Monitor blurring

[drashish]

I have a 2 year old Sony Multiscan E400 Trinitron computer display. For the last few weeks, I have been noticing 2 major problems.
1) 12 thin diagnonal lines, like wires, are overlaying my screen. They weren't there before.
2) the color and sharpness appears to lightly blur and loose brightness. The monitor wokrs best once it's turned on but the fades over next few minutes. The monitor is otherwise sharp with no obvious problems is look at from far.
IS this repairable? Degauzing does very little.

I have a 3dfx video card and a P3 800 MHz with >256MB ram on a windows XP system.

 

[Khorin]

I have the exact same problem with the same monitor.

I know it's not the video card as I have tried it with a Riva TNT, GeForce 2 GTS, GeForce 3 Ti500, and GeForce 4 4600. Not to mention if you leave the monitor on and shut the computer down the monitor continues to show the lines even after losing signal until it goes into power save mode.

I'm pretty sure it's an issue with the monitor I just can't seem to find anything on what could cause it. Spent hours searching for info and this is the first time I have seen it mentioned using various searches on google. :/

The lines themselves seem to be the opposite of the wires as they are easily seen while the monitor is showing a dark background and lighter backgrounds tend to blend them out better (makes sense since they are white/gray). They are also MUCH easier to see than the wires. They are horizontal more than diagonal but do start to slant up from left to right.

I have had this problems for months so it doesn't seem to ruin the monitor completely...yet.

 

[drashish]

Finally, someone with the same problem. But have you found any solution in your searches? Can we make a claim agaisnt the manufacturer, SONY? My monitor is only 2.5 years old. Of course I don't have a receipt. What recomendations can you make.

 

[paparazi]

Have you tried lowering the refresh rate? sometimes blurry display can be down to a too higher setting being used.
If all else fails the Sony has a 3year "swop out" warranty, in effect if faulty they will send a courier out with a refurb of a similar age and swop it on site.
As long as the manufactures date is under the 36months you ring it through to Sony with the serial numbers etc and they should give you a swop out date.
You'll first have to convince them that you have tried everything and it isn't PC related.
Martin

Replying helps further our knowledge, without comment leaves us wondering.

 

[Khorin]

None of the "standard" monitor troubleshooting issues will fix this. It is a hardware issue inside the monitor. I'm sure if I got off my lazy butt and took it to a repair shop they would know the problem fairly quickly. I just don't feel like dragging it around getting prices that would warrant buying a new monitor over repairing this one - something Sony Trinitrons are known for.

For me I'm researching it because I think my monitor is out of warranty. Finding the issue and getting an idea of what the repair cost could be has been my main priority with my research on this problem. I will, however, see if Sony has an RMA site and check on it.

I do know Sony's site or any other site through google search has no info at all about this. I have spent hours a day looking into it when I could. Weeks total spent on trying to find info to only have this be the very first time I have seen the problem mentioned. So finding a fix seems to be impossible. I would do as paparazi said and RMA it if you're still under warranty. I can tell you it is a monitor issue and should fall under their warranty.

 

[cadaveca]

the issue is with the monitor but not in the way that you think....monitors work this way...they produce an image line by line, pixel by pixel.. the behavior you have described has 2 causes...the refresh rate was run @ to high a level for 2 long and the "transducer" is worn out at those lines...or.... the gas that was used in the monitor was a bad mix...if the lines are @ the same place all the time you are looking @ a tube replacement. I have a trintron monitor(15 inch 800x600) that is now 13 years old, and it still has a better picture than my 32 inch trinitron which has a higher resolution(1024x768)that is 10 years old.I place great value in sony products, because if it relly is a oem defect they will replace it for you,and i have never had any other brand name peice of electronic last as long as Sony, but i think that in your case you are S.O.L.

 

[Khorin]

If what you say is correct then it was most likely the gas inside the monitor. I have ran it at 1280X1024 at 85hz since I have had the monitor. This is the optimal recommended settings for the monitor. It has also gotten worse over time. At first it was maybe 6 lines that were fairly far apart. Now it's well over a dozen lines and at the top there are several lines stacked on top of each other. It's as if the lines are VERY slowly moving up and staying stationary up top.

