Picture went out

I can think of a few conditions that would fit that symptom, my guess would be problems in the vertical circuit which are somewhat common in that unit model. First I would test R561 0.47 Ohm for an open condition and test and/or replace IC541 with a TDA8172. IC541 is your vertical output. Another suspect would be vertical yoke windings. Maybe not short at the moment but could be shorting intermittently. You would have to have the windings ring tested to prove the theory. And lastly - depending on the distoritions I'd ring test the flyback transformer for intermittent short, sony p/n#1-453-268-11 and test the B+ (high voltage) as it comes up and at the point of failure. Any surging would be dispositive of a voltage regulation failure. Nine years is a good long time but there is no reason that this unit can't operate another 5-6 years. The repair diesn't sound too serious or extremely expensive for a reputable shop. If you need any help locating one you might try the NESDA web site: http://www.nesda.com/locator/state_search.php and I would take the unit to the shop rather than have them come and pick it up - even though it's so heavy- it will save some money. Sorry for the bad news, as a certified tech it's the one thing I least enjoy is giving bad news in a solution. Good Luck Bill

I have a Sony TV I bought the end of 2002 and it worked fine except for the last few years. The menu screen all of a sudden appears and i can't get it to go off until it feel like it. I have a universal remote, because my dog chewed the original, but it was doing it with that one.