it's about 9 months old and just noticed these weird lines on the screen. all on lower right side to bit past halfway up. they're wavy like water ripples or a wood grain pattern. i'm new to HDTVs but can't see how it'd be burn in. it's not any recognizable shape. just squiggley lines. pretty noticeable when the color is light/white. it's not on the front of the screen. think it's behind it. could this be some weird dust build up? if so can i clean it easily or get a pro.

oh and i have the warranty that's recommended at this board (can't remember name). would that cover a cleaning or whatever needs to be done? thanks

These sets do not get burn-in. I would check your sources - cable box and cables to and from the tv. . Be aware that even if the cable/satellite is ok in one room in the house, it doesn't guarantee that it will be ok in all rooms of the house. If your tv is only 9 months old you would have warranty and would have a checkout / repair done at no cost, as long as you have a valid proof of purchase. If the cable box/ cable reception / satellite etc is ok, then I would call sony and get the # for a local authorized servicer to take a look

Clean the mirror. Open the side ports and you will see those squiggly lines
all over while it's on. It's just got worst after a long period of time.

These sets do not get burn-in. I would check your sources - cable box and cables to and from the tv. . Be aware that even if the cable/satellite is ok in one room in the house, it doesn't guarantee that it will be ok in all rooms of the house. If your tv is only 9 months old you would have warranty and would have a checkout / repair done at no cost, as long as you have a valid proof of purchase. If the cable box/ cable reception / satellite etc is ok, then I would call sony and get the # for a local authorized servicer to take a look

thanks for both replies! i've checked all connections. these are stationary, non-moving lines. i've added some pics. it looks like my TV has stretch marks heh

so it may be covered under warranty? i should call Sony for a repair?

or it made just need the mirror cleaned? could someone tell me how to do that? i'm scared to crack it open lol.

pics of lines...

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/Mookeylama/TVLINES/DSC01499.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/Mookeylama/TVLINES/DSC01497.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/Mookeylama/TVLINES/DSC01502.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/Mookeylama/TVLINES/DSC01501.jpg

Clean the mirror. Open the side ports and you will see those squiggly lines
all over while it's on. It's just got worst after a long period of time.

^

^

thank you much. but never done this before. could u be more specific?


~~is the morror in the middle of the TV? do i just need to open 1 (RIGHT Or LEFT) side hatch?

~~with what should i clean the mirror? soft cloth and Windex?

~~will opening the TV void my warranty?

advice greatly apprecietd

thank you much. but never done this before. could u be more specific?


~~is the morror in the middle of the TV? do i just need to open 1 (RIGHT Or LEFT) side hatch?

~~with what should i clean the mirror? soft cloth and Windex?

~~will opening the TV void my warranty?

advice greatly apprecietd


The mirror is on the back of the chassis.
You can open either side, it doesn't matter. Opening the side ports is just to
check on the squiggly lines you are talking about. All you need a screwdriver.
Opening your TV to clean it doesn't tamper with anything. So it's impossible
for Sony to tell if it has been opened or not. They don't even check upon
servicing it. It's a very simple job to do.

While we're on the subject of PQ improvement from routine maintenance, I thought I'd revisit the subject of lens/mirror/cabinet cleaning. I had been noticing some yellowish discoloration running down the right side of my screen for some time and had been getting gradually worse. It was most noticeable on very white backgrounds and was starting to become just a tad annoying. I remembered a brief discussion here late last November/early December about how some used one of the round side ports to access the cabinet interior for cleaning with a Swiffer extender rigged with a microfiber cloth. Sounded like a grand idea to me, so I put it on my list of To-Do's (which seems to only get longer, never shorter:rolleyes:).

Well, finally I had had enough, and so I took the plunge 6 weeks ago and decided to venture into parts unknown, as it were. Initially I was going to go the round port hole route, but at the last minute I decided to throw caution to the wind and just go for it, as I knew screen removal would guarantee a more thorough cleaning. Turns out I was more right than I could have known. Holy crap! To say I ended up with a night-and-day improvement is an understatement. It truly was astounding! At this juncture, the only thing that could make the picture better is by replacing my aging lamp, which I'm about to do.

