Hitachi 51" rear projection picture brightness problems

I have a Hitachi 51" rear projection HDTV (model 51F59A). Just recently, the picture started getting darker. I have turned the brightness and contrast up to 100%, but the picture is still dark. It's watchable, but something obviously isn't right. I thought that I would be able to replace a single bulb, but after taking the back panel off I can't find where that bulb would be. Any ideas? I can take a couple of pictures and attach them if it would help.

Thanks!
Andy

If you have the owners manual it will tell you how to change the lamp or bulb some models are on the left side ont he hitachi some are in the rear.

I thought that was a rear crt projection from the model number.sorry there is no lamp or bulb to change.the pix gets dark because the crt sockets board on the tubes get loose or dirty.if you take the front panal off withe the t.v.unpluged use a philips screw driver to undo the clamp and carefully pull the board off and put it back on a few times to clean the pins.carefull not to bend the pins this will fix it.do this to each pix tube.

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! I have taken the front panel off, and there are the 3 tubes (R B G). It looks like there are two screws on each one, and I'm not sure if I should loosen the lower one or the upper one. I'm thinking lower, but I thought I'd ask before I screw something up! I'm attaching a picture so you can see what I am seeing.
[img size=400][/img]

Through some deductive reasoning, I figured out that it was the lower clamp that needed to be loosened. Did what you said, and everything is working great! Thank you very much for your help!

your welcome.that was a comon problem with the hitachi pix tubes.the pins get corrosion or ozidized over time.I use to love those easy house calls.you probably saved yourself 250.00 good luck nice pix on the hitachi specially in h.d

You're right about saving money; I was quoted at least $125 just to come take a look at it. I only paid about $700 (good deal at the time) for the TV, so I was reluctant to spend a lot to fix it. The HD picture is pretty darn good for a $700 projection... and I'm much happier now that the brightness is corrected!

thanks again!
Andy

I'm having a similar problem with my Hitachi 65SWX20B. Sunday night the pic was fine and Monday night it was very dark and had a bad green tint. Get the same image quality from DVD or Cable. Do you think this is a similar problem. I spoke with a local tech and he mentioned the pins on the tubes may need sanded. What do you think? Thanks!

yes sounds like the same problem.I would not sand them because you can bend the pins in the back and there a pain to straighen out.I would just remove the crt socket and install it a few times that should clean them.if it doesnt do the trick you can take a tooth brush will alchol and wipe them.you made need to do a gray scale after if it is still green.I can tell you how to do one

Thanks for you reply. Is there any danger removing the tubes as far as still having a charge? Also, when I do as you suggested, should I notice a significant difference in the picture quality?

you dont remove the tubes.I said you should remove the crt boards at the pins by unscrewing the philips screw and pulling the socket and board together as one reseat it a couple of times that should fix it.

Okay...thank you. I'm sure you are familiar with the Hitachi 65SWX20B. The top part containing the screen and the bottom part containing the CRT's comes apart. Do I need to take apart the 2 halves or do I access the crt boards through the back of the bottom section where the cardboard is screwed on? Thanks.

you acess the crt boards from the bottom panal take the screws out of the little board so you can see the bottom ot the crts then remove them and install them a few times will clean the pins

Thank you very much for the information...it fixed my problem! Can't believe the tech wanted $200 to come out and do that.

You mentioned doing a gray scale afterwards. My pic still looks pretty good but I wouldn't mind checking the gray scale. Can I do this with the Video Essentials DVD or do you have a better way? Thanks again!

if you turn the color off and put the temp to cool in the menu and it looks black and white or the side bars in the 4.3 mode look gray then its good and I would not touch it

I'll give that a try. Thanks for all your help!