tv switching off

i have a sony trinitron tv mod no kv-32fq86u which has a start up problem. you turn the tv on and the sound comes on but no picture after a few seconds you can hear a click then anothe click and then the tv shuts down. the stand by light flashes sixteen times and then stops for a second and flashes sixteen times again. i have been told that the flashes mean something to the educated among us but unfortunatly i am not in that group. if any one has any information i would be grateful