Anyway, I thought I'd take a moment to outline the steps I took to get the job done. Please excuse the camera, however, as it's rather old but trusty--it gets the job done in a pinch.:) But I want to extend a BIG thanks to Hughmc (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=15338893&postcount=11700) for mentioning the subject in the first place and MrMaico ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=15703075&postcount=11940) whose post gave me the "stones" to go ahead with the project. (This post is actually and continuation of his.) Believe me folks, this was probably one of the easiest things I've ever done--I even did it without help! So it's absolutely do-able if there's no one around to assist.

STEP #1

Since I have carpeting, I thought it'd be a good idea to put down a make-shift tarp around the TV to keep anything on the floor (be it fibers, dust, Lego building blocks, whatever) from getting into the open cabinet as I walked around the immediate area.

As MrMaico mentioned in his post, there are exactly 14 Phillips-head screws that need to be removed: 12 on the back cover and 2 on the front beneath the speaker grille. Additionally, there are two slotted ornamental screws on the back (one on each side of the TV) that must be loosened first in order to remove the speaker grille (they're spring-loaded clips, so you don't have to worry about misplacing them):

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/01LoosenSlottedOrnamentalScrew.jpg

STEP #2

Gently pry the speaker grille from the bezel, as it will have loosened after having been separated from the two rear spring-loaded ornamental screws:

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/02PryandRemoveSpeakerGrille01.jpg
http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/03PryandRemoveSpeakerGrille02.jpg

STEP #3

There are 2 screws (1 next to each speaker) that help attach the screen assembly frame to the cabinet that need to be removed:

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/05ScreenFrameAssemblyScrew-Right.jpg

STEP #4

Now it's time to go behind the TV and remove the remaining 12 screws from the back cover, each of which help to attach the screen frame assembly. In a nutshell, remove all the screws that have an ARROW pointing to them (you'll have noticed those same arrows when you removed the 2 front screws on the speaker grille):

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/06RearCabinetScrew.jpg

At this point, it's time to put on a rubber. (Always use protection folks!) :D Do yourself a favor and put on a pair of powder-free latex gloves, because you want to make the actual cleaning process as simple as possible. The more fingerprints you leave, the longer you'll be in that cabinet. So better safe than sorry.

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/07DontForgettoWearProtection.jpg

STEP #5

Now all we need to do before the actual moment of truth is to remove the screen frame assembly from the cabinet. Sounds intimidating, I know, but it really isn't. Using both hands, all you have to do is gently work the frame loose and then slightly pull it up and then out (you'll see what I mean as you're doing it, don't worry):

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/08ScreenFrameAssembly-LiftUpSlideOf.jpg

Take the screen frame and put it somewhere out of the way but close by, and set it face down on a soft, flat scratch-free surface (a covered table should be fine, something that will support the entire frame). At this point, the innards should now be exposed. If you're like me, your heart will probably skip a beat and you'll freeze in place for a moment just from the sheer...I dunno...f*cked-up'ness (translation: terror) of it all...sorta like a year-one resident about to perform his/her first open heart surgery. Never fear, all is well. Just breathe...breeeeeeeathe...wooooo-saaaaaah!!

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/09OpenCabinet.jpg

The lens/light engine...

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/10Lens-LightEngine.jpg

STEP #6

Take a nice-sized microfiber cloth and cover the lens/light engine, because you'll be spending a lot of time above it applying good ol' fashioned elbow grease while cleaning the mirror. Have several cloths handy. I recommend microfiber cloths 12 square inches or larger....

