kdl-40v3000 bravia dark lines/shadows.

[nishmalek]

i have exactly the same problem as the other people who have written about this tv model on the forum and there seems to be manty many more out thereon forums reporting the same problem that sony will not acknowledge.

there are dark lines running down my screen and a dark shadow line about an inch think on the right hand side of my screen, this was more noticable when watching football. my tv is not under warrranty anymore but is only 2 and a 1/2 years old. it seems that sony have created their screens to only last this long as lots of people have the same complaint.

i have just rang sony and i have been told that "there is no known problems with this model" that is rubbish as clearly there are a few of us just on this forum with the same pronblem. So we are paying about £1000 for a tv that will only last 2.5 years. i am disgusted with the lack of help and support from the sony call centre staff who basically said i need to get it fixed myself and i need to book it in with a service engineer. I suspect this is a problem with the panel or with the screen where a replace ment would cost you more than getting a new set. it would cost me £45 just for someone to come out and tell me that without even having it repaired. as a dedicated sony buyer over the years i cannot believe that my most expensive buy has only lasted 2.5 years.

WHY IS SONY NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM??

[skipton01]

I smelled a rat - why did Manchester Arndale Sony Centre tell me to go to the Sony website 2 days after they'd closed their doors?  If there was going to be help, then why would it magically appear on a Tuesday?

So, I called and emailed the Sony support centre.  Email was useless - instant automated reply, but all the links in the reply were corrupt and didn't link to anything.

Phone call was better, although the english of the operative was not brilliant.

I've been booked in for a visit by a local repair engineer who told me to have the tv switched off for a couple of hours prior to their arrival, so they can get a 'proper reading', so basically, they're coming round to test for the overheating issue.

Let's see what the engineer says when he sees my shadows. Wonder if he'll try to fob me off?  I think he'll be in for a shock if he tries it - I'm a freelance broadcast TV engineer, working mainly for the BBC, Sky and ITV!!

Roll on next Friday.

(This photo shows the problems - dark shadow lines on the right and bottom, plus a dark halo in the middle - un-edited iPhone 4 photo)

Message was edited by: skipton01

Message was edited by: skipton01

[Jay2203]

Keep us up to date with what the engineer says Skipton will you?

Both Sony as the manufacturer and Comet the retailer are uninterested in helping me! Needless to say no more Sony products for me and as this is the second time that Comet have distanced themselves from a problem I have had (washing machine the last time), no more buying from Comet and we have spent a fortune with them over the years.

If anyone else has had any joy with this please let us know.

Thanks.

Jay

[skipton01]

Will do Jay - I've learned that you should never buy anything other than cheap kitchen electricals from Comet (or Currys).  I've also now learned that 'Sony Centre' shops have nothing to do with Sony - they're franchises!  So that leaves John Lewis as the probable best choice.

A repair/replacement for me will hinge on the state of the Sonex warranty.

[virginreco]

I have exactly the same problem. Having just read the 13 pages in this thread and coutless other threads on this and other forums all to do with shadowing on Sony Bravia screens. Surely we have a case!

Do we have any legal experts amongst us? I'd be willing to chip in, it would be cheaper than buying a new TV!

Can anyone beat this for shadowing?

Message was edited by: virginreco

Message was edited by: virginreco to include a picture.

[beaky007]

I have had exactly the the same issues has all you above. I have since been recommended from Sony to have an engineer out to look at the TV and he stated that there was a problem with the model but Sony won't hold any responsibilty. I am now £50 out of pocket and Sony have responded to me by saying you are out of warranty. TV is only 2.5 years old!!!

I am disgusted with Sony and will never by there products again due to this!!!! I am even going to flog my Playstation now and get an Xbox!!!

Can't understand how they respond to an email saying that they will look at a goodwill jesture then send me a letter stating they don't hold any responsibility!!!

I have also informed Watchdog and will right to the national press over this!!

Angry Angry Angry!!!!!

[skipton01]

Well, although not as marked as your 'staining' Virginreco, if you download the photo of my screen and layer it with yours in Photoshop, you'll see that the stains line up perfectly.  There's the side ones and about 6 vertical lines in the middle of the screen.  This just proves that it's a component failure (probably the path that the cold cathode backlight takes) and Sony need to acknowledge that they've bought in screen units that are duff.

I'm sure that any cost to Sony inreplacement units can be got back by Sony sueing the screen supplier.

[virginreco]

skipton01 wrote:
Well, although not as marked as your 'staining' Virginreco, if you download the photo of my screen and layer it with yours in Photoshop, you'll see that the stains line up perfectly.  There's the side ones and about 6 vertical lines in the middle of the screen.  This just proves that it's a component failure (probably the path that the cold cathode backlight takes) and Sony need to acknowledge that they've bought in screen units that are duff.
I'm sure that any cost to Sony inreplacement units can be got back by Sony sueing the screen supplier.

As I was reading your post I thought you were going to say:  They line up perfectly an spell the word SUCKER

[sim-on12]

Hi

Add me to the list of KDL40V3000 owners who have dark lines on their screen.

I too have contacted Watchdog as sony appear to be burying their heads in the sand over this one.

Message was edited by: sim-on12

Message was edited by: sim-on12

[skipton01]

Just found this:

http://www.hdtvuk.tv/2007/08/ifa_2007_sony_s.html

If it's a unique Sony backlight, this may well explain why the V3000 models are affected.

[virginreco]

Good work skipton01.

Do we know for sure that it's the cold cathode that's causing the problem?

Are there any 'Techie's' on this forum that may be able to help?

What about starting a new thread where all affected could add their name in the form of a list? This would certainly make Sony aware of the problem.