[karmaman]

I know this isn't a computer monitor forum, and I've asked questions of this nature before, so I apologize. My computer monitor is a 19" Sony CPD-420GS. I picked it up at the Salvation Army a few months ago for $10. The tube is in good shape, but this monitor has a personality of its own. Like most old Trinitron computer monitors, it takes a few minutes to fully warm up, however this one usually looks like crap for about 30 minutes before everything looks good. However, sometimes I turn it on and the quality is excellent in under a minute. Sometimes, it looks like crap all day. Sometimes, it starts good and then gets crappy.

When it looks good, the white balance is a little more blue-tinted and picture looks very bright, crisp, and clear. When it looks like crap, the white balance is more reddish and it looks OK, but only mediocre at best. That's not the problem I have with it right now, but I'd love to know what you guys think about that.

The main problem I'm having right now is that the monitor lost Horizontal. I was using it earlier today when the screen kinda flinched a few times and then it turned into a very bright, vertical line going down the middle. I said a few choice words, then instantly hit the power button to avoid burn-in. Can you guys tell me what causes a loss of Horizontal, and where to start/what to check? I really want to get this monitor going again. When I turn on the monitor, it degausses and then the power light starts blinking yellow.

I'd also appreciate it if you guys would tell me what you think about how sometimes it looks great, but usually it looks kinda crappy. It's not the tube getting weak, because sometimes it look great right off the bat without taking long at all to warm up. Do you guys think there's bad caps in there? I've noticed the neck board smells like urine and there's a (12-pin I believe) IC right above the socket. The PCB area around the IC looks very burnt and brown. I will post pictures, the exact number of pins on the IC, and the number off the IC tomorrow when I get the chance to crack it open and take a look.

Sorry for posting this in the vintage section, but this is the greatest electronics repair forum I have ever found online. Everyone here is really knowledgeable and kind, I've been searching but haven't been able to find another community as good as this one. I've asked questions about this monitor before on other so-called "electronics" forums but nobody ever replies.

Thanks,
-karmaman