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/11PutCoveronLens.jpg
http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/12PutCoveronLens02.jpg

STEP #7

As for an appropriate cleaner, I think an ammonia-free glass cleaner goes without saying. But I took it one step further and went with one that's both ammonia- AND alcohol-free. Overkill? Uh, maybe...but I'm not taking any chances cuz I'm still debating on which I prefer having around more: my A3000 or my knucklehead teenage son. (Oh, I kid BasicBlak Jr... Love you, mean it!!!:p:D) Anyhoo, I also suggest the cleaner be streak-free/fast-drying, and Nature's Source by Windex (http://www.naturessourcecleaners.com/glass-and-surface.aspx) fit all the requirements to a T (I'm sure there are a ton of alternatives out there that are just as good.):

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/13GlassCleaner-AmmAlchFree.jpg

Spray a liberal amount of the cleaner on an entire cloth and start wiping the mirror. You'll find that the mirror is held in place by several moldings around its edges, so it will move slightly. Don't panic, this is absolutely normal. Simply use one hand to hold it in place while you wipe with the other. (You do have your rubbers on by now, right...?) Really work that cloth/cleaner into the mirror using broad, sweeping strokes:

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/14WetClothWipeinBroadSweepingMotion.jpg

You will be spending the bulk of your time in the cabinet cleaning the mirror and you may even need to apply more glass cleaner on your cloth, as it is a lot of work if you're a perfectionist like me. Mine was pretty dirty. Not exactly dust-covered dirty, my mirror was sorta hazy, similar to the affect steam has on your bathroom mirror when the hot water in the shower is on. It also helps to have a little flashlight or pen light handy. Though the mirror will "look" clean after you finish wiping all of it, all might not be what it appears.

STEP #8

MrMaico mentioned something very interesting when he was cleaning his mirror. He felt it looked fantastic upon finish, and re-assembled the set accordingly. But when he looked through the round port hole into the cabinet afterward, he said he felt that the mirror still didn't look as clean as it should have been. Well, he was on to something there, and I kept that in mind. After I thought I was done, I took my trusty little flashlight and quickly looked at the glass in the direct light. Lo and behold, it looked like a smeared mess!:eek: And believe me, I was pissed off to the HIGHEST of pisstivity (no, that word is not in Miriam-Webster's, but it works for me). Then I suddenly had one of those "light bulb" moments, or as the alcoholics in my extended family would say, a moment of "clarity".:D Seeing as how I'd wax my car, I remembered what you're supposed to do after applying the wax coating--you BUFF! So, I strongly suggest you grab another dry cloth, fold it twice, and start buffing the sh*t outta that thing:

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/15BuffMirrorwithDryFoldedCloth.jpg

As I was fanatical about leaving the mirror spotless, I think I had buffed for nearly 30 minutes. (At least I'm assuming it was 30 minutes; I had my secondary, general purpose HDTV on in the background as an episode of "Family Guy" was starting, and I finished buffing as the end credits rolled. Go figure.:rolleyes:) Checking with the flashlight periodically, eventually the mirror was 100% dirt-, dust- and grime-free. With yet another dry cloth I wiped off the interior of the cabinet itself. This probably required the least amount of effort as, to my astonishment, the cabinet in general really wasn't all that dusty. So it's clear that the inner-shell is pretty well isolated. I expected my allergies to go into overdrive when I removed the screen frame. But the inside casing was shockingly clean. Only the mirror and, to a much lesser extent, the optics had issues.

STEP #9

For cleaning of the lens itself, I merely removed the still dry cloth I used to cover it with and lightly yet meticulously wiped it off. Unless you can see with your naked eye that the lens is very dirty (and I can only imagine that being the case in very severe situations), there should be no need to use any cleaner on it; the cloth should remain dry while doing this. Using the flashlight helped tremendously in determining how clean it was getting....

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/16WipeLensCoverwithDryCloth.jpg

STEP #10

Now that everything inside your TV is spic-n-span, you really don't want to leave the cabinet exposed for too long. So go over to where you placed the screen frame right quick and, with another dry cloth, wipe the inside of the screen. (This, too, was relatively clean on mine, but I thoroughly wiped it anyway.)

