Sony TV Screen Goes Black But Sound Still Works (2-Min Fixes)

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If you have a recent Sony Android TV that loses picture but the sound and all other functions work, then try a hard reset by unplugging it, holding down the power and volume down buttons, then plugging it back in.

This fixes about 20-30% of problems with this model of TV, otherwise, you are almost certainly looking at a hardware failure.

WHY IS THERE NO PICTURE BUT SOUND?
In about 60% of cases, your Sony TV has a blown backlight, in 20% it’s a software glitch, and in 10% of cases, it’s a burned-out component/loose cable on the T-Con.


if you hear sound but have no backlight, you have an LED failure. If you do have backlight then you have a T-Con problem. If you can't hear sound and have no picture, then you could have a backlight failure and main board failure. If you do have a working backlight, then you have a main board failure.

You can jump to the relevant part of this guide from the links below, but before you do, I would recommend starting with a few simpler troubleshooting steps to confirm that there isn’t a software or HDMI issue.


Causes of a Black Screen on a Sony TV

Cause Explanation
Software Glitch – If you have a newer model of TV like the Sony Android TVs or similar, then it could be a glitch that can be resolved by power cycling.
Poor Connection in Internal Cable/s – The cable that connects the power board to the main board could have come loose.
– The cables connecting the T-Con to the main board are notorious for either coming loose or not making a proper connection, which can result in the screen not coming on
– This is a 10 minute fix.
Internal Component Failure – Component failure on the main board can prevent your TV’s backlight from coming on to stop further damage.
– You can check for component failure with a multimeter and either replace the failed component or the entire board.
Backlight Failure – If you can see faint images on screen when you get up close and shine a light on it, you most likely have failed backlight LED strips.
– These can be fixed at home in about 30 minutes with about $30-50 worth of new LED strips.

How to Fix a Sony TV With Sound But No Picture

Watch the video below for a quick overview of the fixes, with full details in the rest of this guide.


1. Power Cycle Your Sony TV

Although this might seem a basic step, power cycling your TV is often the best way to fix display problems on your Sony TV.

About 30% of people who contact me either through email, YouTube, or who leave comments here, fix their problem with a power cycle.

To reset your Sony TV:

  1. Make sure your TV is switched off and unplug it.
  2. Hold down the physical power button on the TV for at least 15 seconds.
sony tv power button
The power button is usually beneath the Sony logo or on the side of the TV
  1. Wait for at least 2 minutes for any residual power to drain from the TV’s capacitors (which are capable of storing charge for several minutes).
  2. Plug your TV back in and try switching it on. You should see a red light if you have been successful.
  3. It’s a good idea to try this a couple more times if it doesn’t work at first, as this can sometimes take a few goes to kick in.

Make sure you do wait for the full 2 minutes before plugging your TV back in – you would be surprised how long the components within your TV can hold charge, and you want to make sure it has fully reset.

You can also hard reset your Sony TV if it is an Android model, even if you can’t see the on-screen menus.

To factory reset a Sony Android TV:

  1. Unplug your TV.
  2. Hold down the Power and Vol – buttons on the back or underneath the screen.
  3. Plug your TV back in.
  4. Wait for the Sony startup logo, then release the buttons.

You can see this in the video below.



2. Look at External Connections

There’s a strong possibility that an HDMI connection is automatically switching your input but is only able to deliver the sound portion of the signal, resulting in no picture even though you can hear sound.

HDMI problems affect about 5% of users.

This comes down to either a:

  • Faulty HDMI cable with a break in it
  • Damaged HDMI port with broken pins
  • Poor HDMI connection where the cable and connector are not fully making contact
tv hdmi cable

Start by removing all HDMI and other cables apart from your power cable, then switch your TV on.

If you are now getting a picture, then:

  1. Take a look at any HDMI or other physical cables that were connected to the back of your TV.
  2. If you have any compressed air, use that to clean the contacts both of the cable and in the connector on the TV. If you don’t have compressed air, then blow gently on them.
  3. Make sure your TV is off, then firmly push the cables back into their slots on the TV.
  4. Switch your TV back on again.

If that hasn’t fixed the problem, then try using a different HDMI input. Most TVs have 3 or 4 HDMI ports.

