Pansonic Plasma TC-P60UT50 won’t power up, LED blinks 3 times

[bcarl]

Hello again badcaps.

I joined this community about 6 years ago in hopes of fixing a plasma TV with picture issues (I believe the issues were upper and lower buffer boards – it was a fairly easy fix). I was able to fix the TV to get a few more years out of it and was also able to fix a friends TV who was having the same issues.

Anyways I am back again having issues with another Panasonic Plasma tv that won't power up.

Brief description of what is going on this time…

About a couple months ago the tv began to have screen issues where ¾ of the screen from the right would become partially scrambled (vertical sections). The left ¼ of the screen was normal. I have attached a picture of the issue below.

A week ago, the TV wouldn't power up at all and the LED power indicator was blinking 3 times then repeated. I unplugged the power cable for an hour, plugged it back in and was able to get another 4 or 5 days usage out of the TV with no issues. The problem has since returned, LED blinking 3 times. I unplugged the TV for a full 24 hours, TV fired up but only worked for about 15 minutes before shutting down and returning to the 3 blinks error code.

I have done some searching online and it looks like the issues could be either the A board (main board) or the power supply board (p board). It looks like the price of the boards are approximately $150 and $70 respectively.

I don't want to pour significant $ into a 6 year old TV only to have the problem still exist. Based on the symptoms that existed prior to the TV going into the 3 blink trouble mode, does anyone have any thoughts with great certainty as to which board the issue may be with? Pouring $225 into a broken TV that still won't fire up isn't in the cards. Hahahaha

The TV is still hanging on the wall but can come down to get pictures of any boards on the rear of the unit.

Any help would certainly be appreciated!!!

Thanks in advance.

Brad.

[Unspun01]

Re: Pansonic Plasma TC-P60UT50 won't power up, LED blinks 3 times

Can you please take another few photos without background reflections? They are complicating the assessment of the problem.

Some definite artifacting there, but the reddish "smearing" is a different twist... Possible C-buffer boards at bottom of panel. Have you or anyone ever used wet cleaner to clean the screen? Possible that liquid has leaked onto the lower buffer boards and causing issues with conducting or corrosion.

If we have any reason to suspect liquid damage (even from damp cloth) you should unplug the TV and not turn it on AT ALL to prevent damage.

Inspect the boards and panel for signs of liquid.

[bcarl]

Re: Pansonic Plasma TC-P60UT50 won't power up, LED blinks 3 times

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

I am certain I don't have water damage in the TV. I have sprayed the screen with a cleaning solution previously, but the solution sprayed in an ultra-fine mist spray and wouldn't have been capable of collecting and running down the screen. The screen was always wiped dry and I have always been cognizant of ensuring the bottom was completely dry.

I turned the TV back on after it was unplugged for another 24 hours. I was able to replicate the problem. I have attached 4 pictures showing varying or no levels of picture distortion. It's not always a red distortion, usually flickers very fast between greens, purples and reds. I was able to take another picture of the right ¾ as completely black but accidentally deleted that picture. Whoops! I am sure you can visualize what that would look like.

I turned the TV off and back on and it's now functioning perfectly normal…. But that's likely to be short lived.

Thank you so much for any input.