HLN617 No Picture Yet Bulb is On

[Resist58]

Our almost 8 year old Samsung HLN617 started having a problem recently after turning it on, the picture goes dark yet the lamp is working. The are no lights on the front indicator, but the audio works. Every so often the dark screen shows as horizontal and vertical blocks of mostly green color. Is my DMD board finally gone?

Since they don't make parts for this TV anymore, how can I repair it? I have enjoyed this TV for many years and really don't want to purchase another one, mainly because of the expense and because the new standard seems to be 55" and I prefer the 61" form factor.

Earlier last year I just replaced the lamp and the color wheel. So I really want to save this TV. Sure could use some helpful suggestions.

[Resist58]

In the past I would unplug TV when after turning it on and the picture was all scrambled, but this time it didn't work so I decided to leave it unplugged for much longer and now the picture is back. Very strange, just hope it lasts.

[Resist58]

After several years, this issue has started again. Only this time I can't even get a picture. There is sound but the screen is blank, yet the bulb works. Sometimes after a few minutes the TV shuts itself off and all the lights in the front flash. I then have to unplug the TV and plug it back in to make the flashing lights stop.

I know this TV is outdated by today's standards but I like it and wish to keep it alive....somehow. Most likely the DMD chip is the problem, so I guess I'm out of luck finding a replacement part?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Angel]

Hello I apologize nobody in our community has answered previously.

It does seem like this can be a DMD board issue. The TV powers on so the Lamp, Ballast and Colorwheel should be fine. I recommend replacing this board, there are guides on how to do so on youtube and it really would be a shame to take down this 60" TV for a ~$100 part that is DYI!

Let me know if you need any pointers!

[Resist58]

Now the TV is working fine again. But seems to have the issue if not turned on for a few days. I would love to replace the DMD board but can't find one anywhere. It really would be a shame to trash this TV, as the picture quality is still great. Any suggestions of where I can find the correct DMD board? Also, how do I find out which DMD board to get, because some places list different part numbers for the board in this TV.

[ajespo]

I had the exact same issue with my HLP6163. After much diagnosis and parts wsaps it was the DMD board all the while. I was able to track down the newest substitute part via Samsung Parts/ J&J. I took the part number off the actual DMD board in my set and started digging. Then I called Samsung parts and got to a parts specialist and opened a case to find the proper substitute board currently availible.

[Resist58]

Here it is almost the end of 2017 and I still have this 2003 TV. Recently had to replace the color wheel and lamp again, powered it up and the colors were missing off. Turned out the light tube had collapsed apart. Luckily Samsung still had those in stock. Put it all back together and it worked great for about a week, then the same issues with the picture, sometimes scrambled, sometimes black and sometimes it works for a few days. I've probably already invested $300 so far, so I'm not in a hurry to buy a new TV. Besides, when it is working the picture is still amazing, even by 2017 standards. It could be the DMD board, the digital board or the analog board, either way I'm having a hard time finding them. Any help would be great.