I want to report what happened to my PJ hoping it might help others with the same problem.
PROBLEM:
From the 200 hours, my AE2000 had developed a persistent and visible lack of color uniformity. The problem was observed as a cyan color stripe in bright white picture and dark red stripe in a black image. It covered almost the whole width of the bottom of the screen, with a height of approximately 4 (10 cm).
Figs. 1 and 2 are drawings of the problem.
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4514/fig1qx6.jpg
(fig.1) White screen with cyan stripe
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4756/fig2ds2.jpg
(fig.2) Black screen with dark red stripe
I realized that:
The problem didn't get worse.
There was no lack of uniformity in the rest of the screen.
It was not an input problem (it happens in all entrances).
It was not a cable problem.
It was not a dust problem.
It showed in all the image modes, although less in the brightest modes (light cyan on white pictures).
It did not disappear using the stuck-on pixels fixer.
The conclusion was that the LCD with red polarizer was not closing and opening completely in that zone. For that reason, combining blue and green with defect of red, resulted in a cyan color (instead of white), and in dark red color when the blue and the green LCDs were off.
SOLUTION:
Because I took no photos, I am posting here some of Cine4home's reviews.
I opened my projector using the disassemble guides of the Service Manual.
Removing first the upper case, I took off the lamp: 3 screws.
Then the top cover: 8 screws.
Then the main-board: 4 screws more and several connectors including the 3 LCDs ribbon connectors. Important: take note of the relative positions of all connectors.
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1782/fig3ol8.jpg
(fig.3) Main-board
The optic block was now at sight (see fig. 4).
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/729/fig4gb9.jpg
(fig. 4) Optic block
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7702/fig5ho9.jpg
(fig. 5) Polarizers -inverted position-
I localized the red LCD and, according to the Service Manual, I found two boards in front of the red LCD panel: the Incidence Polarizer and the Phase Difference Board. This is very important: I marked with a fine marker their relative positions (see detail on fig. 4) and only then I removed the outer board (the Phase Difference Board).
And there it was the problem!
The crystal (or plastic) is fixed to the chassis with a metallic frame. This frame holds the crystal on 3 edges (lateral and lower sides) and, so that it does not slide upwards, there are two sticky white ribbons (see fig. 5). My PJ is ceiling-mounted. Combined with heat and some vibration (and perhaps a bump on the long trip?), the sticky ribbons had loosened and the crystal had descended several mm. It was the light (or the lack of) that passes through the white sticky ribbon what I was seeing in the screen.
I put the crystal in its normal position but the sticky ribbon had left a mark on the crystal. I cleaned it with alcohol, made sure not to leave marks and proceeded to mount the PJ.
Now the PJ works perfectly and there are no more color uniformity problems.
Although this may seem very difficult, it did not take me more than 1 hour to solve it.
