Pioneer Rear Projection TV Troubleshooting: Blue Flash, Flickering Brightness, Sudden Shut Down

Hi. I'm Bob Jones. I help owners optimize the investments they made on their front projection TVs (FPTVs) and rear projection TVs (RPTVs). In short, I resolve their projection TV problems. I am projection TV adept and ISF Level II certified and have been in the audio/video business more than 20 years. Some of the techniques I use to calibrate my customers' sets are not typically practiced by all calibrators. I personally service front and rear projection TVs throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and across the country. I also give phone consultations to brave Do It Yourselfers.

Today I'd like to share with you some very important information about some Pioneer rear projection TVs, specifically the Pioneer Elite 510/610/710 and 520/620/720 series and their non-Elite brothers, the 532/582/642 and 533/583/643 series. The information below applies to some but not all that were manufactured from 1999 through 2001.These Pioneer rear projection TV's are all fantastic systems and if you own one you know they weren't cheap. They retailed anywhere from $5,000 to more than $11,000. I want to encourage you to protect your investment and hold on to your set! Retailers want you to buy new. They want you to scrap what you have and buy their stuff. Don't do it before finishing this article. These Pioneers are a superb line of rear projection TVs and they are still cranking away today. When maintained properly they will deliver a dazzling high-definition picture -- indefinitely.

Now, the aforementioned Pioneer projection TVs typically have one problem that needs to be addressed: their power supply boards were thinly soldered by Pioneer at the factory. This means years later cold solder joints form, causing problems such as fluctuating brightness and the infamous "Blue Flash". It may even turn off suddenly. If even one of those happens unplug your set and shut it down! Do not it warm up to normal operating temperature again, even once, until it has been fixed properly. Otherwise this high-performing projection TV is likely to become toast.

What is the fix? Properly re-soldering the joints on the power supply board. (This is the only board that needs to be re-soldered.) And not just the solder joints that are bad now; the entire power supply board on this projection TV needs to be re-soldered. This is so the joints that will go bad later don't. In other words, future proof that high-end Pioneer Elite you invested in! To repeat my advice - when you have someone do the job for you, whether it's myself or anybody else - make sure they understand they must not just re-solder the joints that are bad now. They have to solder the entire board. Though very tedious work, it is the only way the job will last. When you get someone who really knows what they are doing, this high-end projection TV will just keep going and going and going for years.

The entire line of Pioneer's CRT projection TVs was designed very nicely and has withstood the test of time. With the power supply's solder joints fully intact again, and calibration performed by a seasoned professional, there is no reason your display shouldn't produce dazzling HD that rivals any of the new, short-lived systems sold by retailers today. And solidly outperform many!

Still curious? Search "Don't Dump Your CRT RPTV!" thread at www.AVSForum.com. I also welcome you to check out my blog at http://www.ProjectionTvTroubleshootingAdvice.com.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Projection TV Troubleshooting
• advice
• help
• Bob Jones
• Pioneer
• Blue Flash
• Pioneer elite
• don't dump your crt rptv

[MrBobBigScreen]

Nobody but a highly patient, highly experienced repair or electronics assembly person who works with soldering on a daily basis should attempt this repair. Far too much is riding on it. One misstep and you could wind up with a giant boat anchor. Contact me about doing it. I will equip you with a lifetime warranty on my work.

[vangbro920]

ok thanks... i'll get to the disassembly and resoldering this weekend and let you know how it goes... how would you know if there is a lamp? can you see in it like a regular light bulb... thanks for your time Bob...

[MrBobBigScreen]

@vangbro920 Are you sure you want to take this on? I have advised that only professional grade soldering people handle this repair, and you may be. But I have to sincerely doubt it, if you are not already aware that these sets don't use bulbs but cathode ray tubes.

This is not something to be taken lightly. One false move and you'll have a several hundred pound boat anchor on wheels! If you are a beginner, I would advise stepping away from the TV right now...

[vangbro920]

Thanks for the email reply and link to this video... I find the info very helpful but do you have any video or know any video link that shows you step by step to take the board out and redo the soldering on the board. Thanks.

[MrBobBigScreen]

@vangbro920 

[MrBobBigScreen]

@vangbro920 No, but instructions are available from me directly.

[cajoseph05]

hay i got a 55' philips where after a while the green CRT will start acting funny. the color will shut off and then start this green line flicker across the screen? any thoughts?

[MrBobBigScreen]

@vangbro920

Yes. The blue flash and intermittent brightness etc. are a warning shot across the bow. When the cold solder joints I talk about in my video are allowed to continue after their effects have been noticed by the owner, things eventually go critical. Doesn't take much. Your set is "going into protection".

Luckily they are still emminently and affordably repairable. Contact me directly and we'll do a phone troubleshooting session to figure out what has to happen next.

[vangbro920]

would you know what wrong if the tv turns on and then off right away? i have this issue. thanks.

[MrBobBigScreen]

Also, I didn't mention (hey, this was my very first video!) that I perform that resoldering operation on the Pioneer power supply boards. Send your board to me and I'll save your set and give you a lifetime warranty on my work. Contact me by phone or email and I'll get you the particulars:

Robert Jones

Mr Bob on the internet, Image Perfection