Sony TV Blinking Red Light 4 Times? (Possible Causes & Fixes)
So, your television starts flashing an error message- don’t hit the panic button just yet! Why is your Sony TV blinking red 4 times, and what can you do about it?
A Sony TV blinking red 4 times most commonly signals an issue with the backlight or a faulty inverter board. Other, less prominent causes, include a bad LD board, malfunctioning main board, disconnected WiFi, or worn cables. Before troubleshooting any of these problems, consult the warranty program first.
Follow along to discover why your Sony TV is blinking red 4 times and how you can solve the problem!
Do You Need Appliance Repair Services?
Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.
Why Is My Sony TV Blinking a Red Light 4 Times?
If your Sony TV is blinking red four times, there are a few different sources we can identify.
The following are problems that can cause your Sony TV to blink red 4 times:
- Backlight isn’t working
- Inverter boards need replacing
- LD board is bad
- Main board is malfunctioning
- WiFi is disconnected
- Cables are fraying
There are a few causes that are more common than others. We’ll highlight each one below!
Troubleshooting Your Sony TV’s Blinking Red Light
Problem #1: Backlight isn’t working
This is one of the two most common causes if your Sony TV is displaying a flashing red light 4 times. Should this sequence occur, you most likely have a problem with the backlight.
Pixelated LCD screens are utilized in all current-generation Sony TVs. To make the picture visible to the naked eye, they require backlighting. When a problem occurs, these television sets are designed to flicker red in order to alert consumers of a possible issue.
Another viable drawback is that Sony televisions employ light-emitting diodes (LED) for their backlights. These reduce energy consumption and heat generation but may lead to future problems.
How to Solve the Problem
If your TV backlight stops functioning, try restarting the power button. Resetting your device can help substantially.
If that doesn’t work, look for anything preventing the light from passing through. Something as insignificant as dust or as problematic as a bug can enter the ventilation system on the back of your TV and interfere with its brightness.
Warning: Disassembling any component of your television might invalidate the original warranty. Always reference this first before playing handyman.
The last problem that might be preventing your Sony TV’s backlight from operating is a burned-out light bulb. Bring your television to an approved Sony retailer to get this fixed!
Problem #2: Inverter Boards Need Replacing
This is the second most common cause of your Sony TV flashing red 4 times. Sony TVs contain boards to control their functions. These include the main board, power board, and other inverter boards. A blinking red light might indicate the failure of any of these components.
Inverter boards, in particular, light up the LCD display, which requires around 500 volts of electricity. An electrical problem or power surge can cause severe damage to your television’s inverter boards.
How to Solve the Problem
Repairing any portion of the rear of your television necessitates a competent expert. We caution against being too ambitious in this area; without experience, you could electrocute yourself or create a fire hazard.
To determine whether your device is eligible for a repair through Sony Customer Service or under warranty, contact their service center.
Problem #3: LD Board Is Bad
What is the LD board responsible for?
From my research, depending on the model you have, an LD board isn’t present in all Sony televisions. However, when it is, it runs the LCD display and LED lighting parts. For example, Sony TV Model KDL-50W800B has one.
Should it go sour and stop working, neither the LCD screen nor the LED backlighting will work properly. This will result in 4 red blinking lights on your Sony TV.
How to Solve the Problem
The best way to go about fixing a broken LD board is to take your TV back to wherever you purchased it.
The original retailer will be able to source a new LD board (since they aren’t always readily available) and troubleshoot where the error is coming from.
This is why many people advise against buying a television second-hand. You never really know what condition it’s in, and you’re out of luck if any problems occur.
Problem #4: Main Board Is Malfunctioning
If the main board of your Sony TV is malfunctioning, 4 red blinking lights will be displayed.
The main board is responsible for receiving and redirecting incoming power from your Sony TV. It controls everything from time and personal memory settings to display outputs and video performance.
As advanced as they are, Sony TVs are still susceptible to malfunctions even without warning or reason. A damaged main board will throw off the entire function of your television.
Another stimulus could be that the main board isn’t being given full power from either the power supply or inverter boards.
How to Solve the Problem
Like the other boards, a main board issue requires taking the casing off your Sony TV using professional experience.