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/17WipeInsideScreen.jpg

And that's it... You're done!

STEP #11 (Epilogue)

Carefully put the screen frame back on the cabinet and just reverse the order of the entire disassembly process, securing the screen back onto the cabinet, re-inserting the 14 screws, re-inserting the speaker grille, and securing the 2 spring-loaded ornamental thumb screws.

Voila!!!

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/18Re-AssembleinReverseOrder.jpg

All's well and in complete working order!:D (My camera doesn't even begin to do it justice, so I've included the shots below just to show that I didn't muck anything up in the process.;)

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/19AllinWorkingOrder01.jpg
http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/basicblak/20AllinWorkingOrder02.jpg

Honestly, it's as easy as pie. Hyperbole aside, the effort makes a huge impact. The picture in general is much sharper, the colors much more vibrant and on point. And, best of all, NO MORE YELLOWISH DISCOLORATION!!! I wholeheartedly recommend anyone who has owned his/her set for a while (perhaps a year or longer) to go for it if so inclined and are relatively comfortable attempting such things. To my way of thinking, if you happen to be an Onkyo x05-/x06-series owner, for instance, and performed the DIY main firmware update, this will most likely be mere kid n' play for you.

Hope it helps, folks... Peace out!:)

Excellent post on how to clean the screen / mirrors.


Opening your tv will void your warranty. We sometimes cannot tell, but if you messed something up then we would possibly be able to tell. Plus, most non-professionals will not correctly reassemble a TV that requires many screws with multiple screw types in the correct spots, so I highly recommend you do not do this, at least while you still have a warranty.

It is hard for me to tell for sure from the pictures (too much glare + flash), but the lines look consistent with a optic block problem. It looks like maybe there is some yellow discoloration?With regard to yellowing, I do disagree with the author of the dissassembly guide ; cleaning the screens and mirrors will NOT get rid of yellowing. Dust/debris will cause a darker pic and or quarter-sized darker areas in the picture, but If you have static (non-moving) yellow discoloration in specific areas on screen you are certainly going to need a new optic block.

Get your proof of purchase and go to "http://eservice.sony.com/webrma/web/index.do" to find a Sony authorized service person. Call them and set up an appointment. All they will need is your TV model, serial and to see your receipt. This is something you definitely want to have looked at, that is certain. If your problem is a simple screen cleaning, they will be able to do that too, professionally, at no cost to you and no chance that they will mess up your TV (if they do, they will be responsible for fixing/replacing).

Excellent post on how to clean the screen / mirrors.


Opening your tv will void your warranty. We sometimes cannot tell, but if you messed something up then we would possibly be able to tell. Plus, most non-professionals will not correctly reassemble a TV that requires many screws with multiple screw types in the correct spots, so I highly recommend you do not do this, at least while you still have a warranty.

It is hard for me to tell for sure from the pictures (too much glare + flash), but the lines look consistent with a optic block problem. It looks like maybe there is some yellow discoloration?With regard to yellowing, I do disagree with the author of the dissassembly guide ; cleaning the screens and mirrors will NOT get rid of yellowing. Dust/debris will cause a darker pic and or quarter-sized darker areas in the picture, but If you have static (non-moving) yellow discoloration in specific areas on screen you are certainly going to need a new optic block.

Get your proof of purchase and go to "http://eservice.sony.com/webrma/web/index.do" to find a Sony authorized service person. Call them and set up an appointment. All they will need is your TV model, serial and to see your receipt. This is something you definitely want to have looked at, that is certain. If your problem is a simple screen cleaning, they will be able to do that too, professionally, at no cost to you and no chance that they will mess up your TV (if they do, they will be responsible for fixing/replacing).

No offense, but there are a lot of very incompetent so-called TV repair techs out there. There are countless horror stories and some of us have encountered them at one time or another. If you can find a good one, you're in great shape. However, calling someone out I don't know is always my very last resort.