If you have one that is on a different part of the TV then that would be the best one to try, as this should have a separate connection to the TV’s main board.

tv hdmi port

If you now have a picture, then you’ll need to troubleshoot your HDMI cables and/or connected devices.

If this doesn’t help, then open up your TV and look at the cables connecting the HDMI port to your main board if appropriate, or follow the connections of the HDMI port on your main board’s PCB, and check any chips you come across with a multimeter.

If your screen is still black but you can hear sounds, then move on to the next step.


3. Look for Surge Protector Problems

In about 10% of cases, a fault within your household power supply, or more specifically within the surge protector or smart plug that your TV is plugged into is the cause of the problem.

To thoroughly test your power supply:

  1. Unplug your Sony TV from your wall socket.
  2. Remove any surge interrupters or smart plugs so that you have a direct line to your wall socket.
  3. Plug another large device that you know works into the same socket and check that the new device works as normal. (It’s important that this device draws approximately as much power as your TV, to confirm the socket is fully working).
  4. Remove the other device and plug your TV back into this socket.
  5. Switch on the power and switch on your TV using the physical power button located somewhere on its case (usually beneath the Sony logo).
  6. See if the red light is solid. If so, this means your TV is getting sufficient voltage.
  7. If your Sony TV’s red light is blinking 5, 6, 10 times, or more, then repeat these steps with another wall socket to confirm your household electricity supply isn’t a problem.

It’s also sensible to look at your power cable and confirm that there are no knots or kinks that could be impeding the power.


4. Check for LED Backlight Failure

If none of the simpler fixes have worked for you, then the most likely culprit of your problem is a backlight failure, in either the inverter or backlight itself.

Failure of the LED backlights is by far the most common cause (>60% of cases) if you have NO picture but CAN hear sound.

The backlight inverter powers the backlight of your TV by uprating the standard voltage and current of your home supply to the higher levels required by the backlight.

It’s a very small board in most TV models (although in some is integrated into the power board). Check this board with your voltmeter, and don’t forget to also look at the cable. These boards are only around $10-15 on eBay, so are very cheap to replace if they have failed.

tv inverter board

To check for backlight failure:

  1. Follow your normal process for switching on your TV.
  2. Get right up close to the screen and point the light on your phone or a flashlight directly at the screen.
  3. Try changing channels with your remote, or going into the menu.
  4. If the backlight is the only part not working, you will see very faint images on your TV screen.

You can see this process in the video below.

If you see faint images, you can be pretty certain that the backlights themselves are the failure point in your TV.

Flashlight Test Result Explanation
Faint Images Most likely a backlight failure.
No Faint Images – If the backlight is working (screen is “glowing”), you most likely have a T-Con issue.
– If the backlight is not working, you most likely have a main board issue.

Backlights on modern Sony TVs come in LED strips of varying lengths. Older models used lengths that spanned the entire frame of the TV, but due to cost savings, more recent TVs use a set 16″ LED strip which is connected in series for each row to span your TV.

tv led backlight

These cold-soldered connectors are a notorious failure point on Sony TVs but can be easily fixed if you are willing to re-solder a joint yourself.

Equally commonly, the LED backlights themselves can fail. This is due to repeated current overpowering, which over time causes thermal degradation of the LEDs leading to burnout.

You can replace any failed LEDs by ordering new strips for your TV model from eBay (approx. $30) and switching them over yourself.

The problem with fixing the LEDs is that they are located in the most difficult-to-access part of your TV. So if you are not comfortable with a larger repair job, then now is a good time to seek help from a professional.

Note that if you’ve got an edge-lit TV, then you only have two rows of LEDs – one at the top of the panel and one at the bottom, but both follow roughly the same process for replacement.

standard tv backlight
Standard TV backlights in horizontal strips
Sony tv edge backlight
Sony Edge Lit TV backlights with only two strips

You need to remove the back panel, remove all of the circuit boards and connectors, then another layer of screws for the front panel, and only when you have fully removed the LCD panel can you get to the backlights.

Before you do any of this though, I highly recommend that you read the next step detailing how to check the internal boards in your TV, as this is relatively quick and easy and it’s a good idea to rule out any other issues with your TV.

If you cannot see faint images with the flashlight test, then you almost certainly have a T-Con or main board issue which I’ll cover below.

After this, I will then cover how to replace the backlights.


