Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

[prplhaz4]

Symptoms:

• Sound works perfect
• Problem occurs on Cable AND VGA inputs (haven't tested others)
• Dark parts of picture are off-colored and splotchy
• Menu OSD is bright and crisp (looks perfect)
• Really dark scenes are barely visible
• Brightness adjustment works, but colors just get washed out
• Contrast adjustment has barely any effect
• Backlight adjustment does not have much of an effect (currently at 100)
• The problem started as no picture at all (but this has not happened in weeks)

At this point I'm trying to figure out which board needs to be replaced - and am torn between the mainboard and T-CON. I may find out more when I take it apart, but trying to narrow things down early-on.

PS. Thanks to all the great contributors on this site...you guys really step up to help people with their problems!

[tom66]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

If the menu is OK, it is guaranteed to be the main board.

Have you tried a complete factory reset? May only be available from service menu...

[prplhaz4]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

If the menu is OK, it is guaranteed to be the main board.

Have you tried a complete factory reset? May only be available from service menu...

haha...thanks Tom, that's the type of response I was looking for! I have tried the "Factory Reset" option available through the standard menu but it didn't really do anything. So far the only thing that has helped was leaving it unplugged for an hour today - when I turned it back on, the results are as shown in the last two pictures.

I have searched high and low and can't find any evidence that this model even HAS a service menu, so can't confirm that I've actually done a real "Factory Reset".

[caphair]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

A friend had a similar problem with a 32" Westinghouse where the picture would randomly display a pinkish/purple hue in a blotchy pattern mostly on any areas that were supposed to be white in color. It was fixed by removing any ribbon/tape carrier package cables connecting to the t-con board and cleaning the contacts with isopropyl alcohol then reconnecting. Worth a shot.

[prplhaz4]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

Whelp, took it apart today, gave everything a look over, and cleaned all of the ribbon cable contacts per caphair's suggestion. There hasn't been any change in the picture, so I guess I'll be ordering a new main board!

Thanks for the help!

[Taxman]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

I've got a Goodmans 32 inch that I'm in the process of repairing and it's the same as a similarly numbered Westinghouse model (ie different brand name but identical tv and same model number). It's a different model number to yours but maybe the service menu access code is the same - press menu then 4725.

[prplhaz4]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

I've got a Goodmans 32 inch that I'm in the process of repairing and it's the same as a similarly numbered Westinghouse model (ie different brand name but identical tv and same model number). It's a different model number to yours but maybe the service menu access code is the same - press menu then 4725.

Thanks Taxman!

Doesn't seem to be working - it just changes the channel in the background, and doesn't do anything on other inputs. Worth a shot though.

[tom66]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

How are digital inputs, like HDMI?

[Taxman]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

Found this option elsewhere for accessing the service menu. Absolutely no idea if it works or not so use it at your own risk...

1. Turn the set off.
2. Hold Volume - and Channel - and then hit power. The led will alternate between yellow and blue.

Taken from: http://www.avsforum.com/t/748301/westinghouse-w3213/660

[Dgtech]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

It's usually cheaper to replace the T-con board. I usually take a stab at that first just from a cheap standpoint.

[tom66]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

In this case it can't be the t-con because the menus are OK.

[Dgtech]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

It's hard to tell if the menus are ok or not. The menu looks like it's bad in the same way that the picture is. The colors seem odd in the same way.

[tom66]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

The thing I'm looking at is the menu has full white capability, but the picture can only make a dim white, grey-ish colour. But I agree, it's hard to tell. One way we could be sure is if someone else (without the problem) has taken a picture of the OSD with a decent camera.

[Dgtech]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

Yeah, its even hard to tell the differences in comparison to the picture of the OSD in the user manual found on page 15 here:



It's grey but is that the real color? It's close. The blues are close but kinda not... too close to call.

[tom66]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

To make it even more confusing, there is also a transparency control -- this would obviously change OSD appearance. The menus shown are at 25%.

[prplhaz4]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

How are digital inputs, like HDMI?

Good call on that one Tom. I've attached two pictures of the exact scene - source is my HTPC, first pic is VGA connection, second is HDMI connection (I usually only use VGA, since HDMI upscaling doesn't seem as crisp) - clearly the HDMI is what the "normal" picture should look like, and VGA is showing the "dark" symptoms.

So, at the very least, you've identified a solution for my HTPC, thanks!

As for what this means about what is malfunctioning, I have no idea - my guess is that the problem lives in whatever processes the analog signals (there's probably some sort of A -> D conversion going on here)...probably one of the chips soldered directly to the mainboard?

Found this option elsewhere for accessing the service menu. Absolutely no idea if it works or not so use it at your own risk...

1. Turn the set off.
2. Hold Volume - and Channel - and then hit power. The led will alternate between yellow and blue.

Taken from: http://www.avsforum.com/t/748301/westinghouse-w3213/660

Thanks again Taxman, but no dice

It's hard to tell if the menus are ok or not. The menu looks like it's bad in the same way that the picture is. The colors seem odd in the same way.

From what I can tell, the menus are as good as they have ever been, and look the same regardless of the input selected.

Overall, there is also some inconsistency in how "bad" the picture looks - by comparison, in these pictures, it's probably on the better end of what I've seen over the last couple weeks.

[tom66]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

I would suspect a voltage regulator for the analog side somewhere...

[prplhaz4]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

I would suspect a voltage regulator for the analog side somewhere...

Think it's worth chasing down, or probably based to just get a new main board and call it a day?

[tom66]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

Depends on the main board cost. You would generally need a scope to trace the signal through the TV though.

[prplhaz4]

Re: Westinghouse LTV-32w6 splotchy/poor/dim picture (LCD TV)

Depends on the main board cost. You would generally need a scope to trace the signal through the TV though.

I've seen a few for around $50-$60...since I don't have a scope, and generally, am overall not equipped to do that - I'll just keep an eye on prices for a bit and see if I come across the right board.

Thanks to you pointing out the separation between analog and digital inputs, this TV will make it through the holidays on HDMI.

Thanks all!