Also, sometimes dust on the lens can create a brown-yellowish spot...and cleaning it will take care of it. This was the case on my set - I have no idea if that's the problem with this one, but just wanted to point it out. Also, this set is very easy to re-assemble with its screw types.

well i certainly appreciate all the help!! especially the tutorial and the link to Sony service. gotta admit tho, taking the TV apart, even w/ the photo tutorial, scares the crap outta me. think since it's still under warranty i'll call a pro. thanks again for all the advice folks!!

Also, sometimes dust on the lens can create a brown-yellowish spot...and cleaning it will take care of it. This was the case on my set - I have no idea if that's the problem with this one, but just wanted to point it out. Also, this set is very easy to re-assemble with its screw types.


hmm, so is dust on the lens the same as dust on the mirror?

now i'm not sure about calling a pro. i coulda swore we bought it in July-Aug, but the receipt states end of May. so i'm past my 1 year factory. called Sears to see if they'd be nice and let it slide since i'd noticed the lines well over a month ago but my Mother passed then and i'd been outta town taking care of all that. no go w/ Sears tho they're happy to send a tech for $105 service fee + repairs.

i do have the 3 year extended TapeWorks Texas warranty. called them at 5:45 and they were closed (messages stated 6PM lol). figure i'll try them again. cleaning like this would be covered under the Tapeworks warranty right?

here's couple more pics that're a tad better. screen should be pure white. strange yellowish brown lines on right side are the culprits, or perhaps the white lines through that area...

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/Mookeylama/TVLINES/DSC01504.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/Mookeylama/TVLINES/DSC01500.jpg

I told you this is easy job to do. A 10 year old can do it, no offense. It just
looks scary but the only thing that is stopping you getting through that mirror
is screws and the screen.

Do you see the side ports? It's there for a reason. Get screwdriver and open it
up while putting up a bright image up. You will see that rain drop streak pattern
on the mirror itself. It's there when it's brand new. It's just got more noticeable
as time past from moisture in the air. All you need is that Windex recommended
in that tutorial and a microfiber cloth.

It's not hard, trust me. A technician is more likely to ruin your set rather than
fixing it. Plus opening to clean your TV is highly impossible to tell so stop panicking.

hmm, so is dust on the lens the same as dust on the mirror?

now i'm not sure about calling a pro. i coulda swore we bought it in July-Aug, but the receipt states end of May. so i'm past my 1 year factory. called Sears to see if they'd be nice and let it slide since i'd noticed the lines well over a month ago but my Mother passed then and i'd been outta town taking care of all that. no go w/ Sears tho they're happy to send a tech for $105 service fee + repairs.

i do have the 3 year extended TapeWorks Texas warranty. called them at 5:45 and they were closed (messages stated 6PM lol). figure i'll try them again. cleaning like this would be covered under the Tapeworks warranty right?

here's couple more pics that're a tad better. screen should be pure white. strange yellowish brown lines on right side are the culprits, or perhaps the white lines through that area...

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/Mookeylama/TVLINES/DSC01504.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/Mookeylama/TVLINES/DSC01500.jpg

It's impossible to say without getting in there. Of all of the engine blocks issues I've heard or seen pictures of, I don't recall seeing one with lines like that. If it were my set, I would take off the screen and clean the lens, mirror, and inside of the screen....looking carefully at each part to ensure it's clean. It's not hard to do. If the lines are still there, I would call out a service tech (try to do a little homework on a reputable company/person in your area) because obviously the cause would be something technical.

like.no.other, as i stated before, i really do appreciate the tutorial you posted. i probably will give it a go. at this point tho, i just wanna know if my opening it up and getting in there will void my extended warranty. paid good money for it and don't want to lose it because i just opened it up.

so my questions are;

will this kind of cleaning be covered under my Ext warranty?

if i open the TV will it void my Ext warranty?

thanks

well Mack has ok'd the Ext warranty repair and told me to call Sony. Sony set up an appointment w/ Qualxserv, who just called and said the problem is a well known issue w/ the Optical Block, and that Sony has even had a recall on many of their SXRD TVs because of it. Qualxserv wants $225.00 just to walk in the door, but Mack stated in their email that they would cover any up front cost like that, so we'll see.

kinda glad i didn't open it up now.

i know many folks around here have the Mack warranty. so does this sound about par for the course?

