How do you fix a monitor?

[Blarg]

I have a SyncMaster 906BW. Today I was going in and out of my room and when I would leave I would just turn the power button off on the monitor but when I would came back it wouldn't turn back on when I would press the button (screen is as black as if it were off and never shows anything). I have unplugged replugged restarted etc and every time the monitors blue power light seems to just blink every 5 seconds rather than staying lit like it should be.

I googled the problem and found similar issues and one suggestion was to hold the power button + source button or power + auto button but that doesn't work for me. I have a different monitor plugged in now so I know it's not my computers problem. I have yet to plug the broken monitor into a diff computer to double confirm it's broken but I don't know what else to do.

I listened to the back of the monitor where the vents are and it kind of sounds like it tries to turn on and then fizzles out a bit. It's not loud and you can only hear it when you put your ear close. I never listened to it while it worked properly so I don't know if this is anything out of the ordinary.

Are there any tricks to find out what's wrong with it. Are monitors even something you can take somewhere to be fixed for somewhat cheap?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Igr5LeAaL.jpg

[Pikarya]

99.9% says the caps are dead. Samsung in specific are notorious for shit quality caps too, I've repaired 6 in the last year alone.

If you have the patience, soldering iron, etc. Takes 10 minutes and no more than $5 bucks online to order parts. Hardest part is opening the shells with a butter knife. A lot of youtube videos will show you how.

[Blarg]

I did watch a video on that when I was searching for a fix but I don't have a soldering iron. Do you repair those for money? How much does something like that cost from a person/store. There is a local computer store near me that may be able to fix it. Is there a fixing price point where it's just a better investment to get a new(er) monitor.

[Vales]

I would spend $20-50 anything beyond that probably easier to get a new monitor.

[Pikarya]

I did watch a video on that when I was searching for a fix but I don't have a soldering iron. Do you repair those for money? How much does something like that cost from a person/store. There is a local computer store near me that may be able to fix it. Is there a fixing price point where it's just a better investment to get a new(er) monitor.

Cheap one at Walmart is 3 bucks. I do repair them for money and usually charge way below the average. (If you're wonder what the average is, its usually 2/3 the cost of what the monitor retails for).

Its really not hard to do like I said though, if you know the basic concept of how a soldering iron works. Its literally;

1. Give the LCD 25 minutes or so to discharge, unless you want to get your ass zapped.
2. Open LCD Shell
3. Mark wires to remember where the hell they go, (same for screws if your memory is bad)
4. Use soldering iron once heated to remove the medium on the caps affected.
5. Clean lead holes, put new caps in the holes (make sure you put the caps the right way, they specifically are labeled to go one way only..)
6. Apply soldering medium, make sure you have a good firm connection and fill.
7. Go backwards from 3 to 1 and you're done. Extremely simple, if you can build a computer with minimal stress. Its really not a lot of work.

But, if you feel severely insecure. Take it to your local recycling center. I highly doubt you're gonna find a cheap place to get it repaired. As most shops are Jewish by-standard with prices & labor anymore.

Goodluck

[Khelek]

I have a SyncMaster 205bw and I have a different problem, but it's got to do with the screen going black, so I thought I'd post here instead of spamming with new topics.
Basically my screen will be fine for hours, then at random intervals it will flash black a bunch of times. it doesn't go as black as when turned off (basically as if it was sleeping), and the power led doesn't flicker. Simply turning it off for a couple of seconds and turning it back on will stop the flashing, but I'd love to find a permanent fix for this.
The screen is about 3 years old and I have it set up as my 2nd monitor. OS is Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit.
Thanks for any help!

[Pikarya]

This is also caused by the same thing, literally. Had a 203b recently that did this, repaired it and then it stopped. It will get worse to the point of where the monitor wont illuminate at all in the future if not repaired.

[Blarg]

what causes a capacitor to blow or what contributes to their breakdown

[SnickySnacks]

what causes a capacitor to blow or what contributes to their breakdown

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague

[Pikarya]

Manufacturers like to cut corners, they use cheap-ass caps. The result? The general customer suffers 2-3 years down the road (sometimes even less) and most just go out and buy a new one.

Most people will say they do this on purpose so that the general public just goes and gets a new one (profiteering 101) for lower-end brand models. In a nutshell, it would cost them probably $1-2 more dollars per unit to get quality caps for their displays that could last 10+ years easily.


http://www.mouser.com/ btw for buying new caps.

[JeffMetal]

Hi I have found this thread because this evening my Samsung Syncmaster 205bw screen decided to go fuzzy red and then go blank. The power button light stays on but no buttons respond. Even when I switch it off or unplug it and turn it back on the power light comes on, but no screen and again no buttons respond.

I have opened up the monitor as many sites claim it must be a cause of blown capacitors. But on inspection all the capacitors look totally fine.

If anyone can help and suggest what else could be wrong that would be great!

[Pikarya]

Double check the top of the caps again just to be sure, if they are even slightly raised. It can be a problem for a low-quality cap. Same for girth, if they are plump in anyway, they are bad.

Lastly, get a flashlight. Put it close against the screen. Tell me if you see the screen displaying even while "blank".

[JeffMetal]

Thank you Pikarya for your fast reply!

I just typed a post and uploaded images to show you the capacitors but after clicking 'post' it told me I need a rating of at least 10 to post urls!

They do all look fine to me with no bulging. The only thing that my un-technical mind noticed was a tiny tiny bit of gunk inside a 'Hi-Pot', But maybe that is normal.

I did shine a torch to the screen after re-assembling and powering up, but I could see nothing. The same problem persists, the power light stays on, but none of the buttons are functioning and of course a blank screen.

Many thanks