Gateway FPD1975W, display going black... Caps or Lamp?

[Carbd86gt]

Hey guys,

Read a couple of threads here from members who have problems with these Gateway FPD1975W monitors. My issue just started today. Turn the computer and monitor on, start browsing the net, and then all of a sudden the display turns off, but the power light stays on and lit solid blue. I turn it off and back on, and it comes back for about 10 seconds, then shuts off again. I recorded a video and took a picture of the power board.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOA3XDlKFao

As a note to the video, about 3-4 seconds before the display goes black, you can hear a light crackling, just like when you first turn the monitor on. It starts slow, then gradually speeds up then *poof*, it turns off. I then shine a light at the screen, and you can faintly see my wallpaper and even track the mouse across my dock icons and see the magnification of the icons. So, reading in some threads here, and reading info elsewhere, I could have 2 issues. Caps or Lamps. Attached is also a picture of the power board. There are no swollen caps, but I do see heat discoloration on the board near caps labeled C11 and C12 (Both branded Su'scon, 25v, 220uF). So, what is the diagnosis by you guys? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Derek

[Wrog]

Re: Gateway FPD1975W, display going black... Caps or Lamp?

You're going to want to replace all caps on the power supply (if you plan on keeping this monitor for awhile) for starters, then if that doesn't resolve the issue then move on to the inverter drivers and CCFLs. What's on the bottomside of the board under the discoloration (probably the inverter driver transistors)? Since you hear a crackle, that's probably the ends of the CCFL arcing; you may either have a bad CCFL or bad wiring.

[bonney]

Re: Gateway FPD1975W, display going black... Caps or Lamp?

If it's a 19" widescreen it's your CCFL tubes that power board goes in a Philips PHP which has the same problem

[Carbd86gt]

Re: Gateway FPD1975W, display going black... Caps or Lamp?

Thanks Wrog. I should also note, that when I hear the crackling, the display is fine. Everytime I turn the monitor back on, the picture is fine. No discoloration, no flickering, and it turns on every time. I do plan on changing out all the caps anyways, was just checking to see if you guys may be able to pinpoint the root issue. I'll dig deeper today, thanks.

[retiredcaps]

Re: Gateway FPD1975W, display going black... Caps or Lamp?

I turn it off and back on, and it comes back for about 10 seconds, then shuts off again.

Long shot, but the area around the 2 inverter transformers (T1 and T2) shows a lot of discoloration suggesting some hot components. I would flip it over and check for transistors on the backside and carefully check the solder joints.

Even if they don't look bad, maybe resolder/reflow/touch up the transistors and all the transformer pins on the backside and retest?