Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

[tibimakai]

I have another one of these with the same bad screen issue as the other one I had a while back.
I don't know how you guys manage to fix these, but I can't fixed these.
Initially it had a blue screen with those multicolored line bands and no image.
I have messed with it a bit, by twisting the screen, changing the boards (from the old one).
I guess the twisting probably brought back the image.
After pushing the tabs around I have managed to change a lot the screen's image, but eventually it became white and it doesn't want to become blue anymore.
I can still see the " No signal" on the screen with a lot of lagging, but I can't do anything with the screen.
Where exactly is the problematic area? Ribbon and screen or ribbon and PCB?
Any help would be appreciated.
That is for sure that this will be the last of this model for me.

[tibimakai]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

I made a mistake and I haven't noticed it, only today I have realized what I did.
Somebody already "fixed" it with some 3M tape, but it seems that it didn't last to long the "fix".
I have removed those tapes to start all over and while removing the tapes, I have removed the variable resistor with it. That's why I had white screen.
I have found it luckily in the trash can and re-soldered it and now it has a pretty good image, with some thin lines, but no lag at the moment.
Still need to play with that tab, to make those thin lines disappear(right edge of the screen).
Second time, I have messed up again that variable resistor, while putting back the metal cover. It's way to close to the metal cover, I have just applied some kepton tape over it. It was actually touching the metal cover and the screen it became white again(probably it was shorting out).
Now, if I manage to repair it, how can I sell it? Maybe while they transporting the TV, the lines will come back.
Should I let them know what exactly is going on and sell it very cheap?

[Admiral646]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

I had a similiar Samsung TV .

A) it's nearly impossible to get the picture PERFECT and to stay like it for a while . I was messing with the tabs , ribbons , I took the whole plasticmetal around it off (made it even worst because they were just so damn gentle) . Even if you manage to put it back together , transporting it , a kid , dog accidently bumping it will make it worst again...as for your question...

Look in your heart , would you feel good if someone buys it and brings it home and has that issue? What about if they get mad and want their money back? What if they open it and see that you messed with it first and never mentioned it? Normal people would let it go...but consider this...not all are normal and do you wish to worry about your car being scratched up or something worst for revenge? My advice , put it back together as best as you can , sell it for cheap and do let them know that they need to be very gentle . Sometimes mind at piece is priceless

[keats11]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

I have this exact same TV. Initially one half of the screen would go darker, with the image still showing, but would come back to normal if you touched the top left corner. Now the TV is totally white, with faint images seen. No audio either. What is the variable resistor you are refering to? Since I have no audion and a faint image, I am thought this was the main board. I got one from ebay and put it in, no change. (This could mean this board has the same problem too?). Also tried replacign the tcon board with one from ebay, no change either. Now it looks like only the power board or panel ie left. I can't make sense of what is going on with this TV. How does a Power board issue resolve by touching the top corner? Is that not related to the white screen issue/dark image issue?

[tibimakai]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

I'm at work now, so I will explain as I can.
If you lay down the TV with the back down/screen up with the top toward you, look at the top panel PCB and on the left board around the middle should be a square shape variable resistor(VR1 if I remember well).
If do you see three pads in a triangular shape, you are missing that component.
Don't waist any more money on this TV, it's not worth it. Send back the boards that you have purchased, if it's still possible.

[keats11]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

I bought this TV from CL, thinking I can fix it and resell it. I paid 60 dollars for the TV and by now another 100 dollars for parts, so if at all possible, I would like to fix it. When you say the top PCB, are you refering to the panel drivers boards (long, slender boards, which connect one side to the LCD panel and the other side to the tcon board? I have stared at this board at home (I am at work right now also), but didnt find anything interesting on this board. The TV was working fine (except the occassional darkening), and then the next day when I turned it on it was white with faint images, at this point there is no audio either. I think not having both audio+messed up video should point to the mother board, but like I said, changing it didn't fix it. Did you fix yours?

[tibimakai]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

When I had the white screen with faint image, I caused it when I removed and re-installed the panel metal cover.
Yes, I'm referring to those two top slim boards.

