LCD TV - picture goes black; overheat?

[MrA79]

So I have a 42" Toshiba Regza that's about 6-7 years old with who knows how many thousands of hours on it. So I can't say I'm exactly shocked by any of this.

The last few days, it's been fine for a few hours and then the display washes out to black. Sound still comes through fine, and picture comes back if I turn it off\on. After doing that the picture goes out again a few minutes later. Repeat ad nauseum. Seems to me like classic overheating. My kitten has been climbing up the back of it, but I really don't think a 4 pound furball could do any internal damage to a set that thick. Cables are fine, tested multiple I\O and HDMI cords.

TLDR version - time for a new tv? heatsink issue? bad inverter or t panel? Thoughts? I'm mostly trying to absolve my cat of guilt

 

[MrA79]

Regardless, is it even worth the cost of trying to fix a TV with that much mileage on it?

 

[Drako]

Is the backlight shooting off, or the whole display?

 

[MrA79]

Pretty sure it's the backlight. I actually watched the picture wash to black with only the top left corner showing any light at all. I've fixed about a dozen laptop displays that did more or less the same thing, so I'm kinda fearing the worst. No increased radiant heat around the set that I can feel, no burning odor or burnt wire smell.