Sony GWIII Owners thread

[84jeepjohn]

Originally Posted by Snuffy101

The replacement OBs they use are likely refurbs of various quality. I'd get them back out there. I've seen colors on a pure white screen but not on a black screen. When my TV was new the screen had an overall redish tint (for a few seconds) when I turned it off.

I went through 4 OB before the 4th one fixed my problem. It killed me because it costed them MORE to replace the OB than to give me a new TV WTF??? but Mine is still kicking, it's on all the time (hate the bulbs though) I just hope Sony gets a 60" LCD soon cause I do NOT want to go down in size (but I'm NOT willing to pay the cost of a used car for the new 70" HA HA)

[tdma]

Originally Posted by aggu

Could this issue of turning itself off and on repeatedly almost every minute be because of the bulb?

That would be my first guess.

[Snuffy101]

Well, here it goes again. Tomorrow, my Sony will be getting it;s 3rd. OB in 4 yrs. It is also covered by my extended warranty (I just extended it for another 2 yrs.) The tech came out last week to replace the bulb and he said it needed a new "engine". It was getting blue and pink areas and I was willing to wait a while, oh well. I figured they (CC) would replace the TV by now but still no dice. I have to admit the tech they sent seems experienced and quite competent.

[tdma]

Originally Posted by Snuffy101

Well, here it goes again. Tomorrow, my Sony will be getting it;s 3rd. OB in 4 yrs. It is also covered by my extended warranty (I just extended it for another 2 yrs.) The tech came out last week to replace the bulb and he said it needed a new "engine". It was getting blue and pink areas and I was willing to wait a while, oh well. I figured they (CC) would replace the TV by now but still no dice. I have to admit the tech they sent seems experienced and quite competent.

I would like to know if extending the warranty on my G3 is available. I am on my second OB and am concerned about what will happen after the end of the year when the extended warranty runs out.

I did not buy mine from CC, is your option to extend only because it is CC or this available thru Sony?

Your input would be greatly appreciated

[Voice of Reason]

Has anyone had any luck going the Executive Review Committee route to get their TV repaired? I have a KF50WE610 TV that has 45-50 stuck blue pixels (and growing at a rate of about 25 per month) in addition to the "blue haze" problem that is covered by an extended warranty for model year 2004 TVs, but my extended warranty already ran out.

I am pulling my hair out with this one. Why is it that Sony extended the warranty of model year 2004 through Dec 31, 2008 when model year 2003 TVs extended warranty was only good through June 30, 2008 and they are having the exact same issue!?!? What's unnerving is that my TV has a manufacture date of June 2004 on it.

[tdma]

I went through the executive review committe with my kdf60wf655 about the blue spots. I was denied and a week later they issued the extended warranty
till the end of 2008 on the OB. They then replaced it for free

Me and several others bitched so loud they listened.

It can't hurt

[ozzzie3]

I went through this with my 2003 50WE610. I had them replace the OB twice and after that they gave me a replacement offer. Offer was 25% off their web site prices. Prices came out about $100 less the Amazon, what a deal.

Good Luck

[Snuffy101]

Originally Posted by tdma

I would like to know if extending the warranty on my G3 is available. I am on my second OB and am concerned about what will happen after the end of the year when the extended warranty runs out.

I did not buy mine from CC, is your option to extend only because it is CC or this available thru Sony?

Your input would be greatly appreciated

CC sent me a card to externd the warranty and I'm glad I did. I don't know about Sony warranties but I'd give them a call. Mine was for 2 additional years, cost $350. My OB was replaced for the 3rd. time just yesterday. This one has a better picture than the set ever had. The green push is gone. The picture has a more linear gray scale and looks good, when the color temp is set the normal. I hate it that these sets have OB the problem and won't be made anymore. Frankly, as much as I have cussed the Sony RP sets, the picture is more natural and pleasing than any other technology I have seen, including the highly over-rated plasma boxes.

