Samsung 37" LCD backlight issue?

nvingo · 07-01-2013, 07:00

Turned on my parent's lounge TV (full HD, 2008 model) yesterday and observed that a portion of the screen was dimmer than the rest - just like a transparent OSD.
This is a rectangle the full height of the display extending from the leftmost edge for about 10cm.
At first I thought it was a bug in the PVR connected by HDMI but switched to a scart-connected source the effect remained.
Within about five minutes it was no longer detectable.
Is this a sign that the backlight is failing and is it common to these or other TVs?

nvingo · 13-01-2013, 08:41

Further to this, I have since observed the affected area when the TV has just been started from cold. This time there was the additional effect of thin vertical stripes flickering. So it looks like it is not the backlight, but either the LCD panel, control section, or the connections between.

iangrad · 13-01-2013, 08:48

You are not going to like this but the only cure for this is a new screen and this ( if you can find one ) will cost many times more than the TV is worth .

Your only hope is if it was bought from a retailer who offered a 5 year guarantee - then getting you a new TV would be there problem .

Nigel Goodwin · 13-01-2013, 12:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvingo

Turned on my parent's lounge TV (full HD, 2008 model) yesterday and observed that a portion of the screen was dimmer than the rest - just like a transparent OSD.
This is a rectangle the full height of the display extending from the leftmost edge for about 10cm.
At first I thought it was a bug in the PVR connected by HDMI but switched to a scart-connected source the effect remained.
Within about five minutes it was no longer detectable.
Is this a sign that the backlight is failing and is it common to these or other TVs?

Backlights run horizontally, so a dark patch at the side can't be the backlights.

More likely it's dust/dirt inside the screen - but in either case it's going to need the screen replacing, which is likely to cost more than a new TV (even assuming the screen is still available).

The cheapest (by a CONSIDERABLE margin) LCD panels are from Sony, but even at that it costs close to the price of a new TV to do the job.

07-01-2013, 07:00	#1
nvingo Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: wisbech, cambs / norfolk Posts: 3,834	Samsung 37" LCD backlight issue? Turned on my parent's lounge TV (full HD, 2008 model) yesterday and observed that a portion of the screen was dimmer than the rest - just like a transparent OSD. This is a rectangle the full height of the display extending from the leftmost edge for about 10cm. At first I thought it was a bug in the PVR connected by HDMI but switched to a scart-connected source the effect remained. Within about five minutes it was no longer detectable. Is this a sign that the backlight is failing and is it common to these or other TVs?

13-01-2013, 08:41	#2
nvingo Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: wisbech, cambs / norfolk Posts: 3,834	Further to this, I have since observed the affected area when the TV has just been started from cold. This time there was the additional effect of thin vertical stripes flickering. So it looks like it is not the backlight, but either the LCD panel, control section, or the connections between.

13-01-2013, 08:48	#3
iangrad Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 772	You are not going to like this but the only cure for this is a new screen and this ( if you can find one ) will cost many times more than the TV is worth . Your only hope is if it was bought from a retailer who offered a 5 year guarantee - then getting you a new TV would be there problem .

13-01-2013, 12:24	#4
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by nvingo Turned on my parent's lounge TV (full HD, 2008 model) yesterday and observed that a portion of the screen was dimmer than the rest - just like a transparent OSD. This is a rectangle the full height of the display extending from the leftmost edge for about 10cm. At first I thought it was a bug in the PVR connected by HDMI but switched to a scart-connected source the effect remained. Within about five minutes it was no longer detectable. Is this a sign that the backlight is failing and is it common to these or other TVs? Backlights run horizontally, so a dark patch at the side can't be the backlights. More likely it's dust/dirt inside the screen - but in either case it's going to need the screen replacing, which is likely to cost more than a new TV (even assuming the screen is still available). The cheapest (by a CONSIDERABLE margin) LCD panels are from Sony, but even at that it costs close to the price of a new TV to do the job.

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Samsung 37" LCD backlight issue?