We have a question from a reader about his Samsung HLN617WX DLP Television making a strange sound.
I have read the posts concerning the color wheel and fan #2, however, I think I have a different problem. The TV works perfectly for about an hour, then abruptly turns off and at that very moment begins making a sound similar to the siren on an old fire engine. RRRRRRRRRRRRRR. This will continue for about a minute, with the pitch rising and falling randomly, then the TV shuts down like normal (chime sound) and the lamp fan continues to run for a minute like normal before turning off. Not a very high-pitched sound like the color wheel, and not while the picture is on. After this happens, if I turn it back on it will not stay on very long, leading me to believe it is overheating. I have listened at the back of the TV and it does not appear to be coming from the lamp fan, more like further into the TV. What could this be? Fan #1? I can’t find any fan #1 replacements, unless it is the same as fan #2.
There simply aren’t that many things in a Samsung DLP Television that can make these sounds.
And while there are a few fans inside this television, I have to believe that it is the color wheel. Here’s my theory.
The problem with the color wheels is the bearings. These are essentially ball bearings that allow the wheel to spin very fast, not much different than the bearings in a skateboard wheel. (Remember those?)
The bearings go bad and create friction. This noise is that friction as the wheel still tries to spin at several thousand RPM. In your case, I’m guessing that the friction is causing heat to the point of malfunction and therefore the shutdown.
I’d remove the color wheel to see if can spin freely, and if it gives any resistance
