LG 37LH30-UA Display Issues

[Slvrwrx]

Have an LG 37" LCD here that is having a hard time displaying input. It powers on ok, and I don't see any bad caps, but it starts with snow on the top of the screen and slowly works it way down. I got it to eventually display an HDMI input, but it flickers and displays snow. and random lines

Is the input or driver board bad, or maybe ribbon cable?

Youtube video is the easiest way to show what it's doing:

http://youtu.be/yXTsV7SNEu8

[tom66]

Re: LG 37LH30-UA Display Issues

I'd be tempted to say LCD panel fault but it could just as well be main board at fault.

[Slvrwrx]

Re: LG 37LH30-UA Display Issues

Do you have a recommendation as to where to purchase replacement boards?

[tom66]

Re: LG 37LH30-UA Display Issues

Shopjimmy, eBay, TV recycle companies. Before throwing money at a problem you could try some simple diagnostics. Like heating up components (with a hairdryer for example) to see if you can make the problem clear quicker.

[Slvrwrx]

Re: LG 37LH30-UA Display Issues

^^ OKay. I was wondering about ShopJimmy as they seem to stock a lot of components. I'll bust out the heat gun/hair dryer. Thanks!

[Slvrwrx]

Re: LG 37LH30-UA Display Issues

Heat had no effect on either board.

[tom66]

Re: LG 37LH30-UA Display Issues

I'd focus on LCD panel tab bonds then, possibly unrepairable panel fault. Shame.

[Slvrwrx]

Re: LG 37LH30-UA Display Issues

Thanks. I'll fiddle with it some more, and hopefully get somewhere.

[voxleo]

Re: LG 37LH30-UA Display Issues

Shopjimmy, eBay, TV recycle companies. Before throwing money at a problem you could try some simple diagnostics. Like heating up components (with a hairdryer for example) to see if you can make the problem clear quicker.

LOL - Hubby just found one of these on the street this morning (after a rainy yesterday and evening) with a note on it saying it didn't work, but not in what manner it had failed. He was thinking that people just don't know how to use stuff properly and think that things are broken when they aren't and brought it in to have a look-see.

SInce it had been wet out, I suggested that if he wanted to see if it worked, he ought to let it dry out first, or that experiment would be short-lived. He replied it was just a bit damp, but I said "damp" and "electronics" are not a good mix, and it would behoove him to ensure its being damp-free by giving it a good go over with the hair dryer for a while first. He did. And then, against all odds, triumphantly reported that it was indeed apparently fully functional, and they had even left the remote to go with it.

I don't know if all ports are working or if it was just the VGA which he tested it on, but I strongly suspect that it maybe DID NOT work, just as the note said, and the fix may well have been the application of the heat to dry it out. Possibly even that the dampness helped the connections that were suffering too as long as the board was dry and not creating any shorts because of it. Having just recently been reminded of all the playstations and video cards that were granted a second chance at life via twenty minutes in the oven, and knowing that all electronics suffering from this terrible ROHS lead-free solder, it makes more sense than thinking our neighbors were unable to read the instructions on how to turn the damn thing on so they just set it on the curb for the trash guys...

We'll see if it lasts, but it is not the first time we have resurrected a bit of discarded tech - I am one of the few souls who managed to repair the stupid ribbon tear on the HP series of officejets and photosmarts some years ago since HP wouldn't actually do it at a reasonable cost because you essentially have to break the plastic housing to get in to repair the stupid 2 dollar ribbon that disables the entire 600 dollar all in one machine. I broke the plastic and then epoxied it back together , and repaired the ribbon with some scotch tape and a 14$ circuit writer pen from Radio Shack, despite the lack of confidence displayed by my partner that I would succeed. TADA! Now I have a free copier scanner printer fax with dual paper trays and auto-duplexing!

You never know sometimes unless you try, I guess. If you haven't got anything to lose but time, it is probably worth a go.