5. Check Your TV’s T-Con, Main Board & Power Board

The screen going black on your Sony TV but the sound still working is a common indication of either component/cable connection failure within your TV or a failure of the backlights themselves.

If you DID NOT see faint images with the flashlight test, you most likely have a T-Con or main board failure.

In addition to the backlights, there are three main boards inside your TV:

  • Timing Control (T-Con)
  • Power board
  • Mainboard
  • And additional boards such as Wi-Fi modules or remote receivers depending on the model.

The Timing Control (T-Con) board is a small PCB board that drives your TV’s panel, sending the signal to each pixel row of your screen using internal clocks to keep each row in sync.

tv t con board

The Main Board is a larger PCB where you plug your HDMI and other connectors into. This does a lot of the work of translating the input into signal, which then goes to the T-Con board.

tv main board

The Power Board is where you plug in your power cable, and it converts your home electricity supply into a voltage and current that your TV can use.

tv power board

These boards are hidden away under the back panel, behind the screen, and any can be the cause of no picture in your LCD / OLED TV.

Either the cable connectors themselves can come loose or get covered in grime or dust, preventing a clean contact, or components on the boards can fail, meaning they don’t power the backlight sufficiently or cannot provide a constant picture signal.

CAUTION
Opening up your TV is potentially dangerous due to the risk of electric shock. If you are not confident in your skills, do not proceed.

The first step is to simply check that the internal cables are tightly seated, particularly those between the power board and the backlight. As power to the backlight comes from one cable connected to the power board, if this connection is loose then your backlight won’t work at all.

tv internal boards

To access the boards, first, remove the back panel. If you’re not confident doing this, then now is the time to get an expert in. Otherwise:

  1. Unplug your TV, hold down the power button, and wait for at least 30 minutes. There are large capacitors in the power board for the backlight and these can hold charge for an extended period.
  2. Place your TV face down on a large table or workbench. Make sure there is nothing that can scratch the screen on your work surface.
  3. Ground yourself.
  4. Open your TV by unscrewing the screws in the back panel. It should come apart in two pieces: front and back.
  5. Put the back panel somewhere out of the way and take a look at the circuit boards that have been revealed.
  6. You will see a T-Con panel for translating the signal into a TV picture, a power board, and a main board.

Or see this in action in the video below.

The position of the boards will vary by model but will be broadly the same as in the image above.

Start by giving everything a good clean, preferably with compressed air or a non-static brush. It’s possible that dust in the connections can block the signal.

Then, you should be able to remove the ribbon-like low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) cables on the T-Con board by pushing the locking cover down and they will then easily come away from the board. Don’t try to force them out without unlocking them first.

removing t con cable
Push the locking bar to remove the T-Con ribbon cables

After removing the LVDS cable, take a look at the individual connectors on the ends of the cables, and the connectors in the socket. You are looking for any signs of corrosion, damage, or dust.

The contacts should be a shiny gold or silver color. If they are dull and appear to have a rough, copper-like layer over them, this would indicate oxidation, and therefore a new cable is recommended.

t con cable
A T-Con LVDS cable in good condition

Repeat this process with the remaining cables linking the T-Con, power board, and main board, and then try powering up your TV to see if the problem is still there.

Often, simply cleaning and reseating the cables can fix screen problems.

If you still have a problem, then use this table to see the most likely cause, and you can then skip to the most relevant step in the remainder of this guide.

What to Check First CAN Hear Sound CANNOT Hear Sound
Backlight IS Working T-Con problem. Main board problem.
Backlight NOT Working Power board or LED issue. Most likely a main board failure, but could be multiple problems.

Power Board

Once you’ve tried disconnecting each cable, cleaning their contacts, and reconnecting them, your next step is to confirm which board the fault is on.

If you DID SEE faint images with the flashlight test, you most likely have a backlight failure, but you need to rule out a power board failure before making any repairs.

