I own a 42" Sony KDFE42A10 rear projection LCD screen. Last night, due to a sequence of events I'd rather not get in to, someone "threw" the water from a glass at me. The water hit me mostly, but a fair amount of it (around 1/2 a cup) got on the TV and hit the screen. I ran and got a towel to clean it up ASAP, but I didn't quite get it fast enough.

Now in the bottom right corner of a screen is this section that is darker than the rest of the picture. This shape shows up whether the TV is on or not, which makes me think that some water got in there -- though I'm not quite sure what "there" actually is. I'm not too familiar with exactly how the rear projection LCD technology works, but assuming it's water damage I would imagine the shape of the darker portion to be in "blob" form. Instead, the edge of the dark vs. light portions is a very solid defined line, some at perfect 45 degree angles.

It's very bizarre. I'm worried that something happened and it's more than just "a little water" is something bigger. Does anyone have an inkling of what it might be and/or how it would be fixed and how much it would cost to be fixed?

I can also post some pictures of the damage if that would help anyone.

I own a 42" Sony KDFE42A10 rear projection LCD screen. Last night, due to a sequence of events I'd rather not get in to, someone "threw" the water from a glass at me. The water hit me mostly, but a fair amount of it (around 1/2 a cup) got on the TV and hit the screen. I ran and got a towel to clean it up ASAP, but I didn't quite get it fast enough.

Now in the bottom right corner of a screen is this section that is darker than the rest of the picture. This shape shows up whether the TV is on or not, which makes me think that some water got in there -- though I'm not quite sure what "there" actually is. I'm not too familiar with exactly how the rear projection LCD technology works, but assuming it's water damage I would imagine the shape of the darker portion to be in "blob" form. Instead, the edge of the dark vs. light portions is a very solid defined line, some at perfect 45 degree angles.

It's very bizarre. I'm worried that something happened and it's more than just "a little water" is something bigger. Does anyone have an inkling of what it might be and/or how it would be fixed and how much it would cost to be fixed?

I can also post some pictures of the damage if that would help anyone.


You haven't gotten any responses yet. Did you post this in the model specfic thread as well? Maybe someone there could tell you more?

Rick

Or can you post a pic here? I'm curious also.

Or can you post a pic here? I'm curious also.

I'm at work now, but I'll post a pic once I get home.

To update you all as to the latest...Through some hairdryer work and patience, I've managed to conclude that A) it is water in "there," and B) it is evaporating. That's the good news.

The bad news is that as it dries, it's leaving some kind of ghostly image of where the water used to be. I can only hope that it's just temporary and will go away. But if not, I assume it can be cleaned?

maybe you have hard water and its leaving a stain?

I found this thread by searching. I have the same situation. I moved my KDF-46E2000 while it was raining and the screen got wet. I wiped it as soon as I got it inside. The first day was fine. Now today, I see in the bottom corners, two dark sections. I immediately suspected it was from the water.

I am going to try a hair dryer. I am tempted to just let it go, but I am afraid the longer it is wet, the more damage it will do. It seems the water seeped up between the outer and inner screen.

I am here to post my results.

WARNING: DO NOT USE A HAIR DRYER!

The hair dryer did nothing but cause damage! At first, it seemed to be helping, but I now know that it was just due to the air pressing on the screen and pushing the water down. After turning off the dryer, the water would seep back up. My right bottom corner now has an extremely minor mark due to the heat warping the outer screen, causing it to touch the inner screen, and slightly flattening the inner screen's ridges in that spot. Fortunately, I noticed it right away and removed the heat and the damage is barely noticeable.

I found the service manual, opened up the TV, and removed the screens. The inner screen is ridged plastic and the water sits between these ridges. A hair dryer will likely never completely eliminate the water. The screens are just packed too tightly and the ridges force the water to seep all over the place. I doubt that just trying to let the water air dry without any attention would ever completely dry the water!

I now see why the water only goes in the corner. Sony uses fabric tape along the screen edges as a seal. However, they don't put it on the corners! Water can get in there. The ridges on the screen make the water seep up easily.

I was hesitant to open the TV, for a fear of getting dust on the mirror or lens. It also took a bit of work, as the speaker grille section did not want to come off at first. However, after doing this, I now have a more clear understanding of how these TVs work.

