Repair or Replace?

[PBancroft]

Our TV seems to be getting on the verge of being unwatchable. It will randomly change colours, often casting a very vibrant pink hue over everything. I'm fairly sure that this is the set itself as opposed to any of the inputs (SCART leads, PVR, Virgin Media box) so I'm left in a bit of a quandry. The set is coming up for about 8 years old, so well out of warranty, but I'm loathe to dispose of something which could still be usable... yet I'm led to believe that repairing it may cost as much if not as getting a new one. This seems a bit bonkers if true, and when PCs go I tend to upgrade them rather than replace, and even then parts can be as pricey as a new box.

Yet my gut reaction still says repair... but what do others think - what do you do when something goes pop?

 

[palinurus]

It will randomly change colours, often casting a very vibrant pink hue over everything.

Cool!

You want to swap?

 

[Mozzy]

New TV's are so cheap ... relatively speaking. You can get HD through the TV aerial now on B1/2 ITV 1 and Ch4. Either plassy or LCD, whatever lights your fire. Offers around are simply stupid now. I know what I would do.

 

[HovR]

I've had this problem myself, except the issue always turned out to be the scart leads. It's worth messing with them just in case.

You may already know this, but if it's a CRT, don't open it up to try and fix it yourself.

 

[PBancroft]

Already tried switching scart leads, no joy. It is a CRT so not going near it with a screwdriver but thanks for saying.

It just seems so wasteful to bin something which effectively still works.

 

[ASC1951]

Our TV seems to be getting on the verge of being unwatchable. It will randomly change colours, often casting a very vibrant pink hue over everything. I'm fairly sure that this is the set itself as opposed to any of the inputs (SCART leads, PVR, Virgin Media box) so I'm left in a bit of a quandry.

It could be that the set needs de-gaussing. Modern tellies supposedly never need it, but some cheaper ones do. You can find all sorts of complex instructions on t'Internet, but what works for me is to switch it off, unplug it from the mains and leave it unplugged for 20 minutes or so. Occasionally my 69.99 Netto telly - still going strong after 8 years, too - turns pink or purple, but this puts it back to normal.

You may have someone locally who repairs them. There is a bloke near me who mends them in his spare room because it's better than having to watch his wife knit, but even he charges £25.

 

[accountantpete]

The going rate round here for a 5 - 8 yo CRT ( £500 new) in the Charity electrical shops is £30.

You might as well dump it and purchase another.

(We were advised to check out the TV's already on in the showroom by touching the top. Hot avoid, cool have a closer look.).