Vizio VF550M clicking, nothing else

[twokswine]

So my 55" Vizio VF550M started failing... first HDMI ports went out but Component inputs worked, then they failed as well. Current situation is the set "clicks" randomly when you plug it in... clicking noise is inconsistent. I'm a computer guy (software) but not much experience in hardware matters. Nonetheless, I removed the back panel of the TV and plugged it in and clearly the clicking noise is coming from the power supply in the middle-back of the TV. I took a closer look at the power supply, the capacitors "look" OK (i.e. none bursting at the top for instance). If I unplug various components from the power supply and plug in the TV the clicking persists, except when unplugging the main board from the power supply: no clicking when I plug in the TV with main board un-powered. I opened up the box to the main board, it too "looks" OK. I realize that means close to nothing. I'm fine with flat out replacing the entire board (I'm not going to get into probing/soldering etc.)... problem is, I'm not sure which board is the faulty one based on the information I have... the power supply (~$90) or the main board (~$180). Any pointers to narrow it down to one or the other? Thanks!

[Ltank]

Re: Vizio VF550M clicking, nothing else

I found you a Service manual with troubleshooting flow charts but no schematics. More and more they are not included. They want you to throw the bad boards away instead of repairing them and buy new boards or TV set.

[Larry_Ellison]

Re: Vizio VF550M clicking, nothing else

Were you able to determine which board was bad? Mine is doing the same thing. Thanks in advance.

[cliff_hootarski]

Re: Vizio VF550M clicking, nothing else

TWOKSWINE:

I believe I would try replacing the mainboard. Vizios seem to suffer from mainboard failure quite often. The power supply in yours, looks like to be a standard design board
found in many Vizio sets and fairly reliable.

[MandoZink]

Re: Vizio VF550M clicking, nothing else

Been there - still dealing with it.

I inherited a VF550M from my sister exactly one year ago, on Thanksgiving week. Lightning had hit her cable line, disabling the HDMI ports and killing the on-board sound. Resetting via the menu fixed the HDMI ports, but not the sound. The audio-outs on back still worked, which is what I use anyhow.

After a couple of months, the mainboard had failed enough that it no longer came out of standby. I tested voltages on all the mainboard's LDOs and found some that didn't seem to work. The mainboard's standby/ON pin also wasn't putting out any voltage to turn it on full power. I jumpered a homemade resistor-led-switch combo from a 5-volt pin on the power supply to the standby/ON pin and I was able to turn it on that way, using the LED as an power-ON-full indicator. Take note that it still required to then be FULLY turned on by the remote, or the side panel button.

A few months later, the TV began failing to recognize the remote after it had been on for only a few minutes. The side-panel buttons still worked.

Then, about mid-summer, the TV began the clicking, apparently turning the standby-mode power on and off by itself (relay click). I then started to use a power strip switch to turn the TV completely ON or OFF. Two months later, although the VIZIO light came on, the TV quit working.

After sitting for two more months, I turned it on and it began working, although still requiring the power strip ON/OFF. Even the remote was performing reliably. That was a nice surprise. We had almost two more good months, but last week it died again. Back to VIZIO light only.

I want to also add that, during this whole time, the HDMI ports did fail twice, but came back after a system reset via the menu. The only way I have found to do a reset is through the menu , which requires that the mainboard be functionally ON. Given that the TV came back from this once before, I would like to know if there is a way to do a reset to defaults without having to use the menu. I would like to see if the mainboard simply holds onto a bad instruction, which could be reset through a procedure other than the menu option, which cannot currently be accessed. Does anyone have any idea if this can be done with the VF550M?

If anyone wonders, I am retired and currently WAY too broke to buy a mainboard. The only replacement I could find in stock ANYWHERE is from Sears, which costs $153.07 plus tax and shipping.

Any Tips?

[ecking767]

Re: Vizio VF550M clicking, nothing else

Been there - still dealing with it.

