jehill Sony Senior Advisor Joined: Mar 13, 2003
Posts: 13791
From: Sewell, NJ
Posted: 2012-01-13 09:13
Welcome to Agoraquest! The service manual doesn't document a similar message. The "lamps" in the KDL46XBR2 are cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) that provide the back-lighting. They are located in the LCD assembly. Some members have had success in replacing defective lamps, but the normal corrective action is to replace the LCD assembly, an expensive proposition. You might check out the following thread for other's experience in CCFL replacement: http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=35845&forum=34
gbphilli Sony Fan Joined: Jan 12, 2012
Posts: 3
From: USA
Posted: 2012-01-13 09:40
Thanks very much for the fast response. I couldn't find the error message in the manual either. Yet I know it appeared on the screen. The funny thing is the TV turned on last night after some tries and letting it sit powered on for a while, but I wasn't in the room when the picture appeared and thus missed the message -- if it even appeared. I haven't investigated any further yet to see if the picture will again appear.
I've read the thread you mentioned and it was very helpful. I'll search for more on this topic and look into how much a repair would cost, assuming the CCFL lamp is the issue. It sounds like the expense is mostly labor if that's the real problem. I suppose the bulb could simply be failing, which might account for the picture coming back for a while.
Thanks again for the information. It's amazing to me that there's no documentation I've found which mentions the message. Certainly Sony support knew nothing about it, and they didn't even mention the CCFL possibility. Funny how what was close to leading edge back in 2006 (I'll bet I could have found some answers from Sony then) isn't even adequately supported 5.5 years later. But I digress... Thanks again for your help.
gbphilli Sony Fan Joined: Jan 12, 2012
Posts: 3
From: USA
Posted: 2012-01-13 00:00
Hi,
I'm a new member. I searched, but could not find...
We have a Sony Bravia 46" LCD HDTV, model KDL-46XBR2. For some time, we've been getting a message on our screen upon powering on, saying something like "The lamp (or was it bulb) is nearing the end of its life." Of course, I didn't write down the message. Naturally I ignored it. Until today.
A couple of days the TV was having an intermittent problem: it wouldn't turn off, either from the remote control or pressing the power button. I unplugged it, plugged it back, and that seemed to solve the problem. Whether that's related or not to what happened today, I don't know.
Today, when I turn on the TV, there is no picture and no sound, just a black screen. Naturally, I thought about the lamp/bulb message, called Sony, and was told that this TV model has no lamp. I know the TV is an HDTV LCD flat panel and is not a projection TV -- at least, so I think. Yet, I know a message like the one I tried to quote was appearing on the screen fairly regularly.
I've tried Googling for a new replacement lamp for the KDL-46XBR2, with no luck. Sony gave me the number of a couple of authorized repair places in my proximity (SF Bay Area), but before I go that route, I'd really appreciate it if someone has some insight on what's going on and what that message meant? Thanks for any help you can provide on this!
jehill Sony Senior Advisor Joined: Mar 13, 2003
Posts: 13791
From: Sewell, NJ
Posted: 2012-02-05 15:45
I agree with that approach! If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
gbphilli Sony Fan Joined: Jan 12, 2012
Posts: 3
From: USA
Posted: 2012-02-05 07:51
I wanted to follow up on my original post...
I haven't done any maintenance for the TV at all, but within a week or less of my last post, the TV picture now comes on instantly and I haven't had any issues with it. Today, I noticed the message I was trying to remember:
"Projection lamp nearing end of life. Please replace the lamp."
At this point, I've no doubt that the message (not even mentioned in the manual) was a "bug" by Sony and wasn't meant to apply to this TV model. which, as pointed out, uses CCFLs, not a "projection lamp."
From what i've read, there's some kind of counter in the TV, which causes the message to pop up after a certain amount of time. I suppose it's also possible that a diagnostic routine is finding issues, too. I've decided that until my TV really kicks the bucket, I'm not going to investigate further!
Thanks again for the help.
mbt_junkyard Sonyphile Joined: Sep 15, 2008
Posts: 659
From: EU
Posted: 2012-02-06 05:22
Maybe this is the result of "copy/paste" in the TV's system software.
It seems that the developers have some reusable objects as components of their programmes, or they have simply taken a wrong sentence for translation.
It could be that the same "core" system section is used in projection TV's.
As jehill wrote, I wouldn't worry about the appearance of the message.
The CCFL's in a LCD-panel are not user-replacable as the risk of damage to the LCD itself is very high, especially with larger panel sizes. It needs some practising using worthless materials first.
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Posted: 2012-01-13 09:13 
Thanks again for your help.