable? Could it just be dirty? It had an incredible amount of dust on it. (it was hung from the ceiling, so I couldn’t reach it) I told hubby to turn it upsidedown and shake it a bit, but he declined. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/2 "2009-08-17T01:38:12Z")
No. Stop trying to save the stupid old TV. [A new one will be much better.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I07xDdFMdgw) ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/3 "2009-08-17T01:43:35Z")
I would throw it away at an appropriate recycling center or event, and if you’re on a tight budget then look for people giving away CRT TV’s on Craigslist. People are giving them away (cheap or free) like mad as they switch to flatscreen and HDTV. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/4 "2009-08-17T02:36:06Z")
I’m quite a big fan of keeping stuff going as long it’s doing its job for you. But … fixing a TV can be quite dangerous. I am a little a curious: Is the sound coming from the speakers or from the case itself? I.e., is it an audio problem or something else like a transformer issue. Externally, have you done something like changed connectors or anything like that? The dust issue is a concern. It leads to heat buildup among other things and after this long a period of time, what’s damaged is damaged. Don’t let it happen again with any appliance. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/5 "2009-08-17T03:08:50Z")
Loud pop sounds could be dust arcing on the ancient board…U might want to have someone dust it on the inside, and look for blown resistors considering you have a visual prob. Might want to take care of that before you have a flaming box of, “Oh Shit”. WARNING: ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD FROM CAPACITOR…don’t touch anything inside unless you know what your doing, even when it’s unplugged. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/6 "2009-08-17T11:52:40Z")
We have an even older TV that works. We changed it out last night. **ftg** , It’s hard to tell where the noise is from. It’s _very_ loud. **astro** , How can you call my old friend stupid, you don’t even know him. I suppose, you’d recommend divorcing my husband because he got fat and lazy, too. 😃 I know you’re right, but I’ve dragged that poor thing all over the country. It’s sad to see it go. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/7 "2009-08-17T12:32:47Z")
Do _not_ take the cover off a CRT based TV. There are extremely dangerous voltages inside even after its been unplugged. This is not something for a DIYer. If you don’t know exactly what parts are dangerous and how to avoid getting killed then don’t mess with it. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/8 "2009-08-17T12:55:14Z")
Places like 7-11 have vacuum tube testers. You just remove all the tubes and test them one by one until you figure out which one is bad. Sometimes you can get TV’s and radios to work again if you hit it in the right combination in the right place. Try a Whap, Whap, sideslap at first and keep experimenting until you get it right. If none of that works, your local TV repair shop can probably help. My information might be a little out of date because I haven’t done this in a while. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/9 "2009-08-17T13:14:51Z")
Vaccuum tube TVs were gone long before 1989. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/10 "2009-08-17T13:15:45Z")
Of course it can. The question should be can I afford to fix this TV? We just got rid of a television purchased in 1984. It only had sound about a week after the digital switch over. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/11 "2009-08-17T16:00:36Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Places like 7-11 have vacuum tube testers. Does your calendar have “1972” printed on it? The last time I saw a tube tester anywhere, it was at a Radio Shack, and over 20 years ago. Also, what’s a TV repair shop? Last time I saw one of those was in 1986. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/12 "2009-08-17T16:36:35Z")
Of course it can be saved. “20-year-old TV, have you ever heard of Jesus? I have some tracts I can leave with you, and we meet in the Starbucks on Wednesday nights for Bible study.” ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/13 "2009-08-17T20:04:26Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Does your calendar have “1972” printed on it? The last time I saw a tube tester anywhere, it was at a Radio Shack, and over 20 years ago. Also, what’s a TV repair shop? Last time I saw one of those was in 1986. There’s a TV repair shop just down the street from us. It’s name is Rapid Rudy’s. It’s been there forever, I think. They also sell refurbished TVs, VCRs and such. I’m sure **Harmonious Discord** is right. It’s likely cheaper to buy a new one. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/14 "2009-08-18T03:03:59Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Places like 7-11 have vacuum tube testers. You just remove all the tubes and test them one by one until you figure out which one is bad. Sometimes you can get TV’s and radios to work again if you hit it in the right combination in the right place. Try a Whap, Whap, sideslap at first and keep experimenting until you get it right. If none of that works, your local TV repair shop can probably help. My information might be a little out of date because I haven’t done this in a while. Now THIS is a funny post! 2 thumbs up. hh ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/15 "2009-08-19T06:41:03Z")
LCD tv’s have gotten a lot cheaper lately, and screen inch for screen inch use less energy than tube systems. It is probably worth it to upgrade at this point. What you have now is half tv half space heater. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-20-yo-tv-be-saved/506678/16 "2009-08-19T08:36:24Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > I suppose, you’d recommend divorcing my husband because he got fat and lazy, too. 😃 > I know you’re right, but I’ve dragged that poor thing all over the country. It’s sad to see it go. Dragging your husband all over the country? Poor guy…We hate to see him go, as well… 😛 😃