[keats11]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

How does removing the panel cause a white screen? What is the root cause of thw white screen? Can you please call me? 978 553 2815

[tibimakai]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

I ripped it off(sliced off) that component with the cover when I was putting it back. This caused a missing voltage.

[keats11]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

You won't believe what happened, as soon as I got home from work, I looked at this panel driver board. With the TV standing up and facing you, this would be on the top right. I looked and looked, didnt find any potentiometer (variable resistor). But then I saw three terminals staring at me in a triangular shape, and wondered if a potentiometer existed there before. You would never guess this, unless you saw this thing fall off (thanks to tibimakai for telling me this). Sure enough the potentiometer had fallen off, so I took a 1K resistor and bridged the connection. The TV comes on and I played a movie for a good hour yesterday!. So excited I was able to fix it. I took a picture of the shunt solder I created that fixed this problem for anyone else who may benefit from this. Tags: Vizio, Vw46l, HDTV10a, whitescreen, no audio, faint image

[tibimakai]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

I'm glad that it worked out for you.
That variable resistor sticks out way to much in my opinion.
There is a hole in the metal cover for it, to be able to adjust it from outside.
Not sure what it does, anybody knows? If I remember correctly, Tom66 said that it can brighten up the screen?!
I had to put some tape over it because it was shorting to the cover.
I still have to play with the left upper corner tab for the lines to disappear.
I will fix it as best as I can and put it up for sale for $100 and I will let people know about the risks of purchasing this TV.

[tom66]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

It is probably one adjustment for a panel bias voltage, like VGH, VGL.
The panel documents say "DO NOT ADJUST POTENTIOMETER", so I guess that is factory set for appropriate performance.

[kevinm34232]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

I just got one of these models, the same thing happened with the variable resistor coming off causing the white screen. This TV is the PITA to setup with the tab bonds exposed without causing a short or the inverter connectors coming out. I actually blew the 12V fuse on the main board too.

I could not solder the VR back on because it ripped the leads out of it. I first put a resistor there but it kept coming off, I eventually just bridged the connection and it seems fine.

As for the tab bond, the bad one is the very top left bond, not the front side but on top that is the suspect. I put some foam in between and screwed it down. It worked for a while then started back with the dark spots. I twisted the panel slightly and it went away, then I snugged the screws down some more.

It's been going good for an hour or so we'll see. Such a shame this happens.

[johnroy]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

Just wanted to stop by and say thanks tibimakai for pointing out the white screen VR1! I had black horizontal lines fading from right to left on the left half of the TV. I took it apart and when I put humpty back together, I had unknowingly ripped it off while trying to get the front panel off while keeping the back panel (inputs/PS) on for testing. Disappointed to have a white screen, I almost junked the TV but luckily ran across this post which helped with both issues! I was able to solder the VR1 back on and all was well.

My tidbit of information about all this, I had trouble finding out which part exactly was causing the problem on the tab. The top boards had warped off what I assumed was the ground. I tried to add padding to frame to force the board to lay down, this didn't help. I also tried adding strips to the frame to force the ribbons to lay flat instead of bubbling out, this also did not work. Finally I laid down some electrical tape and foam tape on top of the ribbon where it actually makes the connection to the board, this seems to have resolved the issue. I've ran it about 12 hours since the fix with not even a hint there was ever an issue.

I really appreciate the info guys, can't beat about 3 hours of piddling for a decent TV, no money out of pocket. You guys helped my first attempt at repairing TVs a success!

[redeyescience]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

I wasn't so lucky, I found mine ripped off and mangled on the table. I tried to straighten it out but the ceramic broke. It also ripped the trace on the board that flows to the small black thing. I pulled a pot from an old dvd drive hoping that would work. I jumped the gap where the trace was pulled from the board and got it all soldered up. Now the TV will power on and back lights come on, but then immediately shuts down. Not sure if the cause is the trimmer pot or something else. TV came on and worked before I broke it.

This happened when I was inspecting as to why the screen would shadow and black out in parts. I also was aiming to smooth a shadow in the lcd plastic as well. Now I have a rather large door stop, unless the 1k resistor works, which is where I am headed next.

[redeyescience]

Re: Vizio VW46LFHDTV10A stay away

Can anyone tell me what size/ohm/wattage this trimmer pot is?