How to Repair a Television
Your television is the main attraction in your home, bringing in entertainment in the form of movies, comedies, dramas and music from around the world. When something goes wrong on your television, you want it back up and running in a hurry. However, calling in a service technician for a minor fix can be costly. Instead, learn how to repair a television by troubleshooting for common problems.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
-
Low Audio Levels
-
1
Ensure the television isn't in "Mute" mode by pressing "Mute" on your television remote. When the television is in "Mute" mode, it doesn't allow audio to pass through the speakers.
-
2
Look to see if headphones are in the headphone jack. When you plug headphones in, all of the sound from the television comes through the headphones instead of through the main speakers. If you do have headphones plugged into the headphone jack, simply unplug them to fix the problem.
-
3
Test your television audio from a different source. For example, if your television has low or no audio levels when it is set for cable TV, try watching a DVD to see if the problem is still there. If it is, the problem is with your television. However, if the problem resolves itself, you know the problem isn't your television.
-
4
Check features in your television's menu by pushing the "Menu" button on your television remote. Use the options as directed on your screen to navigate the menu. Make sure the "Simulated" effect, if you have it, is turned "Off" because this can affect audio levels on your television. Also in the menu, make sure your speakers are "On" and that your MTS is set to "Main" or "Stereo."
-
5
Call a service technician if the problem persists.
"Standby" Light Flashes
-
1
Push the "Power" button on your television remote to turn your television off.
-
2
Wait five minutes so the internal projection lamp in the television can cool down.
-
3
Unplug your television from the surge protector or from the electrical outlet in the wall. Wait one minute.
-
4
Plug the television back into the same electrical outlet. Turn the television on to see if the television will power up.
-
5
Plug your television into a different outlet or into a different surge protector if the problem persists. If that fixes the problem, there are problems with your surge protector or wall outlet, not your television.
Bad Picture Quality
-
1
Check for an external light source that could cause a glare on your television screen. Watching a television with a glare on it could cause the picture quality to look poor.
-
2
Turn off other electrical devices near the television---they can cause radio frequency (RF) interference. For example, running a vacuum cleaner, halogen light bulbs or battery-operated electronics can cause a decrease in the quality of your television picture.
-
3
Browse through your television's menu options to look for picture improvement features. Adjust the sharpness of the screen to see if you can obtain a crisper images. You can turn "Digital Noise Reduction (DNR)" to "On" to reduce interference. "Digital Reality Creation (DRC)" can also affect your picture quality. Turn it "On" or "Off" to see if it changes the picture.
-
4
Plug your television into a different surge protector or into a different wall outlet. If your current surge protector or outlet doesn't produce the proper amount of voltage, it could decrease the quality of your picture.
-
5
Call a service technician if the problem persists.
-
1
