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