Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - Sony 32

I have a 1990 Sony 32" Trinitron XBR and it is acting funny. When you first turn on the TV sometimes it works fine, but within a certain duration it will flicker for a little while and may even go completely black with a white line about 3 inches from the bottom of the set, but the picture will usually come back. When the set does not work completely, when you turn it on it makes a loud screeching noise then the picture goes completely black and there is a buzzing sound coming from the back of the TV. This is very frustrating because sometimes it works but most of the time in the mornings or early afternoons it will not work. Once it works, it is fine for as long as we leave it on. Our temporary fix has been just turning the set on and off until it works, which most of the time it usually will work after 10 or 15 minutes, but sometimes never. Any help or comments are welcome. Thanks

Good Afternoon, amadeus:

Well, the bad news first. The set isn't going to get well on its own so we have to discuss repairs.

I perceive perhaps a bad solder connection in and around the video amplifier. Since the sound is derived at that stage, that would explain the "screech" you are hearing. The black screen is also a video function. No video will give you a total or partial black screen.

Second thought is a filter capacitor in the power supply that is going bad. But, this is stretching it a little.

Anyway, it's time to call the technician out. You can relate my thoughts if you desire. My bet is that it is a 30 minute fix with a soldering iron and a little electronic solder.

And a sage word from an old technician: you are not doing that set any favors by turning it on and off to get it running. The voltage surges you are initiating can cause far more serious problems than what you have right now.
Solid state electronics does not tolerate this kind of abuse for very long.

Smokey ;)