Hi all, just found this site by searching on yahoo, thought I would post an issuse i am having with my sony 55inch lcd projection tv. Today it started to go out as we were watching tv and coming back in about a minute or so. The green light blinks for about 30 seconds or so then picture and sound comes back again. when it goes out the red light never comes on it would still blink green light but the screen looks as if the TV has been turned off.
I just had the light engine replaced for $1400 by an authorized Sony repair shop only 4 months ago and now this!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also any idea how much it may cost me this time? This way I will decide if i will even fix it or not.
Thank you all in advance
You don't have a complete model number, but you are most likely looking at a bad bulb, i have seen this symptiom before. Almost in every situation the bulb has fixed this issue for me, although i have seen that the balist has been at fault, but that is the exception.
i am curious , what was the problem before that they needed to replace the light engine?
The complete model number of this tv is Sony kdf55wf655, the problem I had with light engine was bottom of the screen was full of blue bars and it was turning part of the pictures blue. If it is the bulb this time, is it something easy to do at home?
Thanks again
The bulb is user replaceable, check your manual. on how to replace it. This tv is one i work on quite allot. and the diagnosis of the light engine is correct for the last repair. unfortuinatly the tech cannot repair the light engine it needs to be re built by sony. Sony says it takes a clean room to do the work, and i am sure some delicate alignment.
So does it sound like I have a light bulb issue that I need to replace? Than I would go but one and try to replace it.
Yes it is a bulb issue, like i said that it could also be the ballast. Sony also recommends changing the bulb when the ballast is changed as well, so buying the bulb will at least get that part out of the way. I don't want to say it will defiantly fix your issue, that is impossible and arrogant to say. but most of the time just a bulb will fix the problem you are experiencing.
Thanks, I will try to replace it tomorrow, hoping some local store would have it in stock..any idea where to buy such things? Circuit city may be?
I have the same problem with a kdf-60wf655. I saw somewere that the power supply may be overheating causing the bulb to shut down. should I replace the bulb and ballast like you stated?? I put the tv in power saving mode and it seems to say on. any ideas were to start???
kahea -
i have not seen that, try the bulb first, and if the problem goes away then you have fixed it. if not then get the ballast. Like i said before sony recommends replacing the bulb if the ballast is defective and i follow that advice, it avoids problems. I have not seen a ballast directly destroy a bulb though, (although i suppose it could happen)
If you had problems and had to replace your light engine, you should contat Sony. My light engine went out on my 50" KDF655, it also covers the 55"as well and sony replaced it. It would have cost me 1,100.00 to have it fixed. They will replace them on the 2004 year models, for there was a problem with the light engines. They will cover the cost of the light engine and and to have the authorized Sony tech to replace it. It cost me $0.
If you do not have an owners manual for this TV set, you can download one from HERE for free. The bulb replacement procedure starts on page 16. It is over 17 megs of data and may take some time to download. Hope this clears up any questions. Good Luck
"DLP Light source
The main light source used on DLP based rear screen projection TVs is based on a mercury vapor arc lamp. At start up the arc lamp is "struck" by a 5000V charge to start the arc in the arc tube. The arc starts and after warmup the "hold" voltage drops to approximately 60 volts. At the end of its life, a mercury-vapor lamp commonly exhibits a phenomenon known as cycling. As a lamp gets older, the maintaining voltage for the arc eventually rises to exceed the voltage provided by the ballast module. As the lamp heats, the arc fails and the lamp goes out. Eventually, with the arc extinguished, the lamp cools down again, the gas pressure in the arc tube is reduced, and the ballast can once again cause the arc to strike. The effect of this is that the lamp glows for a while and then goes out, repeatedly. The RPTV ballast designs detect cycling and give up attempting to start the lamp after a few cycles. If power is removed and reapplied, the ballast will make a new series of startup attempts. This failure is then typically indicated via LEDs on the unit, and necessitates replacement of the lamp." Which fixed issue!!!
"DLP Light source
The main light source used on DLP based rear screen projection TVs is based on a mercury vapor arc lamp. At start up the arc lamp is "struck" by a 5000V charge to start the arc in the arc tube. The arc starts and after warmup the "hold" voltage drops to approximately 60 volts. At the end of its life, a mercury-vapor lamp commonly exhibits a phenomenon known as cycling. As a lamp gets older, the maintaining voltage for the arc eventually rises to exceed the voltage provided by the ballast module. As the lamp heats, the arc fails and the lamp goes out. Eventually, with the arc extinguished, the lamp cools down again, the gas pressure in the arc tube is reduced, and the ballast can once again cause the arc to strike. The effect of this is that the lamp glows for a while and then goes out, repeatedly. The RPTV ballast designs detect cycling and give up attempting to start the lamp after a few cycles. If power is removed and reapplied, the ballast will make a new series of startup attempts. This failure is then typically indicated via LEDs on the unit, and necessitates replacement of the lamp." Which fixed issue!!!