FixYourDLP.com Forums

I would love some help !!

I have a HLR6168W that was purchased in Dec '05. My second major problem with this TV has just popped up. It seems to power on fine with no new noises. When the screen comes up, It appears normal other than a very fast flicker. Colors are good and bright, just the flicker. About 1 minute later I get a translucent green horizonal bar with a plaid multi-color patern below it across the entire bottom of the screen. The bar slowly (over 5-10 minutes), moves up the screen and pulls a white cast along behind it. This eventually covers the screen. I can still see the picture behind the translucent white cast. The flicker also becomes much stronger.

No changes through all connections:
-ATT uverse box, HDMI (I tried component as well)
-DVD, HDMI
-WII, component
-OTA
-Menu's, including service menu

I have read through many forums and have not found this problem here. This doesn't appear to be the common problems of Bulb, Balast or Color Wheel.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!

PS. I mentioned that this is the 2nd major problem. I don't know if this is useful, but the light tunnel began to collapse while still under warranty and was fixed.... I don't know exactly what all was replaced.

bhungerford,
If your Tv has that bar on the menu system as well, i assume it will have it on the Picture in Picture as well. This problem is caused by a failing DMD board. I would call SAmsung first to see if they would cover it.... If not, I would check a website called discount-merchant.com... They are the only ones that would sell it at a reasonable price. I think around $180-$200 can get you a replacement. Samsung will want $700+ for it.

If the TV does not have these lines on the menu system, the Digital Board would be most likely causing this problem... But form the description you have given, i'm leaning towards the DMD board.

It's unfortunate that your light tunnel collapsed earlier! I'm wondering if the tech changed the light tunnel alone or if he put in a new light engine in all...

Either way, let us know how it goes and I wish you luck.

Ovadoggvo,

Thanks for the response. The picture is the same through all connections, menus (including service menu-mute182power) and picture in picture. I am also pretty confident at this point that its the DMD board. Samsung has been unwilling to help since it is out of warranty. I did contact Discount-Merchant but they don't have this board for my model yet.

Its too bad that Samsung won't stand behind their products, especially when you see the number of problems with their DLP's. I have a friend that had a 4 yr old Sony 42" LCD RPTV that just had its second problem. Sony immediately offered them a brand new 40" LCD flat panel W4100 for a deep discounted price of $380. They were selling at $1500+ at the time.

Knowing this, my future TV purchases certainly won't come with a Samsung label on them! Too bad because I was a real Samsung advocate prior to this problem.

Regarding the light tunnel, I am not exactly sure what was replaced. I didn't get a good look at it, but it was a block of electronics, maybe 12"x8"X6" that he slid into the back of set in a matter of a few minutes. If this was the light engine in all, does that include the DMD board or is it elsewhere?

Thanks Again.

bhungerford,
The block you are refering to is the complete light engine (optical block) and it DOES include your DMD board! I'm affraid that the technician may have swapped you out with a poorly refurbished light engine that has now failed. I would call Samsung back and let them know that your TV was serviced under warranty and it was not repaired properly. If you give them enough problems, i'm sure a supervisor will understand the situation and try to get it fixed for you under warranty.

Make sure you call SAMSUNG directly and not samsungparts or an independent authorized servicer as they have nothing to do with Samsung themselves. Even SamsungParts is an independent Samsung parts distributor ran by a company in new jersey called J&J International.