Tv screen suddenly darker and getting worse?

Hey guys I have a Hitachi 43f300 rear projection tv I have had it for about four years now. Just earlier today the picture was fine and normal. Now this evening we noticed it was considerably darker. Even at night with all the lights off and the contrast and brightness at 100% it is wwaaayyyyy darker than it should be. I have taken the back panel off once before to clean the mirror, lenses, and back of screen. I took it off again tonight and cleaned it all but didnt help. Another wierd thing is it seems to be something with just the black. If I put it on like cartoon network it is almost just fine looking. But anything worth watching is like I said very dark and seems to be getting worse. HELP!

Answer:
Your picture tubes are NOT gone, like some people are scaring you with..
4 years on a CRT is wayyyyy too early, when you consider 10 YEARS minimum and 18 Years Max on ANY CRT!!

So, the TV was fine when you turned it OFF.THEN when you turned it ON, it was DARK, Am I correct?

Well, being this TV stores it's settings/adjustments on an EEprom, and it downloads the EEprom upon startup, and since I've had to READJUST some of the HITACHI PTVs because this EEprom had changed values...

I'd say it's a good bet your Sub-brite, and Sub-Contrast values changed..You'll need to get a Hitachi Authorized Service Center to come out, access the EEprom and readjust those values to restore your picture.

I have yet to see ANY Hitachi require a part to fix this problem.

One other possibility is that the Heater resistor has opened partly, and that the picture tubes aren't getting enough power to heat up the cathodes.a simple resistor and solder and you're back in business. This is more rare, but it does fit your symptom too...
This happened to my TV. One day I turned it on and it was completely black. I could hear sound but no picture. The picture tube had gone. Of course my TV was older, so don't know if this is your problem. I hope it isn't cause we had to be a new TV.
this happened to me, sorry i can't tell you how to fix it though.
i had to call a repair guy (they pick it up) and a bulb had to be
replaced. i can't remember how much it cost but i remember thinking it was way too much, like $500 or more possibly.
now this was a while back but it sounds exactly the same as what happend to mine, soon all channels will be the same and it will eventually get so dark you won't be able to watch it.
check the yellow pages under tv repair, you should find those that specialize in rear projection tvs.
this happend to me last yr with an hitachi projection tv. The picture tube is going out. u have maby a week at the most left before the tv completely quits. call the store u got it from and ask for a number to a repair specialist. it will cost u around $500 or more to replace the part. good luck

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