I inherited a VF550M from my sister exactly one year ago, on Thanksgiving week. Lightning had hit her cable line, disabling the HDMI ports and killing the on-board sound. Resetting via the menu fixed the HDMI ports, but not the sound. The audio-outs on back still worked, which is what I use anyhow.

After a couple of months, the mainboard had failed enough that it no longer came out of standby. I tested voltages on all the mainboard's LDOs and found some that didn't seem to work. The mainboard's standby/ON pin also wasn't putting out any voltage to turn it on full power. I jumpered a homemade resistor-led-switch combo from a 5-volt pin on the power supply to the standby/ON pin and I was able to turn it on that way, using the LED as an power-ON-full indicator. Take note that it still required to then be FULLY turned on by the remote, or the side panel button.

A few months later, the TV began failing to recognize the remote after it had been on for only a few minutes. The side-panel buttons still worked.

Then, about mid-summer, the TV began the clicking, apparently turning the standby-mode power on and off by itself (relay click). I then started to use a power strip switch to turn the TV completely ON or OFF. Two months later, although the VIZIO light came on, the TV quit working.

After sitting for two more months, I turned it on and it began working, although still requiring the power strip ON/OFF. Even the remote was performing reliably. That was a nice surprise. We had almost two more good months, but last week it died again. Back to VIZIO light only.

I want to also add that, during this whole time, the HDMI ports did fail twice, but came back after a system reset via the menu. The only way I have found to do a reset is through the menu , which requires that the mainboard be functionally ON. Given that the TV came back from this once before, I would like to know if there is a way to do a reset to defaults without having to use the menu. I would like to see if the mainboard simply holds onto a bad instruction, which could be reset through a procedure other than the menu option, which cannot currently be accessed. Does anyone have any idea if this can be done with the VF550M?

If anyone wonders, I am retired and currently WAY too broke to buy a mainboard. The only replacement I could find in stock ANYWHERE is from Sears, which costs $153.07 plus tax and shipping.

Any Tips?

I would 1st start with replacing U14, on your main board EEPROM, your main board have IC U14 part number is MX25L3205D. The MX25L3205D have been replaced by MX25L3206D.The manufacturer Macronix of the MX25L3205D discontinue this chip and replace it with MX25L3206D.Not sure why they discontinue the MX25L3205D but it could have had some issues.

2nd I would recap the power supply due to age the age of your TV. replace ALL caps except for the large cap

[MandoZink]

Re: Vizio VF550M clicking, nothing else

I would 1st start with replacing U14, on your main board EEPROM, your main board have IC U14 part number is MX25L3205D. The MX25L3205D have been replaced by MX25L3206D.The manufacturer Macronix of the MX25L3205D discontinue this chip and replace it with MX25L3206D.Not sure why they discontinue the MX25L3205D but it could have had some issues.

2nd I would recap the power supply due to age the age of your TV. replace ALL caps except for the large cap

I appreciate the reply. What I really would like is for VIZIO to have made available a schematic of the mainboard AND a PCB layout. I have no idea what really may have caused the problems - why the LDO's I measured weren't at spec, or why various features randomly failed, then worked again. It's way too much trouble to start replacing parts while feeling blind as to what I'm doing and why. I would rather buy a guaranteed working board eventually someday when I can afford it. I feel lucky that I can sometimes track down a problem and manage a workaround. Much of my life seems to function like that. I constantly have to figure out how to fix things as cheaply (or freely) as possible.

I had found "How to Power Cycle a VIZIO TV" instructions on the web, to no effect. I was hoping there was some similar procedure that some technician was privy to, just to know I was actually setting it to what should be the defaults, and that somehow might be a fix. That was the last effort I had hoped to try with this board.
------

Capacitors really should be expected last longer than they seem to nowadays, but I do know when a capacitor is bad. I used to design my own power supplies in the pre bad-electrolytic days. I knew about the Asian manufacturing fiasco when it occurred over a decade ago. A few years ago I replaced a failed cap in a new set-top converter box with an electrolytic I had removed from a stereo which had been discarded in the mid 80's. It was the only one I had on hand. It measured correctly and the STB has worked fine ever since.