For the hell of it I did call up Sony. The monitor was built in November 2000 so it turns out I still had a month left on the warranty. They are shipping me a refurb replacement Monday. Good news is I am getting this one replaced. Bad news is if the refurb is bad it's got to mess up in less than a month.

I had to RMA my 60 gig IBM last year and an RMA replacement of my 100 gig WD is being sent to me now. Now I can add a monitor to my bad parts lists. The irony is it's still the most stable system I have ever had.

So drashish get a hold of Sony and get your monitor replaced. If you don't mind a hold on your credit card they can send the replacement in advanced. This saves you the trouble of finding appropriate packing for the bad monitor since you can use the box they send the replacement in.

 

[drashish]

Khorin,

I appreciate your solution very much. I will call Sony this monday. Do you still have the number you called? And what exactly did you tell them such that they will send a monitor free of charge. I will follow your advice to a tee. Do they charge for the return if I wait until they send the refurb?

Thanks and if I can pull this off, I owe a big debt of gratitude to you and to tek-tips forum.

Thanks
DrAshish

 

[cadaveca]

because the lines move the issue is definately not your fault...like i said earlier, the monitor produces images line by line...the hertz rate for the refresh is actually how many times the monitor "scans from top to bottom" each second....it sounds as though the emitter is bad...not the gas...try setting a monitor on a low low low refresh rate and you'll see your prob but on a grander scale..the whole image will pulse and slowly move frm bottom to top...if the emitter burns too bright it can burn the coating on the diode..and hence block the image..like you have... i am sure sony was quite easy to deal with on the issue, where they not?
btw don't set your monitor on a low refresh unless you want to fawk it up...

the only right answer to "why?" is: "why not?"

 

[norty303]

I've got the same monitor too and mine went after a year (power supply problem) Sony were VERY easy to deal with, a courier came out within 2 days with a replacement which is still running fine.

Give them a call.

 

[cadaveca]

that model of monitor has had all sorts of problems...seems as though they had a large bad batch..but sony prides itself on being customer friendly(it's not only the name you pay extra for). Every peice of a/v euipment i have bought in the last ten years is sony purely on this fact..besides that most of thier products last longer than others... i had 2 dvd players, one a cheap sont the other a 2000 denon and the sony still works.. then denon does not.. after 18 months.. and do you think denon would help me?

the only right answer to "why?" is: "why not?"

 

[norty303]

Have you got any more info on this 'bad batch' (serial numbers covered, common problems occurring, etc)

I personally love the monitor and am going to be loathe to change when it finally goes wrong.

 

[drashish]

Could someone please give me the correct telephone number to call Sony. I have been to their website but it is unclear.

Thanks

 

[Khorin]

Sorry I took so long to get you the info drashish. Got my RMA hard drive and was messing with converting my old HD back into a pure backup role and installing everything on the replacement.

http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/displays/contact.html

Use the tech support number. Just choose what you feel is most likely your problem from the options and the first chance you get pick the option that lets you talk to a real person.

The service part was a breeze. Just tell them you have a dozen or so white lines through the monitor and are pretty sure it's the monitor. They'll direct you in running a self test on the monitor to see if the lines are still there (which they are).

Once it's proven the monitor is bad they get a mailing address and a credit card number if you want an advanced replacement. They put a hold on your credit card for so much money (cost of a refurb model), not sure how much it was since another department had the cost info. The advantage of course is having a box to ship the monitor back in.

Another cool thing about Sony support was that they send you a pre-paid package label so you don't have to spend 20+ bucks sending it back to them. Just be sure to wait for that packing label before you send it back. It will be shipped Fed-Ex and you will have to find a local Fed-Ex to ship the bad monitor out if you want to get free shipping.

 

[drashish]

Thanks a lot Khorin,

I appreciate your quick reply and detailed response. I will get on it MOnday.

drashish