Help! My TV just died.

[Zillamon51]

I have a 55" Element HDTV. It must be going on 10 years old. So I was watching this afternoon, and the screen suddenly went dark, no flash or sound or anything, just like it was turned off. But the power light was on. It wasn't the murky gray of the screen being on with no input. It's totally black. No light, no sound, no icons when I press buttons. I tried turning it on and off several times. The power light toggles between red/off and blue/on, but no other signs of life. I tried again a few hours later, but nothing.

I'm not a tech guy. Anyone here know what this might be? Any fixes? Or time for a new TV? (I'm saving up for 4K, but not there yet.)

[halloween5309]

u are lucky it lasted that long, i own a hisense and think they are great tv for the budget minded

[Zillamon51]

Originally Posted by halloween5309

u are lucky it lasted that long, i own a hisense and think they are great tv for the budget minded

I'm considering one.

[unberechenbar]

Looks like there's a few videos on Youtube about fixing Element TVs with black screens. Have you looked at those? If you can search by model, maybe you can get lucky and find a video of someone taking the TV apart to fix it. I did that when my laptop's screen died.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by unberechenbar

Looks like there's a few videos on Youtube about fixing Element TVs with black screens. Have you looked at those? If you can search by model, maybe you can get lucky and find a video of someone taking the TV apart to fix it. I did that when my laptop's screen died.

The problem seems like it might either be the main board or the panel. The TV is ten years old. The cost for the parts and labor will be almost the same price of a brand new TV. The technician are going to charge at least $85.00 or more for the diagnostic check without repairing it, the labor is going to cost the most. So It wouldn't worth getting it fixed. 55" Element TVs are very inexpensive and affordable.

[Zillamon51]

Originally Posted by slimdude

The problem seems like it might either be the main board or the panel. The TV is ten years old. The cost for the parts and labor will be almost the same price of a brand new TV. The technician are going to charge at least $85.00 or more for the diagnostic check without repairing it, the labor is going to cost the most. So It wouldn't worth getting it fixed. 55" Element TVs are very inexpensive and affordable.

Yeah, if I can't figure something out, I'll just have to make do until I have enough for a new 4K set.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Zillamon51

Yeah, if I can't figure something out, I'll just have to make do until I have enough for a new 4K set.

Had a look at the video on YouTube, I'd say the replacing of boards is a just a small step up from upgrading PC parts, they're pretty easy to swap out, they're designed not to soldered (but a repair shop could solder new parts onto an existing board) in.

If you can source the parts, you could try the T-Con board and then the main board, the T-Con controls the images going to the panel.

The problem is that a bad panel can damage the T-Con board and replacing the board will result it the panel damaging it again, you'd need to be able to test the board with a multimeter to see if it's bad.

The problem is unless you know what you're doing replacing boards might not actually help, so you'd have to risk the costs of parts knowing that it's basically blind luck that you've fixed it.

[Zillamon51]

I'm going to try baking the board. Since I'm not a tech guy, it's about all I can do. And if it doesn't work, I have nothing to lose.

Tax refunds are coming in, so that will help. We're looking to get a 65" 4K TV. I'm open to suggestions on that.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by chip75

Had a look at the video on YouTube, I'd say the replacing of boards is a just a small step up from upgrading PC parts, they're pretty easy to swap out, they're designed not to soldered (but a repair shop could solder new parts onto an existing board) in.

If you can source the parts, you could try the T-Con board and then the main board, the T-Con controls the images going to the panel.

The problem is that a bad panel can damage the T-Con board and replacing the board will result it the panel damaging it again, you'd need to be able to test the board with a multimeter to see if it's bad.

The problem is unless you know what you're doing replacing boards might not actually help, so you'd have to risk the costs of parts knowing that it's basically blind luck that you've fixed it.

For a person to be able to do all of that work, they have to be a technician because, a novice wouldn't have the knowledge, skills nor the experience to do it. That's why they have certified technicians. You wouldn't expect somebody off the street to go into an operating room to perform an open heart surgery. A person just can't repair the internal circuitry of a TV, if they don't know what they're doing. YouTube videos are fine for minor household repairs, but there some things that only a professional should do. The TV is 10 years old, and it will be economical to buy a new one.

[Zillamon51]

Originally Posted by unberechenbar

Looks like there's a few videos on Youtube about fixing Element TVs with black screens. Have you looked at those? If you can search by model, maybe you can get lucky and find a video of someone taking the TV apart to fix it. I did that when my laptop's screen died.

I watched a few of those. Thanks for bringing them to my attention.

I tried the simple plug-in fixes. As I expected, didn't work.

Someone showed how to remove the motherboard and bake it in the oven, to melt the solder and reestablish broken connections. But I'm skeptical. Is that for real, or some kind of prank?

[unberechenbar]

Originally Posted by Zillamon51

Someone showed how to remove the motherboard and bake it in the oven, to melt the solder and reestablish broken connections. But I'm skeptical. Is that for real, or some kind of prank?

I think that's a prank. You would probably destroy some of the sensitive components by doing that even if it did melt the solder.

[ctujackbauer]

Originally Posted by Zillamon51

I watched a few of those. Thanks for bringing them to my attention.

I tried the simple plug-in fixes. As I expected, didn't work.

Someone showed how to remove the motherboard and bake it in the oven, to melt the solder and reestablish broken connections. But I'm skeptical. Is that for real, or some kind of prank?

Originally Posted by unberechenbar

I think that's a prank. You would probably destroy some of the sensitive components by doing that even if it did melt the solder.

Not a prank. One family member put the motherboard of a dead LG TV in the oven to revive it - the picture works but the built-in speakers are dead, works just fine hooked up to a soundbar now.

Tin whiskers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisker_(metallurgy)

Tin whiskers happen if you give them enough time. Satellites, TVs, etc.

You have nothing to lose at the moment, zillamon. Except for maybe the TV catching fire in the oven and burning the house down. Soldering guns are cheap nowadays too.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by ctujackbauer

Not a prank. One family member put the motherboard of a dead LG TV in the oven to revive it - the picture works but the built-in speakers are dead, works just fine hooked up to a soundbar now.

Tin whiskers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisker_(metallurgy)

Tin whiskers happen if you give them enough time. Satellites, TVs, etc.

You have nothing to lose at the moment, zillamon. Except for maybe the TV catching fire in the oven and burning the house down. Soldering guns are cheap nowadays too.

Soldering is not a toy that can be played with. A person must have the skills, experience and know what they're doing to be able to solder safely and accurately, just like any other trade. Personally, I've never solder in my life, and I would never attempt the task, to risk damaging or accidently inflict bodily harm to myself.

[CrowKiller]

Just let it go. It's time to move on. My TV crapping out was more heartbreaking because it was a 3D TV. I still need to see about getting it fixed, only because I have a lot of 3D movies and games, even if it may cost a bit. Since they don't make them anymore.

I ended up just getting a 55" TCL for a whopping $280 on a black friday a couple years ago. Should do me just fine for now until I get into a house and get a projector setup. Picture quality isn't bad, but I'd call it entry level 4k. Considering that's not only a cheapo TV you have, but old as hell too.... pretty much anything will look better than what you have now.

[cheez avenger]

Safety tip: don't solder in the nude.

[ReeseHuel]

I'm having an odd problem with my Samsung 43-inch Smart TV. Since last evening, it has stopped connecting to Wi-Fi. After rebooting the TV several times, it is still not connecting to my Wi-Fi. Could anyone help me to resolve this issue? I would appreciate any kind of response. Thank you!