Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen.

[triplefour]

got a Vizio E321VL today from the E-waste recycler for 10 bux to play around with/ hopefully repair and sell to buy some better tools.

when plugged in, the vizio LED light glows orange.
when press power, it turns white
the backlights come on
the screen displays the VIZIO logo for a second or 2
then the vizio logo goes away and its just a blank, backlit, black unresponsive screen.
pressing menu or any button for that matter does nothing.
only way to turn it off is unplugging it.
first impression is this is some kind of motherboard problem.

what on the motherboard would cause such symptoms?
i just got the back off. will post more pictures next.

[triplefour]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

ok heres pictures of the boards. i guess the TCON is built into the motherboard on this one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Repair-Kit-F...item338caabced

this eeprom chip might be the problem but the symptoms he lists are different than mine. the vizio logo doesnt stay on the screen when it freezes...

[mu2]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

Hi,

I have the same set with main board 3632-1512-0150.
The symptoms you have are the same as my set. I took a chance and ordered the eeprom.
It did NOT fix the issue.
Haven't been able to fix this one yet.

Mike

[triplefour]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

ah jeeze well lets try put our heads together and fix it? or is it sometimes the mainboard is just too tricky to diagnose and u gotta get a new one?
did u make a thread for it?

[1beertap]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

I too, have this set with the same symptoms as you guys. I turn on the TV and the backlight shuts off after a couple of seconds. A flashlight test reveals the screen is on. I can make the backlight come on by taking the third from the end "on/off" wire located on the power supply off and reconnecting it while power is still on. The TV works great from this point onward until I shut it off and turn it back on again.

[triplefour]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

that is a weird symptom, luckily you found at least some kind of fix. but that is not the same as the symptom i am having. the backlights never go out. the vizio logo just disappears and then im left with a blank unresponsive but lit screen.

[triplefour]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

hmm what should i test?

[stj]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

maybe the software is corrupt.
search for an eeprom dump.

[triplefour]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

i can reprogram the eeprom myself?

[stj]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

parallel port can usually be used with wires to the chip.

[triplefour]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

that sounds awesome...but id have to have an old PC that has a parallel port... and some software...and the rom.. where do i start?

[stj]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

start by finding the romdump.
because without that, the rest is pointless.

[triplefour]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

haha success! guess the rom dump adeventure will have to be saved for later. thanks to reading this thread: https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showth...t=20864&page=9
where the guy eventually fixed it by replacing/repairing the ribbon cable that went to the IR board, i decided to have a look at mine.
when i removed it i noticed the IR board was all rusted and corroded. i removed the board entirely, and now the TV starts up just fine.
crazy! how could the IR board halt the whole thing???

*victory dance*

that was too easy i like the hard ones where it takes weeks and i really learn something
LOL

edit: i guess i did learn something: CHECK THE IR BOARD!!!

oh and that rom dumping is theoretically possible

[mu2]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

triplefour,

This is a great forum!
I went back and looked at my E321VL. I disconnected the ribbon cable going to the IR board and the tv booted up correctly.
I took out the board and found that the ribbon cable wasn't seated correctly in the connector. In other words it was at an angle instead of straight in - I removed and reseated the cable.
I'm happy to say that the tv is working including the remote!
Thanks again to everyone that contributed in solving the issue.

Mike

[triplefour]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

so crazy that such a trivial thing would halt the boot process of the TV but there u have it. check the simple stuff first! love this forum!

[budm]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

Good job finding the fault.

[triplefour]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

thanks budm...now if only i could figure out whats wrong with these other ones! specifically the samsung that has an intermittent problem https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showth...t=38339&page=6

[Scary.McGarry]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

I'm having the same issue but once the Vizio logo goes away and the screen goes black it still works except you can't see anything. I've reseeded the cables from the mail board to the back light board. When I get home I will try reseeding the IR Board and see what happens. Besides that does anyone know what is going on, why the backlight would work for a few seconds and just turn off?

[triplefour]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

when you say you cant see anything, do you mean that the backlights have gone away, but you can use a flashlight to see picture on the tv? if thats the case, then you have a different problem than i had. all i had to do was remove the IR board from the equation and the TV worked fine (except no remote till replaced that board)
if your screen doesnt stay backlit like mine did, then its more likely you have a "2 seconds to black" problem, which honestly i havent quite figured out how to tell if its bad lamps or bad inverter. if the inverter board is getting the 24v from the PSU and the BLON (backlight on) signal as well, then you can safely say its not the PSU, but then u have to figure out if its Inverter or Backlights. you can test the transformer windings on the inverter transformers, and hopefully find the problem. but other than that, you have to replace the inverter with a known working one to really be sure...or take apart the panel to get to the backlights to see if you can see one is cracked or blown or something. (taking panel apart is really tricky though and easy to mess something up putting it back)
theres also a way to test the transformers with a regular home CFL bulb and a wire... but i never did get that to work for some reason. read this thread for more tips:
https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showth...903#post519903
but dont post in it. make a new thread for your TV.

[Leadguitarist1990]

Re: Vizio E321VL flashes vizio logo on screen then just a blank, backlit black screen

I am having a very similar issue with my e371vl. It starts up to the Vizio logo on the screen blinks once and then goes back to a black screen. I can still shut the tv off by pressing the power key on the tv. I've noticed by removing the rear cover that there is a little blue led light on the back of the power board. When the screen goes black after displaying the logo for a few seconds this little blue light fades away. I tried unplugging multiple ribbons and cables from both boards and checked all connections and I always get the same thing. I'm pretty handy with a multi meter and a soldering iron. I could just use a little guideance in my quest to fix this tv! I have searched hours on end through the inter webs and can't find anything that is exactly like what I'm experiencing!! Someone please help me! Thanks in advance!!