The Famous Plasma Black Line

[[email protected]]

I have a SONY plasma TV. It's developed a problem - a thin horizontal
black line that goes from one end of the screen to the other (about 4"
from the top of the screen). I've also noticed that several other
people have reported the same problem. I've even seen folks selling
their plasma TVs on ebay with this same problem.

The bad news is that I am told by service technicians that the problem
is a bad display driver board, which is part of the display panel.
Cost to repair: $2,000.

My gut tells me it's a bad chip somewhere. I shouldn't have to replace
the entire display. Correction - I shouldn't have to throw a $4,000 tv
in the garbage after three years.

Does anyone know how to really fix this problem. My model is
KZ-32TS1U.

Thanks,
AABob

 

[[email protected]]

The entire display with the ic circuits that are an integral part of
the glass display all needs to be replaced. That is how you fix the
problem.

 

[James Sweet]

I have a SONY plasma TV. It's developed a problem - a thin horizontal
black line that goes from one end of the screen to the other (about 4"
from the top of the screen). I've also noticed that several other
people have reported the same problem. I've even seen folks selling
their plasma TVs on ebay with this same problem.

The bad news is that I am told by service technicians that the problem
is a bad display driver board, which is part of the display panel.
Cost to repair: $2,000.

My gut tells me it's a bad chip somewhere. I shouldn't have to replace
the entire display. Correction - I shouldn't have to throw a $4,000 tv
in the garbage after three years.

Does anyone know how to really fix this problem. My model is
KZ-32TS1U.

Thanks,
AABob

Unfortunately the chips are bonded onto the ribbons which are bonded to
the panel so the fix is indeed to replace the panel. Sucks I know, it's
the primary reason why I'm too paranoid to buy a plasma TV.

 

[Ian Stirling]

I have a SONY plasma TV. It's developed a problem - a thin horizontal
black line that goes from one end of the screen to the other (about 4"
from the top of the screen). I've also noticed that several other
people have reported the same problem. I've even seen folks selling
their plasma TVs on ebay with this same problem.

The bad news is that I am told by service technicians that the problem
is a bad display driver board, which is part of the display panel.
Cost to repair: $2,000.

My gut tells me it's a bad chip somewhere. I shouldn't have to replace
the entire display. Correction - I shouldn't have to throw a $4,000 tv
in the garbage after three years.

It is not inherently impossible to fix.
I'd estimate you could probably set up a station to try to fix it for
well under 10 million dollars.

 

[James Sweet]

It is not inherently impossible to fix.
I'd estimate you could probably set up a station to try to fix it for
well under 10 million dollars.

If you could find an identical panel with a broken glass it might
technically be possible to transfer the driver from one panel to the
other, but with the ones I've seen there would be absolutely no way in
hell of doing this at home. It really is a shame, I don't understand why
they bond them rather than just using some sort of connector.

 

[Sam Goldwasser]

If you could find an identical panel with a broken glass it might
technically be possible to transfer the driver from one panel to the
other, but with the ones I've seen there would be absolutely no way in
hell of doing this at home. It really is a shame, I don't understand
why they bond them rather than just using some sort of connector.

Didn't we just discuss the political issues in adding 25 cents to the
cost of a product? Could imagine how many levels up the chain of management
would be needed to add a few dollars worth of connectors?

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[Jason D.]

We had a Samsung 40" LCD (2005 models) come in and they said to
replace the lamp inverter, replace LCD ($1500). The silly lamp
inverter boards (2x) aren't part of LCD and can be unplugged and
unscrewed.

I do not see the reason for anything over 1500 or more to build in
throw away, they are expensive and customers will be mad to hear like
that because of one part is intergal of the LCD or Plamsa (drivers ICs
(make it solderable on gull-wing ICs) on a strip of board assembly.
SILLY!!

This should be repairable and we need that kind of lifehood to able to
keep doing this on LCDs and such. In old days these LCDs had soldered
on ICs on back of LCD.

Cheers, Wizard

 

[kip]

I guess you should have done some resarch into
Plasma before you purchased the Garbage.

 

[[email protected]]

You're absolutely right. And I am mad! Does anyone have any experience
with SONY management? Can I complain to someone there about their
$4,000 disposable TVs?

 

[kip]

Go to the top and get to speak to a
General not a Private and BE nice.
It will work for you.

 

[Mike Berger]

It drastically decreased the size and weight of the support
electronics, and increased the reliability. Imagine how many
tiny wires you'd have to connect to the external electronics.
A 1280x720 pixel panel. You'd need a reliable, inexpensive
921600 conductor connector (assuming no grounds or other
control signals).