My flat screen TV is cracked. Is it worth fixing?
It is not worth repair, regardless of the screen size. Unfortunately, the costs of screen replacement usually are equal to or more than the cost of a new TV of the same type and size. I recently got a price quote on a screen for a 55 inch LG and it broke out as follows: The actual display panel was $770; the shipping to get the screen to me was $200. As the size of the screen increases, so do these costs.
In addition, screens are factory rebuilt and they charge a "core charge" to guarantee the return of the old screen for rebuilding. Because the customer's screen was physically damaged, the core is worthless, thus another $175 added to my cost of the screen.
The total was $1145, and that is before any labor was added in. I generally get $275 for a screen replacement, bringing the total cost of that 55 inch TV screen to $1420, for a TV that will sell for $399.
My child broke the screen on my new TV. Does my warranty cover this?
Yes and no. No manufacturer will cover a damaged screen; the warranty covers only internal electonic failure. A screen failure due to physical impact or dropping is obvious, and even if the screen is not cracked, the tech can tell at a glance the cause of the damage.
HOWEVER - although most 'extended' warranty programs specifically state that physical damage is not covered, it is always worth a phone call to ask. Also, certain credit card companies enhance and extend the factory warranty to cover any failure regardless of cause. If you paid by credit card, always call the card company to ask.
The cable connector on the back of the TV broke off. Can it be replaced, and if so, how much will it cost?
When the cable connector breaks off it generally damages the tuner into which it was soldered. Unfortunately, because of very high parts density on the circuit boards in modern TVs, and the increasing difficulty in obtaining parts to repair boards, the repair often has to be done by changing the entire main board on which the tuner is mounted. This makes repair not economically feasible.
Money saving tip: The TV still has value even without changing the cable connector. Almost all cable boxes can be connected with HDMI, component video or composite video connectors. If you do not have a cable box, the TV can still be used with a VCR hooked up through the composite video connectors, and the cable fed to the VCR RF input. Thus, the VCR will tune the stations. The TV can also be used to play video games, DVDs, Blue Rays, etc. Feel free to call about doing this if you are unsure how to do so. Advice is always free.
Do you sell projection lamps or bulbs for DLP TVs?
Sorry, no. Since my shop is not open to the public, and I am often out on the road instead of in the shop, I do not sell parts. I do offer reasonably priced lamp installation in most areas for most brands. Should you wish to purchase and install your own lamp, which is generally quite easy and well within the ability of most consumers, an excellent source for TV projection lamps is shopjimmy.com. WARNING: Projection lamps run extremely hot and can cause serious burns if handled before they cool. Be VERY sure to check your owner's manual for the TV before removing or opening the projection lamp cover, and carefully follow all of the safety guidelines provided by the manufacturer. Never do ANY work on your TV while it is plugged in.
The brightness flickers on my Samsung TV. What can I do about this?
Oftentimes, the problem lies in 2 menu settings on your TV and is easily corrected. The settings for Eco Sensor and Energy Savings, found in the System section of your user menu, are designed to the reduce energy consumption of the TV by maintaining a fixed brightness level regardless of the light levels in the room. To be blunt, these features work erratically or not at all in many cases. Turning them off eliminates this problem, and you can set the brightness to your preferred level in the Picture section of the menu. There is an excellent detailed description of how to turn these features on and off at https://www.samsung.com/au/support/tv-audio-video/smart-tv-energy-saving-feature/.
Why won't my cable remote turn my TV on and off?
Most cable remotes will work with most modern TVs if they are properly programmed. The instructions to program your cable remote to operate your TV are generally on the back of the cable remote. You can also call 518-869-5500 to reach Spectrum customer support.
Can I change the projection lamp in my TV myself?
Yes, definitely. Almost all TVs are designed so that the consumer can change their own lamps. Try to avoid the $40 and $50 lamps that are all over the internet; they often do not last or are not exactly matched to the electrical specifications of your original lamp, causing performance and longevity problems. The best source for lamps is a legitimate distributor of new OEM lamps rather than Amazon, eBay or other on line suppliers with parts of dubious origins. I have been using Encompass.com for the last 12 years or so and have found them to be honest, reliable, courteous and prompt. SAFETY WARNING: UNPLUG YOUR TV,check your instruction book and be SURE to follow all safety precautions and warnings given in the owner's manual for your TV. Make sure your TV has been turned off for at least 4 hours before changing the lamp; they run extremely hot and can burn your hands even after being off for a while.
Why is my DLP TV making a loud screeching noise when I turn it on?
This problem is often accompanied by the color being distorted or missing, or sometimes even no picture at all. It is almost always a defective color wheel, and can easily be repaired. The total cost of parts, labor, and trip charge is under $400, sometimes substantially under, depending on brand and model.
The DVD player or VCR that is built into my TV does not work. Can you fix this?
Due to the complex mechanical nature of DVD and VCR players, it is not economically feasible to repair them by replacing specific parts; the proper repair is to replace the entire internal DVD or VCR deck. Due to the cost of these decks, and the fact that they are generally installed in TVs with relatively small screens, it is often cheaper to replace the entire TV than the defective DVD or VCR.
Generally the TV will have input jacks on the back or side that will allow one to plug in an inexpensive external DVD player; VCRs seem to be no longer available in stores.
Why does my DLP TV look like it is snowing on all pictures?
White dots on the screen, whether a mere handful of them scattered on the screen or an almost overwhelming number of them making viewing almost impossible, are caused by a bad DMD IC on the formatter board. This problem is easy to fix but not cheap. The IC is around $325 and the labor runs $150 or so. If you have been putting off this repair, I would suggest making a decision to repair or replace the TV soon. These parts are getting harder to obtain, and the existing supply is gone, that will be the end of them.
I use a cable box and my picture is bluish green and sometimes there is a hum in the sound. How do I see if I can fix this?
Many cable boxes connect to the TV via a method called component video. This method uses Red Green and Blue connectors for the picture and Red and White connectors for the sound. Sometimes the Red video connector will work loose from either the back of the TV or the back of the cable box, causing the red portion of the picture to not be displayed on the TV. Simply pushing the Red connector firmly into its socket on both the cable box and the TV can clear this problem.
If there is a buzz or hum in the sound, AND no red in the picture, it is almost certainly because the Red sound connector and the Red picture connector have been reversed. To clear this problem simply reverse the 2 red connectors on the back of the TV. This problem often shows up after a move, or if the cable box was disconnected to plug in a DVD BluRay or game console.
My TV stand is scratched, how can I touch up the wood?
One of my customers found paint or stain pens that you can make your self at https://paintpenpeople.com They sell markers that you can fill with your own stain, so you should be able to match the wood on your stand pretty closely. These make your own paint pens are easy to fill and come completely assembled. No muss, no fuss.
How to contact The TV Shop:
You can e-mail me at tvtech@tvrepairalbany.com.
Privacy Policy:
At no time and for no reason is any of your personal information shared with any 3rd party whether corporate, governmental, or individual. I do not sub-contract work out, so there are no other parties seeing your name and address and phone number. None of the business tax returns which I file require individual customer identifying information. The only exception to this policy is that the personnel at my bank do see the actual checks that I receive, which may or may not have individual identifying information. I do not sell, share, exchange or rent lists of customers or their information.