I almost had a stroke!!!
 

Not really, but...

I have a 52" Sony LCD TV. Lately it has been getting darker and darker to the point that even at night with the lights off, you barely watch anything. During the day the screen looks black.

I took the thing apart and cleaned the bulb and all of the mirrors inside but on a white towel there were no dark spots so I dont think they were dirty at all. The lamp on the other hand has some kind of film on the reflector, but when you clean it, it looks fine wet but then dries with the film back on it.

Well, I looked up a replacement lamp for the TV thinking Id just put a new one in and see if that helped at all. WOW OMG WTH!!!!! $397.00 for a lamp!!! This thing looks like it came out of one of those lantern type flashlights that use the huge 6-volt battery. You campers will know what I'm talking about. I've bought cars for less than $400! Heck, I bought a 72 Chevy pickup with only minor rust and a 400cid engine for $400!! But a lamp? Its not like this thing has some kind of super computer in it or made of platinum and diamonds! Its a freakin lamp!

Well, needless to say...the TV is junk. I wont pay that kind of money when I can replace the whole TV with a modern one for less than $1000.

It even says "made in China" on the lamp....sheesh.

Ok I'm dont complaining now. Just thought I'd vent a little lol. Thanks for reading :D

Whoa! That's expensive.

Good call on passing on fixing it. Home electronics stuff seems to be disposable these days. Usually not huge TVs, but VCRs, DVD players, etc aren't worth fixing most of the time.

Yeah, I mean if I was 100% sure that was the problem then Id consider it but, I just dont think it is. It lights up fine and the TV has a warning if the lamp is going bad which hasnt triggered. Oh well. At least I have an excuse to buy a new big screen TV lol.