# Help me diagnose this HD TV problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 30, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-this-hd-tv-problem/639353 "2012-10-30T20:06:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-this-hd-tv-problem/639353/1 "2012-10-30T20:06:15Z")
I have a [Magnavox 1080p HDTV](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889259022). It’s a couple of years old. Now when I power it on, the picture comes on only for 2-3 seconds then goes dark. Every time. All other functions work, including sound and switching source. I have a Wii and a Verizon FiOS settop box and it has the same behavior regardless of source. I am guessing that these TVs are so complex and tightly integrated that I have no hope of doing anything myself to fix it. I have a very rudimentary understanding of electronics and know how to use a multimeter, but I think that means I know enough to be dangerous. But I figured I could at least ask. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-this-hd-tv-problem/639353/2 "2012-10-30T20:33:29Z")
I can’t open the link at work for some reason, but is it a DLP? If so, it may need a new bulb. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-this-hd-tv-problem/639353/3 "2012-10-30T21:12:26Z")
It’s an LCD. **CookingWithGas** , try looking through this site: > **[DVD Talk - DVD Movie News, Reviews, and More](https://www.dvdtalk.com/)** > > DVD Talk publishes no-nonsense movie news and information about home media, including - reviews, columns, interviews, and discussion areas. Lots of good information here. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-this-hd-tv-problem/639353/4 "2012-10-31T02:37:45Z")
Moving this to GQ, as more appropriate. - Gukumatz, IMHO Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-this-hd-tv-problem/639353/5 "2012-10-31T02:58:37Z")
Does the sound go out also or just the picture? If it’s both and the set keeps powering off it’s probably a bad power supply. Unfortunately even if it’s only just that it’ll be cheaper to buy a new one than to get it fixed. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-this-hd-tv-problem/639353/6 "2012-10-31T15:41:56Z")
If you are handy with a soldering iron or have a local electronics repair shop, it may be [bad capacitors and fixable for not much money.](http://www.markdigital.com/2011/02/14/bad-capacitors-lcd-monitor-repaired/) Apparently in recent years there have been a lot of bad capacitors coming onto the market from Asia. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-this-hd-tv-problem/639353/7 "2012-10-31T16:13:45Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Does the sound go out also or just the picture? > If it’s both and the set keeps powering off it’s probably a bad power supply. > Unfortunately even if it’s only just that it’ll be cheaper to buy a new one than to get it fixed. Just the picture. Sounds keeps on coming. The set does not power off. The sound and pilot light stay on; the screen just goes black. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-this-hd-tv-problem/639353/8 "2012-10-31T16:57:35Z")
Use a bright flashlight to see if there is a faint image on the screen. If so, it’s a backlight or inverter problem. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-this-hd-tv-problem/639353/9 "2012-10-31T20:31:07Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Does the sound go out also or just the picture? > If it’s both and the set keeps powering off it’s probably a bad power supply. > Unfortunately even if it’s only just that it’ll be cheaper to buy a new one than to get it fixed. > [@control-z](#): > > If you are handy with a soldering iron or have a local electronics repair shop, it may be [bad capacitors and fixable for not much money.](http://www.markdigital.com/2011/02/14/bad-capacitors-lcd-monitor-repaired/) Apparently in recent years there have been a lot of bad capacitors coming onto the market from Asia. Bad caps in the power supply would be the first thing I would investigate. When the caps go bad, the power supply cannot keep a steady voltage under load, so it works for a little bit and then fails when the voltage drops. As **control-z** notes, bad caps are usually easy to spot and cheap to replace. All it takes is the gumption to open up your set and attack it with a soldering iron. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-this-hd-tv-problem/639353/10 "2012-11-01T01:45:57Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Does the sound go out also or just the picture? > If it’s both and the set keeps powering off it’s probably a bad power supply. > Unfortunately even if it’s only just that it’ll be cheaper to buy a new one than to get it fixed. What’s the safest way to discharge caps before testing? Like I said, I know enough to be dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![retsin2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@retsin2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/retsin2000)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-this-hd-tv-problem/639353/11 "2012-11-02T01:05:47Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I have a [Magnavox 1080p HDTV](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889259022). I have a Wii and a Verizon FiOS settop box and it has the same behavior regardless of source. Do all the sources plug in directly to the TV or are they being routed through an A/V receiver? I had similar behavior that I tracked down to a bad HDMI cable. But for that to be be the explanation in your circumstance everything would have to be routed through the same bad cable. The only way I can think that would be possible is if everything goes through a receiver and the receiver is connected to the TV with a bad HDMI cable. Probably not what is going on but a cheap and easy fix if it is. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-this-hd-tv-problem/639353/12 "2012-11-02T11:58:30Z")
> [@retsin2000](#): > > Do all the sources plug in directly to the TV or are they being routed through an A/V receiver? The set-box FiOS box is plugged in with an HDMI cable but the Wii is plugged in directly with a composite video cable.