Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

[Cosmo66]

I was thinking of picking up this TV, the guy wants $40 for it. He is telling me that it only has problems when using certain inputs, which I don't really believe because looking at the picture that doesn't seem to make sense.

What concerns me are the vertical lines. That looks like a failing panel. Am I correct to make that assumption? or should I take a chance on this thing?

[Mr Bill]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

here is an example of a 32" samsung that had a bad tcon board. The picture is blurry but you'll see it had lines in it too.

[drpj23]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

If it is only on certain inputs, ask him to prove it since he knows somehow.

[Cosmo66]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

I'm gonna go get it, he'll take $20 and it's only 15 min away. I need a good project

[Mr Bill]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

The boards are worth more than $20 incase the panel really is defective.

[Cosmo66]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

I got the TV. The problem is on all inputs. The vertical lines disappear within 3 minutes. Once the TV warms up the horizontal anomalies go away also, and the picture looks great.

I don't have time now to open up the TV, but when I do will post back with info and pictures if I find anything interesting

[Mr Bill]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

For giggles when you do open it up, clean and reseat the connectors going to the tcon board. It might just be something simple.

[Cosmo66]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

For giggles when you do open it up, clean and reseat the connectors going to the tcon board. It might just be something simple.

Ok thanks. That would definitely make me giggle a little bit. By the way, that picture you posted of the tcon failure looks so similar I'm pretty convinced that's the issue

[drpj23]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

If the reseating doesn't work, then hot air or cold spray will probably confirm the TCON failure.

[Cosmo66]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

Ok, so I opened up the TV and reseated the connectors to the tcon and the problem persists.

However, I can make the problem go away if I twist the panel. This leads me to believe the problem is where the ribbon cables connect to the panel.

My question is, does anyone know if these ribbon cables are connected to the panel via a connector, or are they part of the panel like plasmas? I'm gonna have to take this apart all the way to the panel to find out

[Mr Bill]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

They are bonded to the panel. You can put something that is squishy yet firm and place that under the loose ribbon. Others will probably chime in on what works best.

**EDIT**
The ribbons in the picture you uploaded should have a connector. The 1" board that runs on top of the panel is what is bonded to the screen. Does the image change if you press on the ribbons from you picture?

[Cosmo66]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

No, pressing on the cable doesn't do anything, only twisting the panel

[Cosmo66]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

I forgot to mention one of those shields that go around the ribbons had broke free and was hanging loose. I'm assuming that is the ribbon causing the trouble

[Cosmo66]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

So do these 4 cables coming off the tcon board go into another connector? I really hope they aren't attached to the panel.

It looks like I'll have to take this completely apart to have access to them

[johnboy1313]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

Those go directly to the boards that go directly to the panel. There are no removable connections.

[Cosmo66]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

I'm starting to think maybe this is a backlight or some other issue. Basically the problem only affects the top 5-6 inches of the screen, horizontally. As I twist/move the panel around the problem flickers/ goes away. I can make it go away completely if I hold the TV in just the right spot.

The only thing that points to the tcon ribbon cables is the vertical lines that appear at first on the left, but disappear right away

Here it is so you can see it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQsLr...ature=youtu.be

(there is no color on the menu, because I just swapped out the tcon board from a TV that had a "no color" problem)

[Mr Bill]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

To me it looks like a loose TAB ribbon. The only way to know is take the front cabinet half off the panel. Lay the tv screen side up and take the metal trim off that goes around the panel to acess the ribbons. Turn the tv on and start applying pressure to the ribbons with a stick, plastic pen, anything that won't conduct electricity and see if the image improves.

[Cosmo66]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

To me it looks like a loose TAB ribbon. The only way to know is take the front cabinet half off the panel. Lay the tv screen side up and take the metal trim off that goes around the panel to acess the ribbons. Turn the tv on and start applying pressure to the ribbons with a stick, plastic pen, anything that won't conduct electricity and see if the image improves.

I was having a good night until I read this

[budm]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

It looks like this:
http://s807.photobucket.com/albums/y...20KDL-52VL150/

[Cosmo66]

Re: Vizio 42" LCD VU42LFHDTV10A Bad panel?

Wow great photos thanks.

The problem is the way these vizio's are built, I have to remove the metal plate that the power supply and main board sit on, and the entire front panel cover first. Then I can remove the metal trim.

Basically I have to strip the whole thing down to just the panel. It's gonna be a weekend project