[David Scavo]

My WE610 has been running fine since Dec 2003, but wife complained that the TV dimmed several times yesterday. Now when you turn it on, it just blinks green for 30 seconds or so and then gives the red lamp light. I replaced the bulb with a known good one and it does the same thing.

Anything else I can try out before I junkpile it ?

[s2silber]

Originally Posted by David Scavo

My WE610 has been running fine since Dec 2003, but wife complained that the TV dimmed several times yesterday. Now when you turn it on, it just blinks green for 30 seconds or so and then gives the red lamp light. I replaced the bulb with a known good one and it does the same thing.

Anything else I can try out before I junkpile it ?

If that's what you end up doing, you can buy mine. I bought it in Feb. 2004 and it's been going strong ever since. I replaced the first lamp before it even died, because at about 7,000 hours I thought it would eventually burn out and I wanted to have a new one on hand in case. It never did burn out, but I replaced it anyway.
I'm just looking for something bigger right now.

[blotchy_sony]

Originally Posted by tdma

I went through the executive review committe with my kdf60wf655 about the blue spots. I was denied and a week later they issued the extended warranty
till the end of 2008 on the OB. They then replaced it for free

Me and several others bitched so loud they listened.

It can't hurt

My KF42WE610 was about two years old when spots appeared all over the screen, purple fingerprints. Then, this summer, the blue haze starting invading the top of my screen. Sony acknowledged the problem but said the extended warranty on the OB was passed. Now, the bulb has exploded. The bulb access door and housing are warped. Sony has issued an extended warranty on the door and "related" damage. Did the excessive heat damage the bulb or the optical block?

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/new...10&news_id=261

I am confident that a tech will identify the problem, and Sony will cover the repair, but if they only fix the door and the lower part of the frame that has been warped it still leaves me with a piece of crap of a television and will most certainly have to pay a few hundred for the bulb. I don't want this lemon fixed. I want a fair compensation towards another set.

tdma - did they issue your OB replacement on a individual basis or is there some additional information regarding an extension to the OB extended warranty?

If anyone has some advice, I am listening! I have been purchasing Sony products for 25 years and will never give them my business again if they don't do the right thing.

[tdma]

Originally Posted by blotchy_sony

My KF42WE610 was about two years old when spots appeared all over the screen, purple fingerprints. Then, this summer, the blue haze starting invading the top of my screen. Sony acknowledged the problem but said the extended warranty on the OB was passed. Now, the bulb has exploded. The bulb access door and housing are warped. Sony has issued an extended warranty on the door and "related" damage. Did the excessive heat damage the bulb or the optical block?

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/new...10&news_id=261

I am confident that a tech will identify the problem, and Sony will cover the repair, but if they only fix the door and the lower part of the frame that has been warped it still leaves me with a piece of crap of a television and will most certainly have to pay a few hundred for the bulb. I don't want this lemon fixed. I want a fair compensation towards another set.

tdma - did they issue your OB replacement on a individual basis or is there some additional information regarding an extension to the OB extended warranty?

If anyone has some advice, I am listening! I have been purchasing Sony products for 25 years and will never give them my business again if they don't do the right thing.

my ob was replaced under extended warranty at no cost to me. I have a kdf60wf655, different model than you have. It is covered till 12/31/08

My model was not covered for the ob problem till a large number of people organised to get it covered. It took a long time but patience paid off.

My second ob is still going strong, so far.

[blotchy_sony]

Yes, that's right. Thanks for the reply. The repair window for my model was pretty short, and the problem only became evident three weeks after the window was closed.

[sador42]

Now that Blu-Ray is out I have a PS3 and have been watching movies, they look fanstasic btw on my KF-50WE610. I just want to get an idea of the BEST Video Settings for Blu-Ray for my TV.