  • Unplug your TV.
  • With all your other cables plugged in, unplug the cable linking the power board and main board, circled in the image below.
    • This cable allows the main board to control the backlights. Disconnecting means that the backlights should default to an always-on state and will also disable any error-correcting pathways that can cause the main board to switch off your TV.
disconnect power board cable
Disconnect the cable between the power board and the mainboard
  • Switch on your TV.
    • If you could see faint images when you did the flashlight test earlier:
      • And if the backlights are now working, then the power board is okay and the problem is either on the main board (most likely the culprit) or T-Con.
      • If the backlights are still not working, then there’s either a failure of a component on the power board or the backlights themselves have failed.
        • You can check the board with a multimeter to confirm this and/or replace the burned-out component or look for a new power board on eBay for around $30.
        • But it’s more likely to be an LED failure on the backlight, which you can check in the next section.
    • If you did not see faint images when performing the flashlight test:
      • If the backlights are working, but you still have no picture, then the problem is either on the main board or T-Con (most likely the culprit).
      • If you still have no picture or backlights, then you could have a double-headed problem, with a backlight failure and a main board/T-Con failure. Continue with the rest of these troubleshooting steps to narrow it down.
Main Board Disconnected from Power Board Earlier Flashlight Test = Faint Images Earlier Flashlight Test = No Picture
Backlight IS Working Probable main board issue. Probable T-Con/main board issue.
Backlight NOT Working Power board or LED issue. Possibly multiple problems: backlights and main board/T-Con.

If your backlight IS working, you can rule out LED failure and power board failure – the issue must be with your T-Con or main board.

Take a look at the video below for the steps to troubleshoot the power board. See the next section for steps to troubleshoot the LED backlights.

  • Note that if your LED backlights have failed, then you will get zero voltage on the power board as it will shut down to prevent further damage.
  • If you put the multimeter probes on the LED connectors and then power on your TV, you should see a momentary jump in voltage, however, which is diagnostic of an LED failure.

T-Con

The T-Con is the most likely culprit of most TV screen problems, as one or more of its internal clocks failing often results in artifacts appearing on the screen, but with no picture at all, a main board failure is more common.

T-Con issues often show as artifacts or ghosting on screen if the board is failing or cables are loose, and a totally black screen if the board has completely gone.

If your backlight is working and you have sound, you most likely have a T-Con issue.

If your backlight is working, but you do not have sound, you most likely have a main board issue.

If your backlight IS working (but you DID NOT see images with the flashlight test) and you HAVE sound:

  • Unplug your TV.
  • Reconnect the cable between the power board and the main board.
  • Disconnect one of the T-Con cables going to the panel, circled in the image below.
where to disconnect the t con cable
  • Plug your TV back in and switch it on.
    • If you have a picture on half the screen, then you almost certainly have a T-Con problem.
  • Repeat these steps swapping over which LVDS cable is connected.
    • If there is no picture with this cable (but there was with the other one), then you have a clock failure on the T-Con.
      • This can potentially be solved by using tape to block the LVDS pins on the cable that carries a signal from the failed clock. See the video below for how to do this. This will probably not be successful though, and it would be better to get a new T-Con from eBay for around $30.
    • If the other half of the screen now has a working picture, there is a general failure of the T-Con and it will need to be replaced.
  • If you have no picture regardless of which LVDS cable is connected, then you need to double-check that the problem is with your T-Con itself, or the main board.
Do You Have Any Picture? Both LVDS Cables Connected One LVDS Cable Connected Zero LVDS Cables Connected
Full Picture Fully working T-Con
Half Screen Picture T-Con failure – replace it T-Con clock failure – see video below or replace
No Picture Either T-Con or main board failure Either T-Con or main board failure Expected result

If the flashlight test DID show faint images and a FAILED backlight, try totally disconnecting the T-Con. If your backlight now powers up, you need to replace the T-Con. If not, you need to replace the main board.

This video shows you how to block the non-working clock signal from a T-Con if you only have a picture from one cable connected.

If you want to be extra thorough, if you have half a picture with one LVDS cable connected but no picture with both connected, then you might want to double-check that the tab connectors are not the cause.

Tab connector problems usually show as vertical lines on screen.

The basic architecture of most TVs from the T-Con to the panel is:

  • 2 x LVDS cables connect to the T-Con at one end and 2 x tab connectors at the other end.
  • Each tab connector is a small PCB that further processes the signal.
  • Multiple small ribbon cables are connected at one end to the tab connectors, and at the other to the panel itself.
  • The panel produces your picture but its architecture is not user accessible.

