RCA picture problem -- amateur desparate for help

[cliffale]

I am a garbage man and one day on our route, a customer had given me a 37 inch RCA. He told me it had a problem but I was welcome to it if I wanted to have it repaired. The problem is this: when I plugged it in and connected it to cable, the picture and everything is perfect but after a while (the time is always different, from a few minutes to an hour) the picture goes black. I can still cycle through the channels and access the menu and hear the sound perfectly, also see the chennel numbers displayed on the screen but no other visual except a slightly lighter black screen for a split second every time a channel is changed. after another while, the picture comes back in -- a crisp beautiful picture with no jumping or snow or anything and on it goes. The model number is F35665 and it says on the front Entertainment Series, Guide Plus, Picture-in-Picture. I don't know anything about televisions but have worked inside various electronics and computers and I am not afraid to try unless I'm advised that it's just too difficult for the common person. Does anyone have any advice on what I can do or try that may fix this problem? I would be DEEPLY indebted.

Thanks,

Cliff
[email protected]

[sparky]

The voltages are much higher in a television so take care and some components hold a charge when switched off.
I could be wrong but it sounds like a dry joint and could try probing with a plastic object to see if the fault will come and go to narrow the area down.
I have never worked on an RCA as here in the U.K they are not available but if you posted the model number some RCA experts may hold the key.
How is cable connected? Is it using scart/euroconnecter or R.F through an aerial socket? The first areas would be i.f/video stages after sound take off or supply to it if using r.f as sound o.k.
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If in doubt pull the plug out.

[Guest]

Don't take this wrong, but unless you're proficient at diagnosing televisions, with the proper equipment and service literature, you're way over your head with this.

[cliffale]

I am new to this, but I'm very careful, I learn quickly and know how to follow instructions. I love learning new things and not depending on paying people to do something that I'm interested in doing. No offense taken -- but do you have any suggestions for me? All this is very interesting!

Thanks!

Cliff

[ctselectronics]

Easiest thing to try would be to get a VCR or DVD Player (or cable box for that matter) and use a composite video cable. It should plug into the back into a jack labeled video in or such. You'll have to hook up the audio as well. yellow,red and white from the video out on the VCR to the Video in on the TV. Then switch the set to Video 1 (usually using the INPUT or VIDEO button on the remote)

But.... If this is one of the RCA Chassis with the tuner can mounted through the board (CTC 175,176,169, etc) and those connections are cold, it can knock out other parts, the EEPROM specifically. Please post the Model/Chassis number found on the data label on the back of the set. I wouldn't run the set until I knew for sure. A new EEPROM requires reprogramming/re-aligning which isn't the simplest thing to do. The fact that you have intermittent picture now means the EEPROM is still good.
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Ken Russell
Service Manager
Colonial TV & Satellite