The screen is distorted and small (50%)when turned on...but continual operation (in excess of 5 hours), the picture size becomes normal. I have 46 inch rear projection TV...about 13 years old

It sounds like your lamp is about to die out,this tv lamps are good for 6000-8000 life hours which is a average time of 2-4 years old and with time the picture starts to get darker and darker until one day black screen. Try Encompass .com ; shopjimmy.com

These sets have several common problems listed below.

Problem #1) Convergence

Symptoms:

• Screen Looks Distorted/3D
• Colors wont align
• Screen may look distorted
• No Audio/Video - makes a chirping sound.

Problem #2 CRT Fluid has clouded over. Symtoms

• Dull looking screen
• White looking sceen
• Halos around objects
• Red/Orange looking

You can see some examples and find a fix here...

http://www.fixya.com/support/r2861467-solution_video_looking_whiteish_dull

You probably need to get a Sony TV Convergence Kit. More information can be found using the link below.

Convergence Symptoms:

• Screen Looks Distorted/3D
• Colors wont align
• Screen may look distorted
• No Audio/Video - makes a chirping sound.

You can see some examples and find a fix here...

http://www.fixya.com/support/r2861467-solution_video_looking_whiteish_dull

if you say that your picture gets distorted you mean like it moves to a side? do you see a black middle block?

if it's a yes?

so its probably the light engine. you need to change it!

does it looks like this?



try this link.. http://www.discount-merchant.com/1069179-HL-N5067W-p/1069179.htm

the price is more or less depends on your TV model... $279.00

this might be a bad or temp sensetive tuner, why don't you try hooking up a dvd player to your video jacks and see if the problem is present while watching a dvd disc. If it doesn't then you may have to replace the small signal board(where the cable or sat feed hooks up to the tv).

read this
http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/19694/Sony-Convergence-Repair-My-Sony-TV-has-a-distorted-picture-/

Hello buddylaw,

Can you post a picture of the TV screen with the problem? It will help in the diagnoses. It looks like you may have a thermal sensitive component causing this issue. But I will have to seen a picture of the screen to properly diagnose this problem as to the possible section that may be causing this problem.

Thank you.
Shuttle83

dunguard, How long have you had this for, zazwpx

Sounds like a problem in the main power regulator circuit, such as a bad capacitor or regulator IC or transisitor. There are no user serviceable parts inside these sets and every thing is soldered into place. I recomend that you call in a trained service tech to assist you with this repair.

theres a high voltage block that all three of the anode leads attach to and sometimes a small crack happens across this block and will not let some or all of the crt's get the high voltage all at once untill it heats up a bit. now if this is not your problem i would make sure that all three crt sockets are attached to there tubes all the way as maybe justy maybe there loose and will only work after ther expand a bit. Now another problem that could cause this problem to occor origially would be that someone left off a crt ground strap and the crt arched and popped and caused the problem with the High voltage block. And no I cant see a tube being bad then comming on at first UNLESS when you say the red comes on is the picture all red with small retrace lines(small white lines)in the screen with no picture except for red???? No video only a red blank screen is what i mean. If thats what its doing then yes Ive seen heater to cathode shorts on a picture tube that would cause this problem but to be sure your really gonna need to have the set looked at.. Good Luck