[MJedi]

My set is just over 4 years old, and it's still looking good. I do wonder if it's possible for it to develop an overscan problem over time. Lately, I've noticed that when I play Xbox 360 (component, both at 720p and 1080i) and Wii (component at 480p) games some of the images at the bottom are too close to the edge. I do use a component switcher, but can that cause this problem? I'm thinking of going into the Service Menu to adjust the image size, but I'm also wary since adjusting those settings might render my set useless. If anyone as any insight, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

[Snuffy101]

Originally Posted by MJedi

My set is just over 4 years old, and it's still looking good. I do wonder if it's possible for it to develop an overscan problem over time. Lately, I've noticed that when I play Xbox 360 (component, both at 720p and 1080i) and Wii (component at 480p) games some of the images at the bottom are too close to the edge. I do use a component switcher, but can that cause this problem? I'm thinking of going into the Service Menu to adjust the image size, but I'm also wary since adjusting those settings might render my set useless. If anyone as any insight, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

Since your viewing is over a Component connection, which is analog, yes things can drift over time. I have noticed that my KF-50WE610 has that type of overscan and some rastering for the first 10 minutes after it is turned on. After it warms up it is fine. This does not affect the DVI input being fed from HDMI. I’d stay away from the Service Menu, it is kind of flaky and you can get lost in there and really mess things up.

[Snuffy101]

I was looking around my files and found what I know to be a very good picture of the Sony Light Engine/Optical Block.
WEGA_LIb.jpg
I thought it might be interesting to some. It's kind of nice to see the enemy up close. It also gives you an idea just how complex this little bugger is.

[MJedi]

Originally Posted by Snuffy101

Since your viewing is over a Component connection, which is analog, yes things can drift over time. I have noticed that my KF-50WE610 has that type of overscan and some rastering for the first 10 minutes after it is turned on. After it warms up it is fine. This does not affect the DVI input being fed from HDMI. I’d stay away from the Service Menu, it is kind of flaky and you can get lost in there and really mess things up.

Thanks for the reply. Guess I'll just live with it, until the overscan gets so bad that it cuts off important parts of the game.

I should put in a disc with test patterns, just out of curiosity...

[sokoion]

Does anyone know what this port does on my KF-50WE610? How can I take advantage of it? Has anyone here used it?

[Super_Chicken]

Originally Posted by MJedi

My set is just over 4 years old, and it's still looking good. I do wonder if it's possible for it to develop an overscan problem over time. Lately, I've noticed that when I play Xbox 360 (component, both at 720p and 1080i) and Wii (component at 480p) games some of the images at the bottom are too close to the edge. I do use a component switcher, but can that cause this problem? I'm thinking of going into the Service Menu to adjust the image size, but I'm also wary since adjusting those settings might render my set useless. If anyone as any insight, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

I have the exact same problem with my component and dvi input's. About an inch is taken off the two sides and the top. I'd like to check out the service mode to see if I can adjust it as it's driving me absolutely nuts.

[Crazy MB]

Originally Posted by aggu

Could this issue of turning itself off and on repeatedly almost every minute be because of the bulb?

My 55" just started doing this turning itself off and back on again while the standy light blinks for about a inute in between each off/on.
Was the bulb the problem? Aggu, did you get yours fixed?
thanks

[Jim R]

I've followed this forum for a few months, now, and have finally reached the point that I need to present the problem I'm having with my KF-42WE610 and see if anyone has any idea what to do with it.

I bought this set 12/19/03 from Circuit City and made the decision carefully based on the reputation for quality of Sony products, so, among other things, I wouldn't need to buy the extended warranty. I expected to get at least 15 years out of the TV (not 5). It performed flawlessly until the lamp power supply gave out as the result of an earlier power surge during an electrical storm. The power supply and lamp were replaced by a Sony repair facility 8/8/07.

On 11/7/08 the picture suddenly went to a bright red, resulting in darker areas such as mouths, eyes and hair appearing to be bleeding or on fire. The whole screen had a red tint, but it was more pronounced in dark areas. The problem came and went; sometimes the picture was fine, sometimes it was so dark red, nothing could be discerned, other times it just had a slight reddish tint.

