Help! My TV is messed up :S (DLP tv -> dead lamp?)

[Andrew_Hanna]

I have a Toshiba 72" DLP HDtelevision ( - MODEL NO. 72HM196 - ). I bought this TV over 1 year ago. For some reason today it just stopped working and the picture disappeared. The sound stayed for a little bit until it died shortly after. I think the lamp is dead (they have lamps in DLP's right?) so now I need to get it replaced... :/ I looked at Toshiba's official site and it says nothing about the warranty and how long it is, so I don't know if its in warranty or not.

Anyone have any tips for me. The TV itself is saying the lamp is dead but im hoping I can fix it without spending money on a lamp...

If not, im willing to pay the price. But I have nooooo idea where to buy one of these lamps.. anyone have any suggestions?

edit: what the!? the specs say this TV is 1080p, but mine is only 1080i... could i get it exchanged for this reason? ill have to tell them the bulb is dead though. lol

[shadow_cruiser]

Didn't the TV incur a "replace lamp" warning?. This is pretty standard in all DLP's/LCOS. If it didn't, it may not be your lamp, so don't jump the gun yet. Just remember for a replacement lamp, your looking at $300-500 depending on model. This is the reason why I will never buy a DLP again, the cheap cost doesn't offset the purchase of a lamp later on.

I bought my lamp from http://www.dlplampsource.com/. Its a really credible company and shipping was quick (1-2 days to toronto). They didn't have my lamp listed on the website but when I emailed the number, they said another lamp is compatible with it. Changing the lamp is easy-peezy. Its a matter of opening a little door behind the tv, unclipping the old lamp and sticking the new one in. Usually no tools are required.

I really don't know how to check if your lamp is truly dead. If you can get into the service menu (google the model number plus service menu), you can truly see how many hours have been put on the lamp. This will tell you if its dead

[Frankie3s]

Didn't the TV incur a "replace lamp" warning?. This is pretty standard in all DLP's/LCOS. If it didn't, it may not be your lamp, so don't jump the gun yet. Just remember for a replacement lamp, your looking at $300-500 depending on model. This is the reason why I will never buy a DLP again, the cheap cost doesn't offset the purchase of a lamp later on.

I bought my lamp from http://www.dlplampsource.com/. Its a really credible company and shipping was quick (1-2 days to toronto). They didn't have my lamp listed on the website but when I emailed the number, they said another lamp is compatible with it. Changing the lamp is easy-peezy. Its a matter of opening a little door behind the tv, unclipping the old lamp and sticking the new one in. Usually no tools are required.

I really don't know how to check if your lamp is truly dead. If you can get into the service menu (google the model number plus service menu), you can truly see how many hours have been put on the lamp. This will tell you if its dead

Good advice. The lamp issue is another reason why I avoided DLP also. Those damn things are expensive! I doubt the lamp would be covered under any warranty but if you have an extended it might?

[Viper98]

Good advice. The lamp issue is another reason why I avoided DLP also. Those damn things are expensive! I doubt the lamp would be covered under any warranty but if you have an extended it might?

$200 every 4-5 years isn't really expensive

[DCX4EVER]

Chances are it's just the bulb. I also have a Toshiba DLP and the bulb went after a year and half. I had extended warranty from Leons and they replaced the bulb in my home free of charge. If you can find the bulb it is possible to change it yourself but I think it may be hard to locate as it must come directly from Toshiba. Please also keep in mind that it is not just a bulb but a transformer and reflector as well. That is why it costs around $300 to purchase.
As for the 1080p concerns what are you using to generate the 1080P signal. I can only receive 1080i through Bell ExpressVu service. Are you using a Blu Ray or HD player? The TV can only process what it is receiving, it does not perform any upconverting....

[Andrew_Hanna]

Chances are it's just the bulb. I also have a Toshiba DLP and the bulb went after a year and half. I had extended warranty from Leons and they replaced the bulb in my home free of charge. If you can find the bulb it is possible to change it yourself but I think it may be hard to locate as it must come directly from Toshiba. Please also keep in mind that it is not just a bulb but a transformer and reflector as well. That is why it costs around $300 to purchase.
As for the 1080p concerns what are you using to generate the 1080P signal. I can only receive 1080i through Bell ExpressVu service. Are you using a Blu Ray or HD player? The TV can only process what it is receiving, it does not perform any upconverting....

I can't get 1080P out of my BellExpressvu Service either. I also can't get 1080P from my PlayStation3, only 1080i... (this is when I play COD4 and GTA4 which can be played in 1080P)

I checked the warranty and it expired 6 months ago... Could I still call them and ask about this HD thing? I mean the lamp is dead so I can't even turn it on to prove it to them lol, but if I can get it replaced no questions asked w/o replacing the lamp I've just saved $500 (1/4 what I paid for the TV)...

Wow, the lamp went out after 1.5 years and I watch TV max 3h/day -.- Thanks Toshiba! ( )

[Viper98]

I can't get 1080P out of my BellExpressvu Service either. I also can't get 1080P from my PlayStation3, only 1080i... (this is when I play COD4 and GTA4 which can be played in 1080P)

are you using hdmi?
do trailers play in 1080p?

