Resurrecting a dead Sony KDL-52Z5100

My Sony KDL52Z5100 is one year old fortunately my screen problems started while the set was still under warranty. The first sign of a problem started with green vertical lines spaced about 3 apart that appeared on start-up. As first the lines disappeared approximately one hour after the TV was turned on. On some days the green lines have turned to thicker red lines turning to black vertical white-outs 8 wide. This morning in addition to the green vertical lines horizontal flickering lines also appeared. I managed to take some pictures of these new phenomena.

The Sony service repair station ordered a new screen (ACL 180289511) with the explanation that my screen was not making the proper electrical contact when the set was cold.

Unfortunately one month has now gone by with no word from Sony even though their customer service told me that they would update me in 2 business days.

Has anyone else had similar problems both with this Sony model and the Sony warranty repair service?

I purchased my Sony at Future Shop December 20 2009

What was your resolution on this?

My KDL52Z5100 also just started displaying double images and horizontal lines on power up. It goes away after 5 minutes just like the previous post has mentioned. I got it inspected by a Sony authorized technician and he mentioned only way to resolve the issue is to replace the LCD panel and he gave a quote of $2500!!

Is this a common problem with this model? Anyone knows of a recall. I am also just outside my warranty period.

I had the same problem starting in 12/2010. My tv now takes about 30 mins. for the picture to clear..most of the way. I was out of warranty from the purchase date by 30 days. I bought it on black friday and gave it to family on Christmas. Warrany applies to purchase date, not when you put in use. My repair estimate was $3449.71 for my $1600 set. All the forums that I have found basically list the same problem. Does anybody have any ideas on recourse? Sony offered to sell me two different TVs at discount off of MSRP which was no big discount. They did not offer me the size TV that I own. I have a build in cabinet, so size is important.

Hi, All!

I have the same issue ... horizontal lines and blackout splotches on startup, which clear up and go away after about half an hour. My father-in-law got an arrangement worked out with Sony and replaced the set after being quoted $2500 for a "replacement board." They required he send in the original sticker off the TV so it can't be dealt with again through them.

My question is whether anyone "in the business" has identified the exact nature of the problem, and has worked out a fix? Seems a shame to junk a TV that might be repairable for a reasonable expense. I would mount it on my wall and use it "as is," but from what I've read the problem grows steadily worse until the TV dies. If somebody could direct me to the area that fails it would be worth attempting to fix the "bad contacts" if that's even remotely possible.

Apparently there are hundreds or even thousands of these sets affected, so if a repair center was able to work out a cost-effective fix they'd have us lined up to get the sets repaired and back to working properly.

Hope somebody "in the know" sees this and has a solution - Thanks in advance if you do!

Regards,
Steve

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...8#post21132468 (post #95)

also, use forums search engine; search for: "TAB" and "Extreme_Boky"

Boky

I have the same problem on the Sony Bravia KDL-52Z5100.
It is due to TAB problem of the LCD panel mentioned in
youtube watch?v=zW998RTAq-0&feature=related
Not T-Con or main board problem.
I brought my TV to? AGITECH agitech.ca/lcd-repair-services*.htm
and they replaced the TAB.
Now the problem is fixed and I am very happy.
You can find more information (price, etc) in
web1.toshiba.ca.agitech.ca/tv_*lcd_repair/link_02.php
(Toshiba Canada use their service)

My Sony is dead also with the tab issue. I wonder how one starts a class-action law suite. That's what we need here to address this problem.

Find out who filed the class action against Samsung, then email him, cite this site for the amount of postings about the same prob.

Looks like Sony either got scared or recieved enough complaint because I received a letter today offering a free repair or replacement of the LCD. This offer applies to the KDL-52Z5100 and KDL-52XBR9 through March 31, 2014. If you didn't throw yours out yet, now is a good time to get it fixed for free.

PS, if you paid to have yours fixed, they'll reimburse you the cost with proper documentation.

I've had the same thing happen to my KDL-52Z5100 this morning. How long ago did you purchase your tv, and what route of contact did you use to get a hold of them?

I bought it a while ago. All you need to so is visit the Sony support website and download the form. Since they are extending the offer to 2014 I wonder if it's smart to hold off and perhaps get a replacement product vs just a replacement LCD.

thank you so much, my sony KDL52Z5100 has been in the blink for about 6 months, bought it in Nov of 2010 and i've been so dissapointed with the picture that i was just about to buy a new samsung. I called Sony when it first started acting up and they made no mention of the recall only said it was out of warranty...but today when i called i referenced the website and there going to have someone look at it in a couple days and either replace the LCD or get a new one. I was not excited about the prospect of dropping another 2500 bucks

Well, let us know what the outcome is. I'm holding out making the call in favor of waiting until the last minute and hopefully getting the latest and greatest replacement...

Just got off the phone with Sony and got the same response as rndog5. They told me it wasn't under warranty and I'd have to pay for it to be repaired. I had to reference the website with the extended warranty several times before they actually looked into it and told me that I was covered. Now I'm just waiting on a call within the next few days to hear what the repair/replacement options are.

The Sony KDL-52Z5100 has been a pain to deal with for the last year and a half since it started losing its picture quality and showing horizontal lines. The problem get worse and worse. Thank you to this forum for finding the extended warranty offered by Sony on 06/29/12. To get this extended warranty, I first went to the Sony esupport website. http://esupport.sony.com/ca/ and found out the forms to fill out replacement of the TV is only of US citizens. However, if you live in Canada, you have to call 1 877 899 7669 and reference product news for KDL52Z5100. Sony will be replacing the KDL 52Z5100 with a KDL55EX645. Hopefully this one is not a lemon.

So after a few phone calls, it looks like Sony is sending me a new TV. I e-mailed them pictures of the screen on Friday and got a call back on Monday. Unlike syajeulbyako above, they're sending me the same model replacement. KDL-52Z5100. It'll also have a three year warranty. Should be here sometime next week, and then I have to send the old one back with the shipper.

Thanks for this thread. I had one of these sets that went bad and called SONY up. They replaced it basically no questions asked. Had a new one (same model) in about 10 days.

SONY did a great job with customer service for me.

Thanks for this forum and all the information, very helpful and saved me literally thousands of dollars on a new set.

Amazing! I filed a complaint with them a year ago about the lines on the screen. They pretty much told me I was out of warranty. After coming across this thread I had my girlfriend call up today and they're sending me a replacement next week! She didn't have to send pictures or anything. It was pretty painless. The picture is starting to get bad now. I would have been buying a new one soon, and definitely not a Sony. Thanks to you guys I'm getting it replaced for free and my faith is restored in Sony. I'll post an update once the replacement arrives. Thank you all

UPDATE: They delivered me a reconditioned KDL52Z5100. I'm very happy. I was always very happy with the performance of this TV before the lines started. The replacement works just as it should and looks great. The best part is they gave me a 2 year warranty on the replacement set. I didn't have that on the new one! It took a little time but Sony stepped up. I will buy another Sony when this one dies.