Part of the light engine "tunnel" has collapsed.

There's nothing you can do to fix it, the problem requires a light engine replacement. Are you still within your warranty period? If so, this is quite literally a 30-minute job.

 



Quote:
Originally Posted by redram /forum/post/0


Our Samsung HLR6168 developed, overnight, a 4-inch wide dark or shadowed band on the left of the screen. The picture is visible in this band, but only at about 50% or less of brightness. Colors appear to be correct but dark. The band has a slight birefringence or color smear on the very edge and a minor arc (slightly concave w/r/t the left edge of the screen). I've replaced the bulb but that had no effect.


It seems as though something is blocking part of the light path after the DLP chip, blocking some but not all of the light getting to the left edge of the screen. Does anyone know what this might be, and whether there is anything we can do ourselves to fix it?


Thanks.

After much research on the net, I came to the conclusion the only fix for the Samsung shadow issue was a replacement light engine. I can now say that there is another possibility, a simple adjustment that in my case took only 15 minutes and not only eliminated the 3" wide shadow I had, but improved the picture quality as well. The technician compared it to dialing in the scope on a rifle. Simply loosened off the mounting screws of the "mirror-Light tunnel assembly", moved it downward slightly and retightened. Connected it back up and better then new. He did say it can require a couple of attempts in some cases but mine was the 2nd he had successfully done today. Anyone who is out of warranty, by all means try it. The assembly I am referring to consists of items 16 thru 21 of the L680 Engine assembly from my 6178.

 

Hmmm . . . looks like I have the same problem. My son says it started last month, but I've been away a lot and not watching much TV. And, of course, my Samsung warranty expired last month and the Samsung tech that I talked to would not treat it as a warranty call. I did buy an extended warranty, but haven't contacted them yet.


Since it was pretty easy to find people having this problem now, it sounds to me like a design issue that Samsung should take care of.

 

I'd say we should we create a poll and see how many people have the shadow plague. I have it too and many other users here have it also. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...page=359&pp=30


Just use the search button and type in shadow. You'll find so many people with the same problem. Definitely a widespread defect in all Samsung's DLP tv's ending with 68w's. It cost $1,200 to replace the light engine if you're out of warranty.


I'd say we all go create a left-shadow group thread and complain to Samsung at the same time.

 

Take a look at my TV!!!



Here is a picture taken on November 25, 2005. Notice the size of the width using the white logos at the bottom.







Now take a look at my TV now!! Notice how much it grew since 11/25/05. And guess what, its still growing.

 

Mine has now expanded to cover 1/2 of the screen and the set now powers off very frequently. Of course I am a 5087 owner so mine comes in from the right side. Once your shadow moves a little more there will be a second stage to the shadow that is even darker.

 



Quote:
Originally Posted by DewayneB /forum/post/0


Mine has now expanded to cover 1/2 of the screen and the set now powers off very frequently. Of course I am a 5087 owner so mine comes in from the right side. Once your shadow moves a little more there will be a second stage to the shadow that is even darker.

Yah! I can't wait for the second stage. not... But man, I can't imagine a shadow covering half of my screen. Every time I pop in a movie or play a game, the first thing I do is check the left side of my screen and agonize how big my shadow is. Can't believe this is happening to Samsung's newer versions. Upload a picture of that shadow; we need to get someone's attention about this issue.

 

Thank You Samsung.


Picture quality is poor. Batteries are dead on digital camera, so I used the cell phone. Good enough to see the size of my shadow for the biggest shadow contest at least.

Hope this works, have not posted a picture before.

 

Ouch! That looks pretty bad.

 

Fellas,


I thought Samsung sold a replacement light tunnel. At least on previous models, it is a field replaceable part, as a couple of members were installing new color wheels and broke (or discovered broken) tunnels. If the ..68 switched to a non replaceble tunnel, that is unfortunate.


Being an Optoma RD owner, I'm quite familliar with bad light tunnels. At least the quantity of Optoma TVs sold is tiny compared to Samsung. Problems in quantity usually result in some kind of good faith correction; at least one can hope!


Miner

 

Here is a picture of the LE from the service manual

Item #18 is the mirror-light tunnel. FYI

 

does this sound like the same problem? i'm also out of warranty... not really sure what to do. i can post a pic later of the smudges...but i only notice it on a white background


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=776775


Halco, do you have the service manual for the hlr 5067?

 

The SM I have is for the 7178. But, most parts are the same. Smudges I think are not related to the shadow issues here. Could be in your screen.

 

I have a Samsung HL-S6187W which I purchased from Best Buy 7 months ago. I am still under the Samsung one year warranty on parts, but I did not buy a extended warranty from Best Buy. A few weeks ago I started seeing the side of the picture screen darking from the right side to the left side. So it looks like this is happening to different models of Samsung HDTV'S. We need to get everyone in this wonderful forum together that are having this happening to them, and address it to Samsung themselves. If they are not willing to do a recall, we must then contact the proper govenment agency to address this issue with them. The multitude of occurances of this happening is horrible, and we must ban together to do something about it.

 

Here is another customer with an HLR5668W Shadow on the left side. Just started last week - 1" wide. TV is 3 mos past the 1yr warranty mark.