Most likely, you will be required to replace the main board. This service can be completed at a local tech store or Sony-specified distributor and costs about $275.
Problem #5: WiFi Is Disconnected
If you have a smart Sony TV, and it isn’t connecting to WiFi, your modem or router is probably having difficulty establishing a signal.
If a red light is flashing during boot-up, the television doesn’t have access to an IP address or DNS information from your router, according to the manufacturer.
To confirm your internet connectivity status:
- Select the ‘Home’ button.
- Go to ‘Settings’
- Then, ‘Network’
- Choose ‘Network Settings.’
- Click ‘Advanced Settings.’
- Go to ‘View Network Status.’
If your TV can’t connect to a WiFi network, but you know one is available, turn your television ‘On’ then ‘Off,’ and try scanning for an internet signal again.
How to Solve the Problem
Should your Sony TV not be able to sense a WiFi signal and continue to blink red 4 times, you must perform a reset on your modem and router.
To reset your router, follow these steps:
- Unplug the router and wait 60 seconds.
- Plug it back in and wait at least thirty seconds before checking the status light again.
- If it’s still blinking red, proceed with contacting your ISP for further assistance.
You can also try cleaning out the power cord port on your router. It often gets congested over time, which can create connection issues both upstream and downstream.
To reset your modem, follow these steps:
- Find the ‘Reset’ button on your modem (typically found on the back of the device).
- When you locate the button, press and hold it for 15 seconds or more.
This process takes about 3 minutes to complete. Otherwise, if you can’t find the button, power cycle your modem by unplugging it, waiting 60 seconds, and plugging back in.
Problem #6: Cables Are Fraying
Fraying wires or cables are a disaster. They’re a recipe for electric shock, a fire, and your Sony TV blinking red 4 times.
The Sony TV Sony Bravia KDL46EX720 comes with several different style cords, like an HDMI, USB, power cable, and others. As you use these cords over time- bending them at certain angles or wrapping them around furniture- they can start to unravel at their base.
Always evaluate the status of your cables when your Sony TV displays an error code. This is particularly important with older televisions.
How to Solve the Problem
Rather than attempt to repair a worn cable cord, you should replace it instead.
They can be found at local tech stores like Best Buy or purchased online from Amazon to be delivered to your front door. The average Sony TV cable is approximately $20.
It pays to buy a new one versus suffering the collateral damage down the line.
Related Questions
Why is my Sony TV blinking orange and green?
A steady orange glow indicates that your TV is on a programmed timer, but a blinking orange light reveals a software upgrade in process. The green light is typically solid when the TV is switched on.If the light blinks green and orange in an alternating fashion, it could mean there is an unsuccessful software update.Power cycle your Sony TV for a total of around four minutes. This should take care of the blinking!
Do Sony TVs use LED or LCD?
A television can be both “LED” and “LCD.” In fact, most Sony TVs use both LED lights and LCD screens.Sony’s success in the TV market is largely due to its leadership in key technologies like LCD displays and LED backlighting. Their prices are competitive with other vendors, especially considering how many extra features a Sony TV offers.
Does Sony TV have a remote app?
There is a remote app for Sony TVs called the “Remote Control for Sony TVs.”This enables you to operate everything on your television from your phone, tablet, or handheld device, just like a regular remote.The app is available for download from the App Store on Apple devices or via Google Play for Androids.
Do You Need Appliance Repair Services?
Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.
Final Thoughts
Sony TVs are great for home entertainment. They’re sleek, have a variety of features, and last a long time.
However, when something goes wrong with your television, it can be confusing to figure out what the problem is. There are many possible causes of a 4 red light blink code, and determining the correct one can be tedious.
Refer to our troubleshooting techniques above- but not before taking a peek at your warranty packet beforehand!
Emily is a copywriter with over five years of experience in crafting content for the home renovation and remodeling industry. She loves house projects, whether it be painting a room or tweaking small design elements to transform a space. Her favorite aesthetic is french modern because of its clean lines and airy feeling! When not writing, Emily loves to travel and check out architectural details all over the world.
More by Emily Carr
