Its a zenith 27in the sound is good but the picture only shows a line across the screen

your pitcher tube is going bad.

You can buy a new one for less than 200 bucks. I'd advise you do this. It sounds like you need a new
picture tube

When CRT TV's show only a white/bright line horizonatlly It is a failure of the flyback Transformer. Not all that costly to repair. Your old TV will probably still be working when all the latest plasmas and rear projections have been laid to rest. Fancy junk TV's dont get any better programs than those old reliable ones

Please rate my help++++Thanks for using FRIXYA

Projection TV sets have two very common problems listed below.

Problem #1) Convergence


These sets need to have all three colors - RED - BLUE - GREEN - lined up correctly on the screen in order for the picture to look normal. This is called convergence.

When its out of alignment the video will look 3-D, wavy, distorted, etc. Most of the time you just need to adjust your convergence in the menu. If you cannot adjust it in the menu - then your convergence is broken and needs to be repaired. Convergence problems are very common on all Projection TV sets including Sony, Samsung,JVC,Philip Magnavox,Panasonic,Akai,Pioneer, Hitachi,Mitsubishi,Zenith and others.
You can get more information and a DIY convergenece repair kit with instructions from the link below.

Here are some of the most common problems with these sets...

*Screen Looks 3-D
*Colors wont align
*Screen may look distorted or warped
*No Audio/Video - TV Shuts down - May also make a constant chirping sound

Problem #2 - Another common problem is dull or washed out video.

Your set may have one or more of the following symptoms....

*Dull looking picture
*White looking picture
*Halos around objects
*Red/Orange looking picture

You can see some more examples and find a fix using this link on Fixya http://www.fixya.com/support/r2861467-solution_video_looking_whiteish_dull

Replace the vertical IC you will need to discharge the flyback and replace the IC it can be done if you know what your doing but there are a lot of youtube videos to show you how this is to be done.

Btw, I’m available to help over the phone in case u need at https://www.6ya.com/expert/edwy_1a56970cf1ea4620

Hi and welcome to FixYa,

Your described problem indicates failure at the vertical deflection circuitry. Almost always, this would be a defective vertical IC. In some instances, this could also be caused by the absence of Vcc (supply voltage) to the said IC. This is a relatively easy/quick repair. What would be more challenging is identifying the IC, removing it, and replacing. Replacement would be readily available from most electronics part stores including Radio Shack.

Good luck and thank you for using FixYa.

It could be that the video heads are just clogged.
Get a known good video tape and put it in the unit and let it just play and play and play. Quality video tapes have head cleaning substances built into the tape. If this does not work, get a Scotch Black Watch tape head cleaner. If that does not work the the heads are bad or some other problem.

Mine looks like too, but the line running across isn't on my set, picture looks like this, and the sound works fine. I took the tuner board all the way out and turned the set on and it did the same thing, then I unplugged the top wire on the board next to the tuner board and the screen went black. plugged it back in and the screen came back with the scrambled picture. Anyone know why? Bad mainboard maybe? the left of the tuner board?

sounds like your IC's took a dive again. Did you change them or a shop? You have to also make sure that when you change the IC's that you put plenty of heat sink compound on the back of the IC's and do not use the cheapy IC's that you can get for 20 bucks or less as I have found they do not last. This convergence board should be available as a complete board. Good Luck

sounds like you have a vertical sweep problem. Where the fault lies cpuld be the vertical output IC the verticle b+ feed, could be the capacitors in the vertical circuit?? Your gonna need to troubleshoot thr vrtical circuit if your not a tech thin my advise is to take the set to a pro for sn est. Good Luck