How do you know when to replace your TV as opposed to having it repaired?

Question

Recently the picture on my Sony TV, @ 8 years old, began "shrinking" to the top of the screen. After a few moments the screen was black. There is audio the whole time.

Answer 1

you tubes just went out. To replace them is more expensive than buying a new one... pretty much the way it goes these days.

Answer 2

Get a new one!!! The standard format will be 16:9 by 2008. Your old 4:3 ratio Tv will be obsolete and you will have black bars on the top and bottom and your screen size will be alot smaller.

Answer 3

Generally when the cost of the repair is more than 50% of the value of the TV (or the cost of a new one). Fortunately the cost of a new TV is pretty low these days. Good luck!

Answer 4

If the cost of repairs is more than a new TV, you should replace it. 8 years is not an old TV.

Answer 5

The only way to find out is take it to a repair shop to find out what it will cost. It may be something simple and cheap to fix and it may be totally fried. With the advent of HDTV, in the future , you will have to buy a converter to get full screen, or buy a new one anyway. Use your own judgment as to how much is too much to spend.

Answer 6

The Horizontal going out. Could be the High Voltage, but, most likely the Horizontal Board. The age of the TV and cost to repair, I would just replace it with a new one. If, you know someone good and fix cheap (Labor) you could try to fix. I not sure what the Board or High Voltage Coil would cost, but, I would assume the parts be under $50.

Answer 7

Probably cost you more to repair it than it would to buy a whole new set.