You can see this connection between the T-Con, the tab connectors, and the panel in the image below.

t-con to panel tab bond

To check your tab connectors:

  • Look for any signs of corrosion or damage.
  • Look for a loose tab bond between the PCB and the panel.
  • Unfortunately, these tab bonds, and therefore the tab connectors, are not user-replaceable, as they are factory-bonded to the panel. Any fault here means that you need a new panel.
  • The video below contains a lot more info on troubleshooting these tab connectors, which you might find helpful.

Main Board

To localize the problem to the main board, you will need a multimeter to check the individual components and pins on the cable connections.

Next to the cables connecting each board, there should be a list printed onto the PCB showing what each pin does, and the expected voltages for some of them.

In particular, you want to be looking for anything labeled BL_/BLU_, such as BL_ERR or PWM_ for Pulse Width Modulation on more recent TVs.

power board with pins for the backlight
Pin identification on the power board – look for BL_ or BLU_ pins

With your TV unplugged, reconnect all cables. Then turn your TV on and check the voltages with a multimeter.

Be careful not to touch any live components with your fingers. If you are not confident, skip this step.

An easy way to check voltages on cables and their sockets is to cut the leg off an old resistor and wrap this around your multimeter probe. You can then poke the leg of the resistor into each pin’s socket on the board, as otherwise, your multimeter probe is likely to be too wide to only touch one pin at a time.

If you’re seeing high voltages on BL_ERR pins or other BL_ pins, then you can safely assume that your mainboard has a fault, and it’s easiest to simply replace the entire board with a comparable version from eBay – use your TV model number to find one.

The main board is usually implicated in a black screen of death WITHOUT sound, but in some cases can cause a black screen WITH sound.

You can also check the comparable pins on the power board or T-Con if you prefer.


6. Replace Backlights

If the flashlight test DID show faint images, and you’ve ruled out problems with the power board, then replace the backlights.

To replace the backlights:

  1. Switch off and unplug your TV.
  2. Any wires or ribbons that are near the edge of the TV should be disconnected.
  3. Then remove the screws around the edge that hold the bezel of the TV.
  4. With some care, you should be able to remove the bezel and panel and reveal the TV backlight underneath, which will be in strips of LED lights.
  5. Use a multimeter or TV backlight tester (or make your own with a couple of bits of wire and some batteries) to check whether they are working, and replace any failures.

It’s also possible that one of the connectors linking the LED strips as they span the width of your TV has failed. This can be fixed by checking the connectors with a multimeter and re-soldering any broken connections. This article has a good study on this.

If you have an Edge-lit TV, then follow the video below instead.


Sony TV Support & Warranty

It goes without saying that if your TV is under one year old, then you should contact Sony customer support to get it replaced under warranty.

You can call Sony directly at:

  • 239-245-6354 (Mon – Fri, 9am – 9pm ET, Sat – Sun, 10am – 8pm ET)

Or text them at 239-245-6354, or ask for a callback.

Even if Sony won’t fix your TV, they might still offer you a discount on a future model if you pester them hard enough! This is always worth a try in my experience.


Troubleshooting Overview

  • The most common cause of hearing sound but not getting any picture on a Sony TV is a backlight failure, followed by a power board or main board failure.
  • You can check for backlight failure with the flashlight test, and replace the backlights if your picture is okay.
  • If you have no picture with the flashlight test, then you most likely have a T-Con or main board failure, but this can be checked by disconnecting each internal board in turn and testing your screen.
  • Before jumping into these more complex fixes, first, try power cycling your TV a few times and make sure the issue isn’t caused by HDMI or faulty surge protectors.

I’m confident that these steps will fix your TV, although the later steps do require a bit more effort than the earlier ones.

Don’t forget that opening up your TV will void its warranty, but this can’t be helped in most cases.

If you need any further help, then I suggest contacting Sony support directly or checking on YouTube where it’s much easier to see how to open up your TV, for example.


Read More:

Fix Sony TV horizontal lines on screen

Sony TV vertical lines of death fixes

Sony TV not turning on?

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Hi, I'm Tim Daniels, photographer and photo trainer, founder of Lapse of the Shutter and creator of the totally free Lightroom Develop System. I've travelled to (probably) 30 countries over the last few years, taking photos and licensing them around the world, and creating lots of free photography learning resources. Read More ...

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