I would have hated to ruin this TV, as everything else about it is perfect. Convergence, geometry, overscan, etc. I'd track down a new screen before I would swap this TV out.

Well, makes me feel better I'm not the only one :)

Apparently sometime this morning, my son decided to pour half a bottle of Windex down the screen of our Samsung HL61A750. The damage is showing as large black paintbrush swipes up the screen.

I've had the screen on for the past couple hours hoping to get some heat in there and see if it evaporates, and it does appear to be lessening *some*, but the areas where it looks like there isn't any liquid have a discolored haze.

(I'm super nervous about touching the screen at all at the moment in case of making it worse, so I'm not *certain* if it is fully dry in those spots. Only reason I caught that it was liquid was a small bubble at the very bottom towards where the casing meets the screen.)

My Wife is going to dig into it and see if we're under any sort of warranty still, but any experienced opinions on DIY are super helpful :)

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/X3Hjf9DHcOuKJF4klewXdtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Vtdny6tToMc-detgewSgotMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

Well, makes me feel better I'm not the only one :)

Apparently sometime this morning, my son decided to pour half a bottle of Windex down the screen of our Samsung HL61A750. The damage is showing as large black paintbrush swipes up the screen.

I've had the screen on for the past couple hours hoping to get some heat in there and see if it evaporates, and it does appear to be lessening *some*, but the areas where it looks like there isn't any liquid have a discolored haze.

(I'm super nervous about touching the screen at all at the moment in case of making it worse, so I'm not *certain* if it is fully dry in those spots. Only reason I caught that it was liquid was a small bubble at the very bottom towards where the casing meets the screen.)

My Wife is going to dig into it and see if we're under any sort of warranty still, but any experienced opinions on DIY are super helpful :)

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/X3Hjf9DHcOuKJF4klewXdtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Vtdny6tToMc-detgewSgotMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

Hi, I know how to remove the screen for your model. You would basically have to take half the TV apart to get at it. PITA from a time consuming perspective, but easy.

Would want to get that Windex out of there asap. Windex contains ammonia, which absolutely rots copper traces in electronics.

The good news is that the screen can likely be saved if disassembled and rinsed thoroughly with distilled water. Occasionally window cleaners like Windex will damage plastic, but usually they won't.

The bad news is that I would be far more worried about corrosion that may have set in on the small LED boards just below the screen, and hopefully the liquid has not crept beyond that.

1.) Unplug the power cable. Disconnect all other cables.

2.) Remove all 12 screws from around the rear perimeter of the screen.

3.) Remove all 10 screws from the rear base cover. Then take off only the base cover (for now).

4.) Facing the rear of the TV, the A/V interface panel is on the bottom left side. You need to remove that plastic bezel that labels all the connectors. It should pop right off with little effort.

5.) Same area. Remove that 1 screw at the far left of the steel base bracket. Then detach the 2 connectors just above and to the left of the USB port.

6.) OK now your ready to separate the entire screen frame from the TV. Get a good grip on the sides, pull and separate it from the cabinet. Set it face down on a large table (like your dining room table).

7.) Remove the 3 screws at the bottom of the frame (1 in middle, 1 each at left and right corners).

8.) Now for the tricky part. There are sliding brackets that hold the screen in place. At the top and bottom you push them to the right. At the right and left of the screen, push them up.

9.) Time to remove the screen. With the base of the frame facing towards you, slide the palm of your hand between the screen and the frame. Grip the screen firmly, and pull it up and towards yourself. It will slide right out.

Alright, there are two halves of the screen. The inner side is the fresnel, the outer is the lenticular. Separate them and that's where the Windex seeped into.

Use several lint free cloths or wipes (coffee filters will do) to first soak up the cleaner. Then use *distilled* water with the lint free cloths to clean up both inner sides of the screen.

Inspect those circuit boards at the bottom, I'm concerned about possible damage there.

Put it all back together in reverse.

Good luck. I am fortunate that I only had to deal with water. If I were you, I would not waste any time in taking it apart. It has probably not done permanent damage, but it will be much easier to clean while wet.

Get it apart and get in there with a microfiber cloth. Mop up with a damp one and wipe up with a dry one.