The local Sony repair shop made a telephonic diagnosis of a bad optical block and said it would cost $928.62 to repair. That's when I found this forum and started the process everyone else has gone through, dealing with Sony. I wound up being offered the opportunity to buy another Sony TV at a "bargain" price of more than the same set would cost from other sources on line. After that insult, I bought a 52" Samsung from Amazon, and I, too, should thank Sony for putting me in that position. The Samsung is just fabulous.

In the meantime, I can't accept the possibility that the 42WE610 is just junk. I replaced the lamp, just to make sure that wasn't the problem, but it didn't change anything. I think I'm capable of replacing the optical block, but am hesitatnt since my situation is unlike anything else I've seen described as an optical block problem.

Can anyone confirm that what I've described is a problem with the optical block? I've even noticed that when the picture is in its "red" mode and the set is turned off, the screen glows red for a few moments after turning it off.

Thanks for any information anyone can provide

[gjschaub]

I have the 42we655. I removed and cleaned the optical block as it can cause some visual issues, but yours sounds more severe. The cleaning I did worked, but I went too far and caused a misalignment of the lcd's. So now I will be replacing the optical block myself. It can be purchased from TriState Module (http://www.tristatemodule.com/) for less if you are interested in doing it yourself. There are directions for this posted elsewhere in the forum, if you post back that you are interested I will find the links. Keep in mind this is not without some risk of failure. I failed at my first attempt at disassembly and cleaning, but I now feel confident that I can replace the block myself. Hopefully I will be reporting back my success within the next week.

[Jim R]

Thanks for the help. I've already got the link for Tri State Module and figure I'll probably use their rebuilt block once I get into this. In addition to using the instruction from Steve Linke and others, I'm probably going to buy a .pdf version of the repair manual. It can't hurt and might help.

[gjschaub]

FYI, I just finished replacing the optical block successfully. Hope it lasts for awhile and doesn't make me regret the decision not to buy a different tv for now. I don't know if it was because of the different optical block or not, but I wasn't quite happy with the color at first, had to tone down the red and overall color level. I may look into doing a calibration. By the way, I found a link for my service manual for free, but I can't seem to find where right now. If I come across it I will post again.

[agn]

Ok time to add my update on the 60" version of the GW3
The purple finger prints started in 2007 and the blue haze appeared in December of 08. We bought the tv directly from Sony in 2004. The set was backordered for months and arrived in the fall.
When i called sony service they had me pay for a technician to confirm the problem.
Then they said they couldn't do anything about it because the extended warrenty was up in June.
I wrote to the Executive Review Committee and Howard Stringer (thanks splinke)
I got a call a few days later from a guy who told me things like,
parts are scarce, and no guarantee that replacing it will not cause it to fail again. I told him to just cover the cost of the optical block and I'll at least have a shot at getting the tv back to normal.
He said it was past the date and that they are not able to assist me with this repair.
I got very upset and decided to file a small claim case against them here in Los Angeles.
I went and filed yesterday and got a date of March 27th.
It cost 40 dollars, 30 for the filing fee and 10 to have their authorized agent served with papers.
Apparently they are not allowed to use a lawyer, but must send someone to represent them on the day of the case.
If they don't show up i win the case automatically.
I will be preparing myself and getting all the data I can to show the judge that consumers should expect a 3500 dollar television to last longer than 4 years. In fact most last 10+
I'll keep you updated.

[Hughmc]

agn, please keep us posted.

[agn]

If anyone received any communication from Sony that they think may be pertinent, please send it to me with your name so I can present it at the case if necessary

[Bobasaurus]

I just put the second replacement bulb in my KDF-55WF655. The TV has 15700 hours on it and 4010 lamp start ups. It still looks great. I am distressed to read of all the problems with the optical block listed on this thread, but so far my Sony has been a perfect TV (knock on wood, loudly!).

I don't know how much longer I can go before upgrading to 1080p anyway

Good luck everyone with your Sony's

Bobby

[Rusty Barr]

With this Sony HDTV model KF-50WE610 ...if I want to use an Over the Air HDTV antenna in my attic, I need to hook that cable from the antenna up to a HDTV tuner before going into the TV, correct?