Wow, the lamp went out after 1.5 years and I watch TV max 3h/day -.- Thanks Toshiba! ( )

one reason I only buy samsung DLPs

[Andrew_Hanna]

are you using hdmi?
do trailers play in 1080p?




one reason I only buy samsung DLPs

I havent tried playing any trailers. This isnt even an option for me to turn my TV into 1080p on my PS3. It is greyed out and I cant checkmark it...


Anyways guys, I think I found a goodsite..
http://bestbuycanada.partsearch.com/...4012X/New.aspx

Its BestBuy. I wonder if I can do in-store pickup instead of paying for shipping charges? Shipping is only 11.95$, but says handling fees may apply (whatever that is) so it could be more.. I don't know how much more though...


EDIT: I bought it from Leons.. do they give an extra year or two of warranty? :S or anything like that? I dont know if buying it from Leons helps. I wish I bought it from Costco! lol

[Viper98]

again are you using hdmi? cuz you wont get 1080p over component on this tv

[shadow_cruiser]

$200 every 4-5 years isn't really expensive

I don't really want to turn this into a DLP vs. LCD thread but 4-5 years for a lamp is a long shot. Especially when you have a household with kids and the tv is on constantly. According to two users in this thread, the lamp went down after 1.5 years of use. My philips went down after 2 1/2 years of use. The only lamps that last long are Sony's, which cost an arm and a leg.

Factor in the lamp going down at wrong times, looking for somewhere to order a lamp, waiting for it to arrive and then have the hassle of changing it every 2 years. In the long run, LCD is the way to go.

To the OP, do you still have the invoice from Leon's?. If you do, call them with the invoice # and see if its under warranty. AFAIK, you wouldn't be able to do an instore pickup for that bulb, after all, you're not buying it from the actual store

[Andrew_Hanna]

again are you using hdmi? cuz you wont get 1080p over component on this tv

Yes I am using HDMI. From both my bell reciever and my PS3. ( 2 diff HDMI cables)

[Viper98]

your bell wont get 1080p ever. it's limited to 1080i
try your PS3 in the HDMI input your bell receiver is in and see if it gets 1080p because some of the older 1080p tvs will only accept 1080p over 1 hdmi input

[Andrew_Hanna]

I don't really want to turn this into a DLP vs. LCD thread but 4-5 years for a lamp is a long shot. Especially when you have a household with kids and the tv is on constantly. According to two users in this thread, the lamp went down after 1.5 years of use. My philips went down after 2 1/2 years of use. The only lamps that last long are Sony's, which cost an arm and a leg.

Factor in the lamp going down at wrong times, looking for somewhere to order a lamp, waiting for it to arrive and then have the hassle of changing it every 2 years. In the long run, LCD is the way to go.

To the OP, do you still have the invoice from Leon's?. If you do, call them with the invoice # and see if its under warranty. AFAIK, you wouldn't be able to do an instore pickup for that bulb, after all, you're not buying it from the actual store

Finding the invoice is a longshot. I might still have it, but it wont help: It is out of warranty, I used the warranty checker link someone else provided me in this thread.

My only hope now is that hopefully I paid with VISA GOLD to get an extra year warranty on it.. maybe that would help me... but even then, I still need to find the invoice lol

If nothing works, Ill just buy the bulb from the link I posted earlier. It comes straight from Toshiba I would think, right? Its bestbuy, they wouldnt sell a generic bulb especially for $200...

[Andrew_Hanna]

your bell wont get 1080p ever. it's limited to 1080i
try your PS3 in the HDMI input your bell receiver is in and see if it gets 1080p because some of the older 1080p tvs will only accept 1080p over 1 hdmi input

woah really!? The BELL rep told me it was true HD 1080p.. damn I got scammed again by Bell lol

[Viper98]

I don't really want to turn this into a DLP vs. LCD thread but 4-5 years for a lamp is a long shot. Especially when you have a household with kids and the tv is on constantly. According to two users in this thread, the lamp went down after 1.5 years of use. My philips went down after 2 1/2 years of use. The only lamps that last long are Sony's, which cost an arm and a leg.

Factor in the lamp going down at wrong times, looking for somewhere to order a lamp, waiting for it to arrive and then have the hassle of changing it every 2 years. In the long run, LCD is the way to go.

To the OP, do you still have the invoice from Leon's?. If you do, call them with the invoice # and see if its under warranty. AFAIK, you wouldn't be able to do an instore pickup for that bulb, after all, you're not buying it from the actual store

I have 2 samsung tvs... one 3 years old one 2 years old
both still work perfect

changing a bulb is easy and takes like 5 minutes though

though right NOW I would say LCD is a better choice than DLP because DLPs are still using darkchip3 so they aren't as good of quality due to being limited to a contrast of ~2500:1 and 16.77 million colors


but I'm one of those guys that doesn't care if their tv doesn't last more than 2 years because I will most likely have replaced it before then.. actually I've already replaced my 56" 1080p dlp(currently up for sale) with a 50" samsung plasma and I'm seriously considering selling it and get a Pioneer 5020 kuro which might last me a bit longer since it's the epitome of tv right now