TV Has Sound But No Picture Troubleshooting Guide

Here are some steps to ease you through TV picture loss—from prevention to recognition to next steps when your picture finally does go out.


TRANSCRIPT

Here's a plot twist—often, your TV picture will go out before the sound does, preempting your show with an unwelcome cliffhanger. Hi, I'm Paul Blake for Repair.com with some steps to ease you through TV picture loss—from prevention to recognition to next steps when your picture finally does go out.

Step 1: Avoid overheating your TV

The lamp inside your TV is responsible for projecting colors and images onto the screen. So frequent overheating not only shortens the lamp life, but your TV picture life as well. To prevent overheating, keep your backlight system well ventilated and avoid turning your TV on and off repeatedly without allowing it time to cool down in between.

Step 2: Watch for warning signs

The fluorescent bulb in your LCD TV dims over time. If you start to notice your picture getting progressively dimmer, take it as a fair warning that your LCD's backlight is just about ready to quit.

Many DLP TVs have a lamp icon on the TV frame. When you see a light turn on above the icon, that's a sure indication that your backlight lamp's days are numbered.

Step 3: Reboot your receiver

If your picture does quit, first make sure that it's not just your receiver acting up. Reboot it by turning off your TV and unplugging the receiver. Wait about 10 seconds before you reconnect the receiver, then restore power to it and your TV. If that doesn't work, the issue is likely with the TV's lamp.

Step 4: Investigate your picture failure

For DLP TVs, picture loss can involve lamp failure. No lamp, no images. The other point of failure could be the ballast, which starts up the lamp and keeps it powered. Determining whether your issue is with the lamp or ballast can be tricky without professional help, but if you recently replaced the lamp, the ballast is likely at fault.

For LCD TVs, a failed backlight bulb or inverter could be the culprit. If the problem lies with the inverter, your functioning backlight bulb won't receive power. A good way to rule out one or the other is to get the room as dark as possible and shine a flashlight at the TV from an angle. If you can see images, then the problem is the inverter. If not, then it's likely the backlight bulb.

Step 5: Decide to repair or replace

If you are not ready to part with your DLP TV, you can have the lamp or ballast replaced. LCD inverters can be replaced, but replacement LCD backlights are not generally available, so buying a new TV may be your only option if it fails. In any situation, consider the TV's age and deals on new TVs before deciding.

For more tips or to find a qualified service professional, visit us at Repair.com. Good luck restoring picture or shopping for a new TV!