For about the past two months, my S-Video cable and output has caused the picture on my TV to be Black and White whenever I hit the S-video output button. I have been able to get color by putting the video/audio output cables into the TV, but I know this is not the right way to do things.
I have a service plan with BB and am wondering whether or not to take the player in (it's about two years old) for repair. I know it's the player because I have put it on two different TV's and it yielded B&W images on them both, and with different cables. Any advice or info about what I should do or how long a wait I face if I take it in to old Worst Buy?

Hmmm are the cables tightly in the jack of both the tv and the player. I know that when s-video cables are loose that you will get a black and white image since the whole point of s-video is that the b&w and color signals are separate.

If they are maybe the jacks are faulty on one component or the other.

I know it's the DVD player that has the problems, since it turns any S-Video input B&W regardless of the TV.

S-Video has separate signals for luminance and color signals; sounds like the color signal is gone which could be either the electronics or the connection. You have done the basics of narrowing it down.

The one other thing you might check is whether the oins in the connector are bent or damaged (check both the connector on the cable and on the DVD player). You might be able to fix that yourself.

If it is anything else, you probably need to take it in for service. Sounds like you can limp by on your composite output until that is convenient.

I have asimilar problem with my S-Video output. I think it is the cable itself. Every now and then the color turns black and white. If I jiggle the cable in back of the player, the color comes back. I have a Sony DVPS-530D DVD player which has two S-Video outputs. Thinking it may be the jack, I switched the cable to the other output jack and I still have the same problem. I'm thinking of bringing the cable back (it's a Monster) and getting a new one - I just haven't had the time lately - got a 5 month old at home!