42 inch screen has a strobe effect when turned on. Picture is there and sound is there but watching it flutter for about 5-10 minutes then goes away. I was told it is the backlight. .

SOURCE: green screen vizio lcd

My 37" vizio I bought in Dec 2007 did this (green screen at start-up on all inputs). At first it went away by itself after you left the unit on for 15 minutes, but then 2 days later the whole thing DIED. Luckily Costco has a 90 day return policy on TVs.

Vizio tech support suggested this (before it died that is):
Please try to reset all setting and then to see if the problem is solved. 1. Press the Menu on your Remote Control;
2. choose Set up on the OSD;
3. then choose Reset All settings;
4. Press the Exit on your Remote Control to remove the OSD.

SOURCE: Vizio 42", have picture for about 5 mins then screen goes black.

also check the power cord wire coming from the back of the tv is loose from the tv side or perfect.

SOURCE: vizio p42 very dark screen backlight off

There is no back light in plasma TV, Base on the description, the Z Sustainer board is bad. Replace the board will fix the problem.

SOURCE: random red washout

We had the same red "pixilation" problem with our new Vizio 47" set. Read within this site for our solution (posted by Cavanaju): Call Vizio and have them come out and replace the LVDS cable and the main board. They will have to order and bring in the parts, which will involve them unscrewing a million screws to take off the entire back of the tv and replace that calbe within it all and the main board. It will then be just fine! (I hope...we just had ours fixed 4 days ago and so far, so good...) Hope this works. Seems to be a factory defect they have had with this set. Good luck!

SOURCE: SAME THING HERE ! SCREEN GOES BLACK AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF PLAY?

YOU GUY'S ARE A REAL JOKE !! PERIOD !!