Zenith System 3 Question
 

This is one of those questions some of you dread seeing. Please ignore this if you think so.

I have a 19 inch Zenith System 3 set which worked fine up until recently, then the picture turned into scrambly snow, and some sound was still evident. I'm only using DVD VCR combo on it, and checked to see if any controls or a reset are on the back. Only controls are under the front panel.

Could this be an easy fix, or one of these tedious tracing jobs to find what went out where? I realize the information is sketchy but I have a feeling someone here has an identical set that may have had such a problem that could be corrected without major surgery or emptying my bank account. I don't have its original remote control, if that has some kind of adjustment sequence on it that could restore the picture. If anyone has a clue please let me know. It's the set on the right in this ad. Thanks in advance.

is that set solid state or tube. does the combo still work but with antenna it has snow?

Assuming you are going from your DVD into the TV antenna input:

Check if the TV accidentally got set to the wrong channel (maybe 4 instead of 3) or the DVD accidentally got set to the wrong channel (4 or 3).

The DVD VCR combo works fine, and had a beautiful picture on the set the night before the failure. I don't have the tv hooked to cable or converter with antenna. The picture tube takes a few seconds to light up but I can't see anything glowing in the set. I believe it's solid state, from around 1979, the dates and other info printed on the sticker on the back are gone. That isn't a lot of help I know.

Since reading the second response, I looked on the back of the combo and there is no switch for channel 3 to 4, and I always make sure the set is turned to 3 when I play it. Not a chance the VCR tuner is to be turned to 3 is it? Never needed to be before.

just a shot in the dark, if you have a digital vom set to diode test and check zeners around or close to the harness coming from the tuner to the main board, i already had a similar problem. it may be worth a look.

Thanks for the additional tip, but I can't work on these things, I may run it out to have it looked at. I do appreciate the feedback though.

i have the 25 inch version.tuner might be drifting.mine did the same thing.i went in and tuned channels 2 and 4 to the signal.it has worked flawlessly for a week non stop.

Who can I thank here? Dennis The Menace is playing now in glorious black and white, I tried 2, 4, 3 again, played with the DVD, and all is well! Now, if I could find the correct remote for it. No vintage ones in the usual places.

Thank you guys for all the input! I suspected it was something simple.
(Dennis is helping good ol' Mr. Wilson use his new telescope)

Zenith electronic tuners from that era were known for having loose connections inside the tuner module. These loose connections can cause the type of problem you're having. Pull the tuner out, remove the metal shields, and examine the connections inside the tuner. The most common place for loose connections in these tuners is on the plugs and the ground connections.

My experience also - the Navy used early System 3's in barracks common areas - loose connections at the tuner and loose vertical capacitors (bad solder) were common issues. Sailors would beat the hell out of those sets...

Now if you have a set the comes on with Snow, heats up, and turns to Rain......then you need to call Ripley's! :lmao:

Cheers,

So far, it's working normally. Thanks for the extra tips and information on these things. I'm only using it to watch tapes and dvds on right now, until I get things set to rights around here. It gets beautiful color when I play color media, the price was right for ten dollars.