You just screwed yourself. I told you it's not the optical block and you didn't
even bother to open the side ports to look at your mirror. It's your mirror.
Not only Qualxserv has the worst general technician there is, but you have a
chance on getting a bad optical block that got refurbished. Since you persist,
go ahead with the wonderful experience.

What like.no.other just said. You need to verify for yourself if the issue is the mirror. You are opening up a huge can worms having them come out to replace the OB.

You just screwed yourself. I told you it's not the optical block and you didn't
even bother to open the side ports to look at your mirror. It's your mirror.
Not only Qualxserv has the worst general technician there is, but you have a
chance on getting a bad optical block that got refurbished. Since you persist,
go ahead with the wonderful experience.

i did open the side and looked at mirror. wiped it w/ soft cloth. didn't get too involved in there since...let me say it again...i DON'T want to void any warranties that i have. and Loustvchris just stated up in post #8 that opening the TV like you described to clean it WOULD void the warranty. i have what most around here tout as a great warranty (MACK) and i don't wanna void it. i would think that would be understandable to most. plus if some less than stellar tech comes out and screws it up, then guess what? they'll come back and fix it again until it's right or deemed a lemon and i get a new one!

also i've been having trouble w/ the picture suddenly getting darker, it happened just a few times before the appearance of the lines but it's gotten worse over last few days. i've read that's the 1st signs of bulb going, and since i also have the 3 year bulb replacement w/ Mack, they and Qualxserv told me it'd be best to get it all looked at together. now if i'd done all that and messed something up that'd void my warranty (and u know they're just lookin for ways to get ya there :)) then as you say "i just screwed myself".

no, i'm pretty confident that with the great tutorials given here i could clean it, and i hear bulbs are easy to replace (unless that voids the ext warranty in which case i wouldn't do bulb myself) so i coulda done it. but WHY when i have an extended warranty that covers all this, repair, bulbs, service fees, ect.

I had this same problem, luckily i was reading on a website that I found out the problem, it was a optical block and i got it for 179.99 dlls. it was really fast and fixed the problem ...
found it on discount-merchant.com , they were great and i highly recommend it to anybody.

http://www.discount-merchant.com/We-provide-factory-original-parts-worldwide-p/1107245-sony.htm

DLP??? Color chip??? I think you posted in the wrong thread. The sony is LCOS, which is nothing like DLP. Besides that, don't most DLP's in TV's use a color "wheel"? The sony does have 3 LCOS panels which could have convergence issues if they're misaligned.

In any case, OP is correct to see if he can get it taken care of under warranty first and not risk voiding it. If that doesn't work out, then the DIY fix would be worth a try.

DLP??? Color chip??? I think you posted in the wrong thread. The sony is LCOS, which is nothing like DLP. Besides that, don't most DLP's in TV's use a color "wheel"? The sony does have 3 LCOS panels which could have convergence issues if they're misaligned.

In any case, OP is correct to see if he can get it taken care of under warranty first and not risk voiding it. If that doesn't work out, then the DIY fix would be worth a try.

not sure what you mean in your 1st paragraph. i posted on the correct board right? thanks for the advice tho. i think i will go the warranty route first.

and thanks for that link Electrictuneup!

not sure what you mean in your 1st paragraph. i posted on the correct board right? thanks for the advice tho. i think i will go the warranty route first.

and thanks for that link Electrictuneup!It was a response to electricuneup's post about sony DLP issues. I was questioning his post (since sony isn't DLP), not your post. I guess he edited out the DLP stuff after I posted (that'll teach me not to quote). Anyway, all is well now. Best of luck to you.