L
Lisaquing
Guest
We got a used TV for free (Thank you, FREECYCLE!) and when it works,
it works really well. However it has an intermittent problem of no
picture.
This is a Toshiba Cinema series CN36H95 manufactured 1998, 36" with a
picture tube (CRT?).
The picture intermittently won't work when we power on the television.
We usually can jimmy with it and get it to work. Once the picture is
reliably on, it stays on until we turn off the power.
The sound works fine even when the picture isn't on and the channel
changing works too. I have a VCR and a DVD player hooked up to it and
a rooftop antenna. We don't have cable TV.
The ways we can get the power to come on are by tapping or banging on
the front of the TV at the bottom, near where the connectors and
control buttons are. Also, my husband has had some success with
jamming something rigid (like a screwdriver or metal rod) underneath
the front edge of the TV, about 1/3 from the left of the TV. We leave
it there and usually when we can't get the picture to come on, just
wiggling this will bring the picture up. Sometimes putting something
heavy on TOP of the TV will help.
All these methods make me think that there must be a loose or dirty
connection in the front part of the TV, near the bottom.
My husband did take off the back off the TV and blow some dirt out of
there. It was REALLY dirty. The people before us must have been
smokers, from the looks of things. We also took apart the remote and
cleaned it and it was really yukky with yellow grime.
I think what we need to do is get into the front of this TV somehow
and clean it and make sure all the connections are tight. What we
don't know is how to take off the front, if there even is a way. Once
we have it off, what do we need to check? How should we clean it? What
is there to be careful of?
My husband is generally very handy - can fix just about anything
(furnace, VCR, automobiles, etc...). However, he hasn't had a lot of
experience fixing televisions and I want to make sure the problem
isn't made worse. Even though it's kind of inconvenient, usually we
can get the TV to work with some prodding and jimmying. I'd hate for
it to be ruined, since we cannot afford to get anything else, not even
used.
Any input would be helpful. I have skimmed through the information at
repairfaq.org and found it fascinating. However, I don't know enough
about TV's to discern what will be helpful since I don't see our exact
problem listed. Even some information on which section to read
thoroughly would be appreciated.
Thanks so much!
Lisaquing
it works really well. However it has an intermittent problem of no
picture.
This is a Toshiba Cinema series CN36H95 manufactured 1998, 36" with a
picture tube (CRT?).
The picture intermittently won't work when we power on the television.
We usually can jimmy with it and get it to work. Once the picture is
reliably on, it stays on until we turn off the power.
The sound works fine even when the picture isn't on and the channel
changing works too. I have a VCR and a DVD player hooked up to it and
a rooftop antenna. We don't have cable TV.
The ways we can get the power to come on are by tapping or banging on
the front of the TV at the bottom, near where the connectors and
control buttons are. Also, my husband has had some success with
jamming something rigid (like a screwdriver or metal rod) underneath
the front edge of the TV, about 1/3 from the left of the TV. We leave
it there and usually when we can't get the picture to come on, just
wiggling this will bring the picture up. Sometimes putting something
heavy on TOP of the TV will help.
All these methods make me think that there must be a loose or dirty
connection in the front part of the TV, near the bottom.
My husband did take off the back off the TV and blow some dirt out of
there. It was REALLY dirty. The people before us must have been
smokers, from the looks of things. We also took apart the remote and
cleaned it and it was really yukky with yellow grime.
I think what we need to do is get into the front of this TV somehow
and clean it and make sure all the connections are tight. What we
don't know is how to take off the front, if there even is a way. Once
we have it off, what do we need to check? How should we clean it? What
is there to be careful of?
My husband is generally very handy - can fix just about anything
(furnace, VCR, automobiles, etc...). However, he hasn't had a lot of
experience fixing televisions and I want to make sure the problem
isn't made worse. Even though it's kind of inconvenient, usually we
can get the TV to work with some prodding and jimmying. I'd hate for
it to be ruined, since we cannot afford to get anything else, not even
used.
Any input would be helpful. I have skimmed through the information at
repairfaq.org and found it fascinating. However, I don't know enough
about TV's to discern what will be helpful since I don't see our exact
problem listed. Even some information on which section to read
thoroughly would be appreciated.
Thanks so much!
Lisaquing