Fault finding
TV has sound but no picture
The two-minute torch test, what each symptom points at, and whether the fault is worth repairing.
Read the guide →Home/Blog
TV repair advice from working technicians
Straight answers about television faults, what they cost, and when a repair stops being worth it. Written by the people who do the work, for South African homeowners who would rather understand the problem than be sold to.
If you have a fault right now, the quickest route is to request a quote or send a short video on WhatsApp. Otherwise, start here.
Diagnosing a fault · Latest
My TV has sound but no picture: what does it mean?
The torch test, what each symptom points at, and why this fault is usually better news than it looks. Covers black screens, faint images, half-pictures, flickering and the repair-or-replace decision.
Read the guide →Diagnosing a fault
Work out what your television is actually doing before anyone quotes you.
Fault finding
My TV won't turn on: 9 possible causes
Read the standby light, then work through nine causes — four of which cost nothing to check.
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Fault finding
10 common TV problems explained
The ten faults we see most often in South African homes, what causes each, and which are worth fixing.
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Fault finding
Lines, shadows and dark patches
When the picture is present but wrong — banding, clouding, half an image or vertical lines.
Read the guide →What it costs, and whether it is worth it
The money side, without the guesswork.
Costs
What a TV repair actually costs
Why nobody honest quotes over the phone, what drives the price, and the repairs we talk people out of.
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Costs
Cracked screens: why we do not repair them
What happens inside a damaged panel, and why a cheap "screen repair" quote deserves a hard question.
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Costs
When replacing beats repairing
The honest cases where we tell people not to repair, and how to work out which side of the line you are on.
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Costs
What TV screen repair costs in South Africa
Five different jobs get called "screen repair". What drives each price, and how to judge a quote.
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Local
TV repairs in Johannesburg: problems we see
Power, backlight, HDMI, smart TV and DStv faults — and how to choose a technician.
Read the guide →Choosing a technician
What to ask before you hand over a television.
Choosing
How to hire the right TV technician
The questions worth asking, and the answers that should make you walk away.
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Choosing
"TV repairs near me": finding a real service
How to tell a genuine repair business from a listing, and why the cheapest quote often is not.
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Choosing
TV repair questions, answered
Turnaround times, warranties, call-out fees and what happens if a repair is not worth doing.
Read the answers →More guides are on the way, including why a television will not turn on, and what a professional DStv installation should actually include. If there is a fault you would like explained, tell us and we will write it up.
Have a fault you want looked at?
Describe what the television is doing — or send a short video, which is usually worth more than a long description — and we will tell you what it typically means before anyone comes out.
Request a quote WhatsApp 068 348 0078We work on site across Johannesburg, the East Rand, Pretoria and the wider province. See TV repairs in Johannesburg, on-site TV repairs, or the full list of areas we cover.