Philips 42" Plasma TV Problems - Blue Dots Randomly Appear

[Apoptosis]

My 42" Philips TV is 14 months old and seems to be going out already. It has blue dots and streaking when used on both HDMI and Component inputs, so it's a screen issue and not the input device. Here are a couple pictures... Can anyone help me figure out what this is and how I might be able to fix it without sending it in?

HTPC via HDMI - Random Blue Dots

plasma_problems.jpg (44.65 KiB) Viewed 30572 times

HD DVD - Same Issues

plasma_problems2.jpg (42.54 KiB) Viewed 30564 times

[bubba]

No clue, I'll ask a guy I work with. His family has run a TV repair shop for years.

[camaroguy1998]

I was reading about blue pixels the other day(No I dont remember where)
They were referred to as stuck pixels, do they change with picture movement?

Check this out, hopefully it will help you!
http://www.samsungplasmatvfaq.com/index ... _pixels.3F
http://www.jscreenfix.com/

[KnightRid]

Another good thread - http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=968251

seems the Incredibles is a good fixer too..lol..wierd.

Mike

Is it still under warranty? I would exchange it if it is. Now I know why I keep wondering why more people arent buying DLP/LCOS ;)

[bubba]

Nate, what model is the TV in case he asks.

[Apoptosis]

I just noticed there is one firmware update for the Philips 42PF7321D/37, so I updated from software version 1.4.0. to 1.5.0 and so far it hasn't done it again... We shall see as it has only been on for about 30 minutes.

The latest software solves the issues below:

TV (Plasma 42” and 50”) will not turn ON/shut off itself and Red LED blinks 4- times. Recover if main switch on/off.
37” LCD full white screen appear when upgrade software.
Some channels not available after turn ON.
Delta volume changes, not remembered.
Preferred channel changes, not remembered.
Green or yellow static (sometime snowy) on HDMI picture.

The "snowy" static fix is intersting and i'm keeping my fingers crossed that this works, but I doubt it as the first 12 months I owned this TV it was fine and only in months 13-15 did it start doing the 'snow' as you can see. They are not stuck pixels because they move with the colors on the screen as you can tell in the second image...

[Apoptosis]

crap... The blue snow is still there...

Takes about an hour for it to appear when the TV is off overnight...

HELP!!!!!!!!

[Illuminati]

Is it still under warranty? I would exchange it if it is.

I second that... you'll be happier in the long run if they have to just give you a new one!

[Apoptosis]

Only a 12 month warranty, so it's out... I called Mid America Service in St. Charles and they told me not even to bother fixing it... They said it sounds like a control board issue and many of these flat panels have up to 10 boards on them. They charge $125 to look at it when you take it in and the replacement control boards for this model range from $200-$400 plus installation. They basically told me to chuck it and buy a new one. No kidding.

I just looked at E-Bay under my model number and they have a ton of parts... I just don't know what is broken, so I can buy something and fix it.

It also seems I'm not the only one with this issue...

Philips 42PF5321D/37 with Blue Smudge
Philips 42" Plasma with Blue Lines - (fixed by lowering voltages)
Philips 42" Plasma TV with Blue Blur
Philips 42" 42PF5321D-37 Plasma with Blue Tint and here
Philips 42PF7321D with Blue Grains - Fixed by lowering TV brightness to 50's

[camaroguy1998]

Wow, that sucks!
I'd at least try to contact Phillips and see if they may help you in some way!?!
I could see if it was 3-4 yrs old but at less than 18mos. thats unacceptable!

[dgood]

Next time you buy a new tv going lcd? That really does suck about the blue dots on the plasma. I hope you can get it fixed easily and cheaply but doesn't look so good for you in that department.

[Apoptosis]

Wow, that sucks!
I'd at least try to contact Phillips and see if they may help you in some way!?!
I could see if it was 3-4 yrs old but at less than 18mos. thats unacceptable!

Oh I called them and they said to unplug it and plug it back in... that did nothing... They then gave me the name of the place I got the repair quotes from. Philips was no help at all and the TV was 13 months old when the problems developed.

[bubba]

Talked to the guy here at work, he seemed to think that unplugging it and letting it set overnight might help. He wasn't entirely sure as he mainly deals with LG/Zenith, he said that he would ask his dad about it and let me know.

[T-Shirt]

Out of your list above, I'm guessing it's the last one
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:8b ... =firefox-a
sounds like it was "over-driven"

Given the cost, an extended warranty might have paid off on this one.
You might want to check out LCD's when you replace it, some of the newer model are as good or better than Plasma use 20% of the power, and should last a lot longer.

[Apoptosis]

I've left the Philips 42PF7321D/37 42" plasma TV unplugged over night and that didn't seem to work... Still have the blue blob/smudge/dots on the lower right hand side of the display... Still looking for help on the issue.

[KnightRid]

I've left the Philips 42PF7321D/37 42" plasma TV unplugged over night and that didn't seem to work... Still have the blue blob/smudge/dots on the lower right hand side of the display... Still looking for help on the issue.

Did you read and try this - http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=968251

Something about certain dvds are good to run over and over again to help the situation - never hurts to try. Dont have the time right now to copy the titles from the thread, since kid just pulled in with a heater problem in her car.

Mike

[Apoptosis]

well I don't have stuck pixels... they move around when the picture moves...

[Apoptosis]

anyone have someone that works on HDTVs that can help out?

[Apoptosis]

Royal Philips Electronics NV, Europe's largest consumer electronics maker, reported a bigger decline in first-quarter profit than analysts estimated as flat- panel television sales and prices fell. Philips Net income dropped 75 percent to 219 million euros ($344 million), or 21 cents a share, from a year earlier, when Amsterdam-based Philips had a gain from selling Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. shares....

Source

Maybe it's also because people read threads like this or have broken year old TV's and will never buy a Philips again.

[Cypher]

This is why I prefer LCDs over Plasmas.