what is the specific model number?

Has anyone had the pink spots problem with a Sony Bravo S-Series TV?

I had the same thing happen to my 50WE655. I ended up taking the light engine out myself and disassembling it prior to cleaning it. Canned or compressed air will not work alone unless you take the top assembly loose. There are three ribbon cables connected to the LCD panels with edge connection that come off. You will need to get all of this out of your way to gain access to the lenses. Once you get this far you can blow compressed air in there. Wear a dust mask or do this outside as you will have a room full of dust. The inherent design of the light engine is such that it is like a vacuum cleaner bag. It has two blowers, one for the bulb and the other for the light path inside the box. The way this is designed is such that it will ALWAYS collect dust as it is poorly designed. Sony ought to be ashamed of themselves by building an optical device that is open to the environment and is prone to collect dust by nature.

Even though I had great success cleaning my light engine and restoring the picture back to factory specs, I will NEVER buy another Sony projection type TV ever again. At a minimum Sony should have installed a user replaceable filter on the input of the air stream. Other than this, the TV has been great.

I purchased my Sony TV 3-years ago. about 18 months ago pink spots appeared in the middle of the screen. I thought they were finger prints, but they would not wash out. now most of my screen is covered with them. I called Sony tech support, and after much conversation, realised that they are useless. Customer service at Sony is non existent. I have decided that for the repair cost, I would rather buy another TV, by a reputable manufacturer, and go on a crusade to inform other consumers not to buy Sony. If I can protect one person from purchasing another Sony product, I will feel like I have done a great service to the American consumer.

great, back to thread

After about 2 years pink spots show in white areas, annoying but not at the point to trash it. Thanks to everyone who has posted especially the mechanic with solution. Probably will give it a try in another 6 month when the set goes in the back room. Will be replacing with a Panasonic plasma as I would rather get burned a different way instead of go back to Sony. Sony's cachet is that you get a better product...but since not the case I will try something different next time.

I purchased a Grand Vega 50" lcd in 2003 and the pink spots are just the latest problem in the bad tv saga. I had problems from day 1. I had Sony send out a tech at least 3 times that I can remember and no one could fix it. I made a point to tell Sony the problem wasn't fixed. Of course, after the warranty ran out it really broke and they knew what was wrong. $500 later Sony said pay for it yourself send us the info and we'll think about it. Guess what? No reply. However, I won't have to bother them again, 'cause I'll never buy another Sony product ever again. This is a great site because I did the research before I bought and Consumer Reports gave this tv rave reviews, now I've discovered otherwise.

For everyone who is or has experienced this pink spot issue with their Sony Projection LCD televisions.

This is a much bigger issue than Sony is admitting to and it deserves to be corrected with a Class Action Lawsuit.

I'm looking to get enough people together to start our case.

Please contact me at joe@joesloft.com for more details and to join in this cause to force Sony to own up to their design flaw and take care of their customers.

Thanks!
-Joe

I recently started experiencing the dreaded "Pink Lines" issue on my Sony model # KDF55WF655 which I purchased in Nov 05. Warranty has since expired. Sony describes in their support web site as "Stationary pattern of scribbles or random lines. It is referenced in the support knowledge article C247948.
When I called Sony, they told me that I would have to fix the problem at my cost since my 1yr warranty had expired. I am angry and dissappointed. I have a total of 3 large screen Sony TVs - I bought Sony for their name and reputation. Never again will I buy any SONY product!!! I called a local TV repair place and have to spend $700 to replace the Optical Block - or light engine.
Reading the various posts - I found an excellent article (link below) that describes in detail the problems and issues. I thought it would help understand the issue and it also references the link that other members had posted (support ID 127) which Sony has since taken down. I hope that readers find the link useful. The link provides the names and address of Sony that one can complain to or to contact the local BBB (for what its worth).
http://splinke.googlepages.com/sonyrearprojectionlcdtv-opticalblock

Bought my 50 inch Wega in fall of 2005, and started noticing one or two pink spots within 18 months. At first they were almost invisible, but the last few months they have mushroomed and I now have a cluster of these spots that fill the screen, especially prevelent with a light background. I called Sony Cust service, and the rep said the spots were an issue with dust accumulating inside the optical block. She suggested a dispatch of a Sony auth rep, and assured me that if in fact the optical block issue was confirmed then Sony would cover the cost of repair. The tech arrived here today, took one look at the screen and said that it WAS an optical block issue..but that SONY would not cover it because they won;t cover pink spots, just blue streaks. Cost to repair $1000. Crazy to spend that when the optical block is likely to have the same problem again.

Thank you for posting. I'm Art L. (C8AF) from Sony Listens and I have read your posting. We would like the opportunity to review your situation. Please contact us at SonyListens@am.sony.com. Please include the model number and serial number of your unit, detailed information regarding the issue you are having, and your contact information.

Bought brand new summer of 2005. This was a lot of money for us so we were really dissapointed to find out that we were getting pink spots after only 18 months. Had the TV serviced last year (have extended warranty), and the Sears tech said it was the light engine and that we weren't cleaning the back of the TV enough (we have an electronic dust filter on our furnace and you'd be hard pressed to find dust in our house anywhere). I just assumed we were screwed, and didn't do anything about it. Just today I found this site and glad I did. We've bought sony products all our lives (at least 4 TV's and two VCR's and a digital 8) and expected a quality TV. So far this is not the case....

PINK LINES!!! No pink dots or pretty stars...just one big pink line at the very top of the screen! Damn. TV, just as all the other problem TV's on here is 18 months old...how nice, just in time for the warranty to run out. Read that you can take out the light box and disassemble and clean??? Compressed air doesnt work unless you disassemble parts. HAS ANYONE TRIED THIS??? HELP??

CAN THE AVERAGE GUY GET INTO THE LIGHT ENGINE AND CLEAN IT?
SONY WENT FOR HALF MY REPAIR ON MY 50655 AND RIGHT ON SCHEDULE,THE SPOTS ARE BACK AFTER 16 MONTHS WORSE THAN EVER
THANKS

http://repairs.sunnyoasis.com/sonylcdtv/

I used the above link to tear my TV apart and successfully clean it to new picture condition. There was so much dust on everything that I'm suprised that the picture was as good as it was. Be sure to use a sharpie to match both sides of plugs that you separate as some aren't color coded and get confusing while reassembling. Also I would recommend putting the TV in a position to where you have at least 1.5 to 2 feet of flat area to slide the compontents onto. A dining room table would be perfect. I tore mine down on the TV stand and wished I hadn't. It took me about 2 hrs from start to finish. Also, they aren't joking about the long phillips head screw driver in the instructions. Line one up before you start. Good luck and don't get into a hurry....

THANKS FOR THE INFO