Optical Block Question...

[S197MJ]

This is my first time writing into a forum as such however after reading some of the ordeals members have had to deal with in regards to this issue it makes me want to cringe. I purchased a KDS-R50XBR1 18 months ago +/- from our local Sony Store, until recently it was incredible however within the last month I started to notice a vertical yellow line on the right side of the screen. As I watched my Hockey in HD every odd day this line appeared to grow and increasingly the rest of the screen began to have a green hue to it. I went back to the store to get help but because I only opted for the standard warranty they essentially brushed me off. Hence I was P___ off, I have never understood how a salesman can sing the praises of a given product until your ears burn and then when you agree to purchase the first thing they do is push these extended warranties. As I said to him essentially you do not have enough confidence in your product if the standard warranty is not sufficient. I went to them for I wanted a quality product not some Walmart no name. After numerous calls and research I came across this issue on your Forum, it blew me away for I now realize the scope of this problem and am even more p___ off that the sales Rep acted like he had never heard of any issues with there TV's, I think he got his honesty traits from R. Clemens... Anyways I have since spoke to Sony Canada and a Tech will be at my house tomorrow, they told me that it could take up to 6 weeks to get this piece is this normal and will it screw up again?

[skylolow]

No that is not normal to take that long. They should have them in stock or access to them with in a few days. If you have another authorized Sony service center in your area you may want to call them. Also some service centers do the repair in your home and some want to take the TV back to the shop.

When I had mine replaced I ask the guy if they have done anyting different to the optical block to prevent this problem down the road. He said there was no service bulletin (or whatever it was called) that came through saying Sony has redesigned anything. He said he has yet to have to replace an optical block that was replaced. But then again most of those optical blocks have at best maybe a year to year and half on them. Most I'd say less then a year.

He said one thing he has noticed over the last year plus is many people that he has replaced the optical block had above normal dust with in the TV or the TV was sitting inside a custom cabinet/enclosed to tightly (basically poor air flow). I had road work going on for about year plus by my house and my house has been quite a bit more dusty then normal during that time and my TV inside was quite dusty. He thought that was what caused the failure.

Oh well at least Sony is standing behind it.

[S197MJ]

Thanks for the info, I take it that what your saying is that this unit will probably fail again within 12 to 18 months...Our Television is on a glass stand, open all around yet no matter how clean your house is you cannot avoid dust build up internally. My wife is always bugging me for I am somewhat fanatical in the way I maintain my Audio and Visual equipment yet even at that you cannot stop everything unless you live in a vacuum. Obviously this a design flaw inherent to the Optical Block. Now I must see if there is anyway to get an extended warranty for with my luck it will probably go again but right after Sony's October deadline. The tech will be at my house today so I will give an update as to how my soap opera will play out. Eitherway I guess I will be watching the Daytona 500 through the eyes of a martian with its wondeful green image.

[S197MJ]

Well I just got a call from the Tech who cannot make it to my house because when he was in my location he overlooked our service call today. I insisted he make time for nobody will be home tomorrow, finally I plain told him what the issue was and that I was 100% sure it was the Optical Block. He agreed without even coming to see it and has placed a unit on order, all I had to provide was the serial number of the set and the copy of the Bill of Sale. Well so far so good...Likewise he said that he can replace it at my home within a week or two rather than taking the TV into their shop.

[wjjz106]

Obviously this a design flaw inherent to the Optical Block. Now I must see if there is anyway to get an extended warranty for with my luck it will probably go again but right after Sony's October deadline. The tech will be at my house today so I will give an update as to how my soap opera will play out. Eitherway I guess I will be watching the Daytona 500 through the eyes of a martian with its wondeful green image.

I've read somewhere that the "green image" you are experiencing is a known issue with that particular model. And that Sony has extended their standard warranty to cover that problem.

Good luck.

[skylolow]

Thanks for the info, I take it that what your saying is that this unit will probably fail again within 12 to 18 months...Our Television is on a glass stand, open all around yet no matter how clean your house is you cannot avoid dust build up internally. My wife is always bugging me for I am somewhat fanatical in the way I maintain my Audio and Visual equipment yet even at that you cannot stop everything unless you live in a vacuum. Obviously this a design flaw inherent to the Optical Block. Now I must see if there is anyway to get an extended warranty for with my luck it will probably go again but right after Sony's October deadline. The tech will be at my house today so I will give an update as to how my soap opera will play out. Eitherway I guess I will be watching the Daytona 500 through the eyes of a martian with its wondeful green image.

I'm not sure if it will fail again or not. He made it sound like if Sony actually admitted to a design failure and changed it they'd have a boat load of people calling for replacement (ie: Recall on a car). So instead they just extended the warranties on various models. In a round about way he seemed to think that they did fix the flaw.

I guess we'll all find out in the next year or so. Crossing my fingers.

[S197MJ]

Well the technician came by my house yesterday and replaced the faulty unit, at the same time he showed me where the dust tends to collect the most so now I will be diligent in cleaning this area regularly. The picture is awesome again, very satisfied however I hope it lasts this time for when I saw the Bill(which was entirely covered by Sony) I almost fell over. The Optical Block was $1850.00 CDN -$500.00 for the faulty core, $150.00 CDN Labour, $80.00CDN for the Service Call + applicable taxes. After all was said and done the final tally was just south of $2000.00 CDN. Ouch, the TV cost +/-$5000.00 CDN. Anyways thanks to all for their comments and I hope my experience will help others in this same situation. Good Luck.

[lassenloop]

My TV is at 6 weeks and counting. But it's not Sony's fault. Sony referred me to Sears and Sears told me they would send the part with the tech for my appointment in 3 weeks from my first call.

The tech didn't have the part and spent 5 minutes at my house. He turned on the tv and said yup, it needs an optical block. Then Sears set my for two weeks later (yesterday) but they didn't order the part until two days ago. So it did not get here is time.

I called Sears for my new appointment and they wanted me to wait three more weeks, so I said screw it. Since Sony sent the part to my house I changed it out myself. Man it's nice to have a good picture again.

[S197MJ]

Thats crazy that you had to wait that long and then you yourself had to change out it. Kudos to you to be able to change it, I haven't seen the part first hand but I'm sure it is harder than changing the Bulb.

[lassenloop]

Yeah. You have to remove the front and rear panels, the bulb, a bracket, a couple small circuit boards and fans as well as the box that holds all of the A/V connections. Being a EE does help overcome the intimidation factor, though no knowledge of electronics was required to swap the part.

I can post a picture of the optical block if you want. I still have the old one waiting for the tech to come to my house in a couple weeks. I'm still not sure what to say to him when he finally does come to my house. I just hope I don't get in trouble or charged for swapping the part myself.

[S197MJ]

Well its been about 2 weeks since they replaced the Optical Block on my Sony
and the picture is again incredible. Hope it lasts... :canada: :drool11:

[wbrightwell]

I have a Sony KDF-50WE655 HDTV, I purchased in July 2005. I have an extended warranty with Sears. I had the blue blob in the center of the screen and blue lines at the bottom of the screen. I called in a service call to Sears and they came the next day and ordered the Optical Block. I received the part one week later. Called Sears and told them I received the part yesterday. Sears came today and replaced the Optical Block in less than an hour. I received
excellant service from Sears. The total on the statement was $2331.00, Which the warranty paid
all of it. The picture quality is great, as good as it was when I bought it.