We have a Toshiba 52" DLP projection tv purchesed in Feb, 2005. It has worked great until the last few months. We switched to Dish TV in Aug and the problem developed after that. When we turn the tv on, the sound comes on but no picture. It automatically cycles on and off and after a few tries the picture comes on. That can't be good. Now there are times that even after it cycles thru the on-off routine the picture still hasn't come on and then the tv turns itself off. Could it be the lamp? If it gets a picture eventually it would seem like the lamp is ok. We thought about trying a new lamp, but at $200, yikes. HELP!!!!
Fortunatly Toshibal makes it fairly easy to do a very basic diagnosis of the DLP sets. After unpluging the set for 5 minutes, plug it back in and turn it on. Now, monitor the red and green LEDs...The red shoult be on continously, the green may or may not start blinking. If it blinks, count the number of blinks and the speed at which it blinks.
If both are on and remain on, it should start nornally.
RED-off GREEN blinks 1sec intervals--lamp is in LPS mode
RED-on GREEN blinks .3sec intervals, lamp circuit not working properly
RED=blinks .5sec intervals GREEN on continously lamp door ajar
RED-blinks 1sec intervals GREEN same lamp or ballast defective
RED blinks .5sec intervals GREEN off light engine fan stopped
RED-blinks 1sec intervals GREEN-off BUS line damaged
RED-blinks 3 times GREENoff Color wheel stopped
RED-blinks 3 times GREEN-blinks 3 times Hi Temp...
With these codes it is possible to give your servicer enough info to know where and what to do...If after pulling the lamp assembly and the inner lame glass and or filament is not damaged, suspect the ballast, especially if the GREEN lamp has blinked 9 times..
Wish you luck and success...
Nelson Richard'e TV & Electronics Caro, Mich.
Your lamp is probably failing to fire sometimes.
Thank you for the diagnostic chart. We will give it a try today. I did talk to a service rep where we bought the TV and he said if we have picture it is not the lamp. Good news for us, maybe. This is a great site. Will be checking up on more stuff!!!!
Sorry, I can tell you he's wrong.
Most DLP's will attempt to fire a lamp at least 3 times before giving up. I've had more than my share of Lamps that physically looked perfect but simply wouldn't fire or would fire occasionally.