Just as I posted never having a single issue with one of my old Sony TV's I go and turn on the 19" and it has a problem. I don't know anything about TV's so please forgive my poor vocabulary.

Here is the problem: I am running the TV on cable and it does not tune in a station and I can usually hear the audio from an adjacent station. It is a digital tuner (I think) that changes channels when you press + or - (no dial is what I'm getting at). There is no fine tuning controls for signal that I can see. Can this be easily fixed by say opening it up and turning a pot or something? Or is something seriously wrong?

TV is a Sony KV-1972R

Thanks!

Remove the back cover and locate the tuner. That's the metal can with a cable going to the coax (antenna) input jack. Near the tuner, there should be a smaller metal can. This is the IF assembly. Unsolder this assembly from the chassis. You'll have to unsolder the pins as well as the four metal tabs from the main PC board. Now, unsolder the shield from the IF assembly PC board. Once the PC board is exposed, you'll see several variable inductors in small metal cans. These are prone to have loose connections where they solder to the IF assembly PC board. Resolder all of the coils to the PC board, making sure that you don't solder any two terminals together. This board is sort of compact. Also, resolder the terminals on the IF assembly. Re-assemble everything and it will probably work fine. This was a common problem on Sony's from the '80's and early '90's.

Not related to your problem; but, resolder the degaussing thermistor while you're in there. Those were bad about getting hot and breaking away from the PC board.

Those KV1972R's are good sets. I've got one that was given to me by a TV shop. All it needed was a new bridge rectifier and a resistor and I've been watching it for around 6 years.

Just remember to unplug your set while working on it and use caution when powering it up with the back off. There are high voltages inside and the chassis of that TV is "hot".

Thank you very much. I have it apart now. I'll see if I can get the done this weekend. I don't want this TV out in a landfill.

I can't remember which type of IF circuit your has, but what happens is that the tiny IF and AFC coils get cold solder joints. If yours has an IF Pack, it's a 1 1/2" square, by 3/4" thick, metal can, sitting upright with one row of pins and 4 can ground points soldered through the main board. Remove it, remove the board from the can, and solder every connection in the can. If yours doesn't have the pack, it has a larger shield can which will have a top on the component side, and a soldered-on bottom under the board. Same cold solder joints, just in a different layout. That can will also be near the tuner.

Charles