DIY Broken LCD Display Repair

In detail: DIY repair of a broken LCD display from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Owners of TV sets with LCD screens are sometimes faced with a situation when it is necessary to replace the matrix on the TV. This raises the question: isn't it easier to buy a new device, since the cost of replacing the LCD panel in service centers is very high? And if we add the price of the new screen here, it turns out that the repair will cost almost as much as a new TV set. But in fact, not everything is so sad. Replacing a TV matrix is ​​not such an overwhelming task. If you know the procedure, then any home craftsman who knows how to hold a screwdriver can do this procedure.

Before proceeding with the replacement of the matrix of a Samsung TV, LV, Philips, etc., you need to have an initial idea of ​​what an LCD TV screen is. The LCD TV screen is called a matrix. It is a glass surface with many (millions) of pixels, which can change brightness and color under the influence of external signals. The image is formed precisely from these small dots - pixels. Each pixel is controlled by a special microcircuit - a driver, which is located on a flexible cable soldered into the glass of the LCD panel itself. The TV screen is a sensitive element and needs special regular cleaning.

The loop, to which various elements are connected, cannot be separated from the glass. Therefore, a common reason for replacing the screen is damage to the loop.

The most common malfunctions in LCD devices, in which you cannot do without replacing the panel, are the following:

Video (click to play).

  • damage to the screen due to mechanical impact (falling, hitting, the screen may be broken or flooded with liquid);
    Image - DIY Broken LCD Display Repair
  • failure of microcircuits that are responsible for the formation of an image of a liquid crystal television receiver - they can be located on a cable soldered into a matrix on a TV;
    Image - DIY Broken LCD Display Repair
  • damage to the loop (non-removable) on which the control drivers are located;
  • the appearance on the screen of “burnt out” stripes of pixels that have lost their functionality not due to mechanical influences;
  • backlighting problems.
  • All the breakdowns listed above are a reason to replace the matrix, since repairing the matrix of an LCD TV is not profitable for material reasons, and is often impossible (for example, when the screen is broken). An exception may include a display malfunction related to the backlight. If the problem lies in a burned-out fluorescent lamp, then it is quite possible to replace it with a new one, and it will be possible to repair the TV receiver in this way.

    Difficulties can arise when repairing an LCD TV if the panel uses light-emitting diode (LED) backlighting. Some manufacturers of LED screens leave the possibility of replacing LEDs, but there are also those that place them on non-removable trains... In this case, replacing the matrix completely is the only correct solution.

    Replacing the matrix on a Sony TV differs slightly from the screen (matrix) replacement procedure on an LG TV. Mainly, the difference lies in TV designs, which affects the order of its disassembly. Fasteners can be implemented in the standard way - with screws, or in a less convenient way - with latches, which are more difficult to find and easy to break. The disassembly of the unit can be accessed from the front or from the rear.

    When disassembling the device from the front, you should start by releasing the latches that hold the panel lining.

    There are models of LCD devices, including plasma, which have a protective glass in front of the matrix. If the screen has been broken, then the protective glass will have to be changed.

    After the latches are detached, you will see the matrix of the LCD TV, screwed to the body of the TV with screws that need to be removed. Please note that some screws may be duplicated by a latch... After that, unscrew all fasteners on the back of the device, which covers the entire electronic filling of the device.

    To replace the matrix in an LG, Samsung or any other TV, including a plasma TV, you will need to unscrew all the fasteners holding the rear panel of the unit and remove the stand if it is a desktop model of the device. Since screws of different lengths can be screwed in in different places on the back cover, you need to remember their location.

    There are designs of television sets, in which the back wall is provided special hatch (e.g. LG TV) for service during the warranty period. When removing the cover, you need to be careful not to damage the cables going to it. Also, disconnect all modules that may be on the cover from the board. Screen replacement is carried out in a similar way for a plasma TV.

    Next, follow these steps.

      When the cover is removed, you will see in front of you the metal case of the LCD TV matrix, on which all the electronic boards of the device and the cables connected to them are fixed. You will need to be careful when disconnecting the loops (they cannot be loosened in different directions, but you need to pull, carefully, in a straight line). Disconnect them from all boards and modules of the unit. In order not to get confused how to connect them back, you can, before dismantling the matrix of the LG TV, photograph their location.
      Image - DIY Broken LCD Display Repair

  • Also disconnect all loops around the device. On some models, they may be hidden under the frame that surrounds the LCD panel. Attention: there are loops that can be pulled out only by lifting the bar that presses them.
    Image - DIY Broken LCD Display Repair
  • Next, you need to take a new unpacked matrix, and put it next to (by spreading something soft) with the faulty one. This is done for more convenient transfer of parts.
  • The next step is to transfer all boards and modules from one chassis to another one by one. As soon as the board is transferred, immediately connect all the cables coming from the screen to it.
  • When all the modules are connected, you can replace the cover and the framing frame (if any), close the rear panel, and finish assembling the LCD TV receiver, and then check the operation of the device.
  • In order for the TV set to start working correctly, it will be necessary to agree on a new matrix with all modules. To do this, you need to turn on the device, enter the service menu, and make the settings. How this is done is indicated in unit instructions.

    Replacing the screen in an LCD or LED TV is not a difficult task, but it requires the utmost care, since you can damage not only very thin cables on the new matrix, but also the matrix itself, as it is very sensitive to kinks. Some other TV malfunctions can also be repaired by hand.