36" went out should I repair or replace

[guv]

Hi,
My RCA colortrak 36" went out the other day. Last week it started making this crackling noise and then would turn itself off. It seemed that after it warmed up 10 minutes that this would go away. The picture has been fine the while this is happening. Now when I try to turn it on it makes this popping noise and then will automatically turn itself off. The TV no longer will stay on but shut itself off immediately. The TV is 6 years old. I normally do not like to get tv's repaired because they are so cheap these days. But I wanted this one to last another year or two until the plasma's or DLP get into my price range.

If I could fix it and get maybe 2-3 years out of it for 100-200 bucks than I would go for it. I just dont want to fix it and then it breaks 6 months later.

What do you guys think. Anyone familiar with this problem.

[woodman]

Hi,
My RCA colortrak 36" went out the other day. Last week it started making this crackling noise and then would turn itself off. It seemed that after it warmed up 10 minutes that this would go away. The picture has been fine the while this is happening. Now when I try to turn it on it makes this popping noise and then will automatically turn itself off. The TV no longer will stay on but shut itself off immediately. The TV is 6 years old. I normally do not like to get tv's repaired because they are so cheap these days. But I wanted this one to last another year or two until the plasma's or DLP get into my price range.

If I could fix it and get maybe 2-3 years out of it for 100-200 bucks than I would go for it. I just dont want to fix it and then it breaks 6 months later.

What do you guys think. Anyone familiar with this problem.

If you've had 6 years of use out of this beast, consider yourself fortunate! Do not - I repeat do not even consider for half a second repairing it. Replace the set and whatever you do, do not - I repeat do not replace it with another RCA. That company which at one point in time was the absolute ultimate in television, have slid downhill ever since the mid-1970s. Today, I wouldn't let any product bearing the RCA logo into my home ... even as an outright gift!

The foregoing is based upon my 50+ years of actually working on these things.

[eqm]

agreed...you can find super-cheap 36" in the $500 range now. or spend a little more and get a better one, like an hd-ready set.

[guv]

thanks for the tips. Any suggestions for a new TV.

[Smokey]

How about this 36 inch TV from Toshiba ( 36A43) for $449!

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....2&type=product

[guv]

I actually saw that one online the other day, but when I checked availability in CA it showed unavailable. I called but was kept on hopld 10+ minutes and then hug up on the next time.

I might just wait anothyer month or so to see what kind of deal the holiday season brings.

Still looking for advice on TV though