I do have a 3 yr ext warranty which also came with a 2 bulb replacement warranty (within 3 yr period).


I was going to wait awhile to call in for service, but after reviewing this forum it will be called in this week. Don't see any reason to wait.


Great pictures by WANGER. I do agree with Wanger that since this is going to be an on-going unique problem, that Samsung should rectify this......out of warrantee or not.


One of the reasons and to me its HUGE....I've been promoting the Samsung 1080P DLP's to many people and so far 5 people have purchased. This kind of thing certainly will affect my reputation as I promote other products to friends and relatives which I have always done over the years. When I get excited about certain stuff, like many of you, I promote it.


I'll keep you posted on the repair. We live in southwest FL.

 

Welcome to the left shadow club SAEhlers!

And I agree with you Satman that we should get everyone who has the shadow to participate. Ironically, with all these complaints and issues about the shadow, I can only find 2 people who posted an image of their defected TV. ME and DewayneB.


So please get your cameras and post some pictures. When theres enough pics and people with the shadow, I'll compile all the complaints together and pictures into one giant post. Hopefully it will get the attention of Samsung sooner or later.

 



Quote:
Originally Posted by SAEhlers /forum/post/0


Here is another customer with an HLR5668W Shadow on the left side. Just started last week - 1" wide. TV is 3 mos past the 1yr warranty mark.


I do have a 3 yr ext warranty which also came with a 2 bulb replacement warranty (within 3 yr period).


I was going to wait awhile to call in for service, but after reviewing this forum it will be called in this week. Don't see any reason to wait.


Great pictures by WANGER. I do agree with Wanger that since this is going to be an on-going unique problem, that Samsung should rectify this......out of warrantee or not.


One of the reasons and to me its HUGE....I've been promoting the Samsung 1080P DLP's to many people and so far 5 people have purchased. This kind of thing certainly will affect my reputation as I promote other products to friends and relatives which I have always done over the years. When I get excited about certain stuff, like many of you, I promote it.


I'll keep you posted on the repair. We live in southwest FL.

Funny that you say that, as I just got off the phone with a lady from Samsung. She told me I had a 1yr. warranty on both parts and labor on my Samsung HL-S6187W. Thank God I am a TV junky, as I put so many hours on mine that I made that shadow problem come to the surface after only 6 months.

I have read in a few forums that some people have reported that it had happen to them again after being serviced. So I guess it will be a cross your fingers and pray it don't happen again. Unless we can ban together, force Samsung to create a recall, and permanmently fix this widespread shadow problem. The lady at Samsung told me because I live more then 20 miles from one of their authorized service centers (I live 38 miles away) I will have to wait 7-14 days before the will call me and set up a service appointment. Figures, huh!

I told her the whole screen might be covered by that time.

wanger, I happened to bring my dit. camera with me when I evacuated for Katrina, but I left the PC downloading cord for the camera at home. The 14 ft. of saltwater that stayed in my house for more then 3 weeks, made it become useless just like just about everything else left behind.

I will get in the net tonight, and try to find a knew cord for it, and get my pictures posted as soon as it comes in.

 

Hey guys, how about everyone that has had a light engine shadow problem with one of their Samsung HDTV's, post what their model is, so we can keep a record of all the units that are having this shadow problem.



My model number of my unit is:


Samsung HL-S6187W


BTW, I have the right shadow problem.

 

I don't service much Samsung, so I am not familiar with the light tunnel design, but I have repaired this problem on other brands. If it is a light tunnel with mirrored sides that have collapsed it is likely that it can be rebuilt rather than replacing the entire light engine. You need to find a tech who is not afraid of fixing things rather than those who just routinely swap parts.

 

Have the left shadow problem. Mine is HL-R6768w

 



Quote:
Originally Posted by lcaillo /forum/post/0


I don't service much Samsung, so I am not familiar with the light tunnel design, but I have repaired this problem on other brands. If it is a light tunnel with mirrored sides that have collapsed it is likely that it can be rebuilt rather than replacing the entire light engine. You need to find a tech who is not afraid of fixing things rather than those who just routinely swap parts.

Samsung will be sending to my home a contracted TV serviceman in the next couple of weeks. If this is what happened to my set, from what you are saying, I should try asking him if he would do what he can to fix permanently, then for him to just place the parts?

 

If the servicer is not very familiar with the construction of the light engine, you may be better off not having him try to repair it. It depends on the tech. Why a couple of weeks? Call around and find the local Samsung servicers. Where are you located?

 

The metro New Orleans area has over 1 million people, yet Samsung only has 1 serviceman in out area. It least that is what they told me. They told me the closes one besides that is Baton Rouge which is 80 miles away.

Read my forth post above, and you will learn more.

 

Who are the servicers. I used to run a shop in BR, and lived in the area most of my life, until I moved to Gainesville in 1999. There may be some independents who can service it, so you might call around to the better shops, though I don't know who is left there.

 

I had this problem with my Samsung DLP less than a month after i got it, took the company in charge of my warranty about 5 months to finally authorize a TV replacement but i got the document they gave me to the sotre i bought my TV and managed to get a full refund in store credit wich i used to get a newer and bigger model so i can't complain.