Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - Sony 48" Rear projection

I have a Sony 48" rear projection TV (from 1998) which has recently developed a problem where the entire screen flashes red and then goes black/turns off. Turning the TV off and waiting a few minutes, and then turning it on again seems to fix the problem, though it has been happening with increasing regularity.

At rougly the same time that this started happening, a green streak/spot appeared in roughly the middle of the screen. Does this have anything to do with phosphor burnout as mentioned elsewhere in the forum?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Good evening, rschan:

Thanks for using DoItYourself.com. Welcome!

I've heard this problem before. Have the tech check the board on the back on the red projection tube. It seems the board has a leakage problem. It may be any of the tubes, of course, but the tube that flashes is the usually the one with the bad board.

Also it is adviseable to get this looked at as soon as possible. Too much of this activity will damage the projection tube.


Smokey ;)

Thanks for the help. My problem now is that the TV is an KP-EF48 purchased overseas and shipped back, and I can't seem to find a tech to look at it...the places I've called say that they're not authorized to look at overseas Sonys. Do you know anyone or any shops in New York City that might be able to help?

Thanks again for all of your help.

Good afternoon, rschan:

Oh my! Anything to complicate matters more than having a Japanese set come Stateside?

Smokey knows the Japanese are not that creative and what they produce in their homeland has a counterpart in the United States.
So, you need a new model number to give the technicians.

Call Sony at

Consumer Electronics Products Televisions, Hi-Fi Equipment, VCRs, DVD Players, Portable Stereos, Camcorders, Digital Still Cameras, Radios, Telephones etc.

Telephone: 1-877-899-7669
Fax: (416) 499-3399


Give them the model number and ask for a US equivalent. If they give you a bad time, promise to have someone dynamite their Toyota.
Been there! Had a similar problem with a Honda motorcycle.

Smokey ;)

Thanks Smokey.

I've set up a time for a tech to come and look at it...hoping that he fix it...


Thanks again.