By the way, I found the MX25L3206D and saw it was the the recommended replacement for the the MX25L3205D. Do you repair TVs for a living?

[ecking767]

Re: Vizio VF550M clicking, nothing else

I appreciate the reply. What I really would like is for VIZIO to have made available a schematic of the mainboard AND a PCB layout. I have no idea what really may have caused the problems - why the LDO's I measured weren't at spec, or why various features randomly failed, then worked again. It's way too much trouble to start replacing parts while feeling blind as to what I'm doing and why. I would rather buy a guaranteed working board eventually someday when I can afford it. I feel lucky that I can sometimes track down a problem and manage a workaround. Much of my life seems to function like that. I constantly have to figure out how to fix things as cheaply (or freely) as possible.

I had found "How to Power Cycle a VIZIO TV" instructions on the web, to no effect. I was hoping there was some similar procedure that some technician was privy to, just to know I was actually setting it to what should be the defaults, and that somehow might be a fix. That was the last effort I had hoped to try with this board.
------

Capacitors really should be expected last longer than they seem to nowadays, but I do know when a capacitor is bad. I used to design my own power supplies in the pre bad-electrolytic days. I knew about the Asian manufacturing fiasco when it occurred over a decade ago. A few years ago I replaced a failed cap in a new set-top converter box with an electrolytic I had removed from a stereo which had been discarded in the mid 80's. It was the only one I had on hand. It measured correctly and the STB has worked fine ever since.

By the way, I found the MX25L3206D and saw it was the the recommended replacement for the the MX25L3205D. Do you repair TVs for a living?

Good luck on getting an schematic from Vizio, most troubleshooting here on this tech forum are done with out it. Yes I do TV repair but only for a second income & hobby, I have repair several Vizio TV's and with out a service manual or schematic. This website help out a lot.

It seem like you are doing a temporary fix by resetting your TV. If you have measuring LDO's out of spec then you should replace it. Your TV is around 4 to 5 year old ? right? recapping the power maybe need due to age.

The MX25L3206D must be program with your TV firmware, because they are sold blank.

Posting picture of boards and voltage measurements. and help will come !

[MandoZink]

Re: Vizio VF550M clicking, nothing else

Good luck on getting an schematic from Vizio, most troubleshooting here on this tech forum are done with out it. Yes I do TV repair but only for a second income & hobby, I have repair several Vizio TV's and with out a service manual or schematic. This website help out a lot.

I already searched quite thoroughly and determined there was no schematic to be found.

It seem like you are doing a temporary fix by resetting your TV.

It was a last gasp effort to see if I could avoid the inevitable mainboard purchase

If you have measuring LDO's out of spec then you should replace it. Your TV is around 4 to 5 year old ? right? recapping the power maybe need due to age.

I am not sure of the age. It was given to me by may sister last year.

The MX25L3206D must be program with your TV firmware, because they are sold blank.

That brings up a very important question that you may be able to clue me in on. I figured I would probably just buy a replacement board from searspartsdirect, but, as I was typing this sentence, I found out that they no longer carry it (as of this week apparently). Would a new replacement board normally have the firmware on it, or would it have to be installed?

I am a bit distressed that Sears was the only reliable "we have it in stock" outlet that I knew of for this. Darn it!

[ecking767]

Re: Vizio VF550M clicking, nothing else

Don't get your hopes up too high with Searparts.com, I place an order with them for a Vizio TV Stand & Base for 42" Vizio GV42l, they said it was in stock. After placing the order, then I call after my order wasn't ship after a two week wait, I call them and I was told it was on back order. Then I waited a little over a month, then I cancel the order.

Your TV age,my guess is around 6 years old, manufacturer around 2008. recapping your power supply is where I will start.