Sony 46EX400 dim picture

[Malachi]

Just picked this tv up for free. I haven't opened it up yet to take pictures as everything seems to work except the picture is dim.
I've never worked on an lcd before.
Does this mean that one of the bulbs is out?
If so, can they be replaced?

[dick_barton]

Re: Sony 46EX400 dim picture

It looks as either the lower tubes are not lighting at full brighness (aged) or there is an issue with the inverter.

[Malachi]

Re: Sony 46EX400 dim picture

Thanks.

[Malachi]

Re: Sony 46EX400 dim picture

Ok, I got the tv working but now another issue has cropped up.
When I try to turn it on, the front led changes from red to green as it should but nothing comes up on the screen.
If I unplug the IR board, the tv functions as it should by using the side buttons.
I can even plug the IR board in while it’s on and use the remote but if I turn the tv off, it won’t turn on again until I unplug the IR board.

Does that suggest a faulty main board or faulty IR board.
I can order an Ir board for under $10.

[nomoresonys]

Re: Sony 46EX400 dim picture

Could be bad cap/s on ir board.

[budm]

Re: Sony 46EX400 dim picture

Ok, I got the tv working but now another issue has cropped up.
When I try to turn it on, the front led changes from red to green as it should but nothing comes up on the screen.
If I unplug the IR board, the tv functions as it should by using the side buttons.
I can even plug the IR board in while it's on and use the remote but if I turn the tv off, it won't turn on again until I unplug the IR board.

Does that suggest a faulty main board or faulty IR board.
I can order an Ir board for under $10.

So what did you do to get the TV working as far as the Dim picture is concerned?

[Malachi]

Re: Sony 46EX400 dim picture

So what did you do to get the TV working as far as the Dim picture is concerned?

Ummm, hooked up the cable and scanned for channels.

[budm]

Re: Sony 46EX400 dim picture

Hmm, I dot see the relationship between the dimming pictures issue and the TV cable/scanning. So if you only use DVD or BluRay the pictures were not dim?

[Malachi]

Re: Sony 46EX400 dim picture

I’m not exactly sure what the problem was bud. I picked the tv up as not working. Didn’t ask any details because it was free and left on the porch for me.
Brought it home, plugged it in and saw the dim picture and figured that was the issue, bad cfl’s.
After taking the pics and posting, I tried to actually set it up and the picture was fine. Hooked it up to my cable and scanned for channels and it seemed fine.

So I’m guessing the not working part was actually the IR sensor or the main board because last night it wouldn’t turn on, neither by remote or side buttons.
The front led would change from red to green but nothing on the screen at all.
So today I opened it up. Tried some things, one of them being disconnecting the Ir sensor board from the main board.
At that point, I could turn the tv on and off, do everything by the side panel.
While on, I plugged the Ir board back in and could use the remote. If I turned the tv off, it wouldn’t turn on again unless I unplugged the Ir board.

I ordered one from eBay for $10, it comes with a 60 free return

[Malachi]

Re: Sony 46EX400 dim picture

Just took this pic.

[Malachi]

Re: Sony 46EX400 dim picture

Replacement IR sensor board fixed it.

[CapLeaker]

Re: Sony 46EX400 dim picture

If it’s not too late, could you post a pic of that IR board?

[Malachi]

Re: Sony 46EX400 dim picture

Here you go.

[CapLeaker]

Re: Sony 46EX400 dim picture

Funny, ther is nothing much on it. Is a cap shorted?

[Malachi]

Re: Sony 46EX400 dim picture

Didn’t bother even trying to check. The whole board is tiny. I would not even want to replace one of those tiny smds.
For $10 it’s just easier replacing it.