Hi,
I too have this unit VS-50805 and have enjoyed it for 7 years. Suddenly, while watching tv 2 days ago, all picture went black. Confirmed for all inputs. No video at all - just black. No menu screen, nothing. Audio continues to work well for all inputs.
After reading this (and many other posts on many boards) I am stunned by the design flaw in these TVs. CRT leaking oil directly to the circuit board is very poor design. So, while my symptoms are different from the (convergence) issue above, I took a peak inside the tv to find similar horror - dried up lake from the blue CRT and moist lake from the green CRT. (Several other images available in hi-res as well if helpful)
I visually inspected the top half of the board in the 'splash zones' and couldn't see anything obvious that was corroded or needed replacement. I then took a look at the bottom to notice further horror. Many of the bottom vias were corroded. I cleaned them according to the procedure listed above (minus the dishwasher -- just scraped, brushed, and cleaned with isopropyl alcohol). Photos of the bottom view available if helpful.
My question is: for a complete picture blackout, is there a portion of the system which may be culprit as the starting point for investigation? Is there a fuse that controls the CRT that may have blown? What are the recommended next steps or areas to narrow down the search?
With CRT coolant leaking out, is there danger of the tubes overheating? Is it recommended to have them replaced once this mess is all corrected?
Additionally, this terrible design has undoubtedly caused many people a lot of expense in repairs or replacement. I am quite surprised by this common problem. I am considering initiating class-action lawsuit against Mitsubishi for owners of all these models. Has this already been done to anyone's knowledge?
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction for next steps. I really want to make this beast live again.