LN40B550K1FXZA - block of colored lines

[jeremysaffir]

I bought the TV like this, pretty cheap. This is what the guy I bought it from has tried so far:
The T-Con Board has been replaced, as well as the main board, and the issue persists. He also replaced a bunch of capacitors on the power board, just as a shot in the dark.

I haven't tried much with it, yet, and I'd like to get a few ideas going before I tackle it.

From what I understand, it's highly likely that the LCD panel is bad. If so, no big deal, I'll buy a replacement and be done with it. However, I think the black block there indicates maybe it's not a display problem. I guess the first thing I'll try is reseating every ribbon cable in there.

However, I'd like to be sure before I buy what is probably the most expensive part.

So what do you guys think?


P.S. the cheapest replacement I've seen for this LCD panel is http://www.partstore.com/Part/Samsun...furbished.aspx

I checked shopjimmy.com and didn't see it there at all. Any other places I might want to check?

[Mr Bill]

Re: LN40B550K1FXZA - block of colored lines

Looks like a bad panel. Here is a picture of a sony bravia kdl that had a bad panel. Does twisting or flexing the panel make any difference. You might find better search results if you pull the back off the tv and get the panel make/model off the sticker.

[jeremysaffir]

Re: LN40B550K1FXZA - block of colored lines

Hmm. That Sony sure looks exactly the same. I tried twisting/flexing, but it's pretty tough to do without taking the back off the TV. In any case, no amount of tapping, pushing, squeezing, twisting or flexing (again, TV in one piece) has affected the issue one bit. Tomorrow's the weekend, I should have plenty of time to take the back off and mess around a little more.

[budm]

Re: LN40B550K1FXZA - block of colored lines

It does look like bad tab bonding problem.

[jeremysaffir]

Re: LN40B550K1FXZA - block of colored lines

It does look like bad tab bonding problem.

What's a bad tab bonding problem mean? Probably not repairable, in any case.

[Mr Bill]

Re: LN40B550K1FXZA - block of colored lines

What's a bad tab bonding problem mean? Probably not repairable, in any case.

unfortunately the only "repair" that could be done is applying pressure on the tab bonds to see if the image comes back. But as you stated last night that twisting or flexing makes no difference then you might be "peeing in the wind"

The sony picture i posted couldn't be fixed by applying pressure to the tab bonds so i had to strip the tv and part it out.

[tom66]

Re: LN40B550K1FXZA - block of colored lines

More likely with random lines or no image at all, it is a complete failure of the driver IC on the tab bond.

[jeremysaffir]

Re: LN40B550K1FXZA - block of colored lines

I took the back off. Tried twisting the whole panel, pressing along the top, reseated and tried fussing with the connectors. No change, really. A small portion of the colored lines went kind of fuzzy or whatever, though I'm not really sure why -- seemed to be regardless of all my messing around.

So, seems likely to be a bad LCD.

Any other ideas or is it pretty certain to you guys too?
Just want to be sure before I shell out $160 on a new LCD panel. -- which, I'd like your opinion on, too. Is it worth spending $160 on a new LCD panel for this TV? Is there a better deal out there?

[tom66]

Re: LN40B550K1FXZA - block of colored lines

You can probably strip the TV for parts. Look on your local craigslist, you can get faulty TVs for parts. Maybe you'll find a faulty Samsung (very common) with similar parts (also common.)

[jeremysaffir]

Re: LN40B550K1FXZA - block of colored lines

Well, my first question is how much would I really get for the parts? (and how long would it take to sell all the parts?)

I bought this TV for cheap hoping to fix it cheap just so we could have a decent TV without buying a brand new one, so I prefer to fix it, if it's still worth it.

I would be OK with stripping it and just trying again, but unless you tell me the TV isn't worth enough with a new LCD panel, I'll just get the new LCD panel.

So my question is... in your opinion is it worth the price of a refurbed/harvest/used LCD panel at $160?

[tom66]

Re: LN40B550K1FXZA - block of colored lines

Well, my first question is how much would I really get for the parts? (and how long would it take to sell all the parts?)

Can't really say how long, maybe a couple of months. The PSU, main board and T-con are all common failures and are worth at least $30 each.

I bought this TV for cheap hoping to fix it cheap just so we could have a decent TV without buying a brand new one, so I prefer to fix it, if it's still worth it.

I've done the same thing. I got a 42" for £20 and fixed it for £5 so I kept it for the living room.

I would be OK with stripping it and just trying again, but unless you tell me the TV isn't worth enough with a new LCD panel, I'll just get the new LCD panel.

So my question is... in your opinion is it worth the price of a refurbed/harvest/used LCD panel at $160?

I'm not certain it is worth $160. For one, you can't be certain of the condition of the harvested panel. Fingerprints, scratches, marks etc... But it should work okay with the panel replaced.

[jeremysaffir]

Re: LN40B550K1FXZA - block of colored lines

Well thanks for the input, I appreciate it. I guess I just have a decision to make.