Backlight failures on 20" Cinema Displays

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Level 1

15 points

Backlight failures on 20" Cinema Displays

Many of you seem to be writing of the dreaded partial darkening and short-short-long flashing power light issue with these otherwise great monitors. Mine is under 2yrs old and just developed the problem - which is a backlight failure my local Apple Genius Bar consultant confirms cost about $750 to repair (ie replace whole LCD). Before I go ballistic with fury, does anyone know of a simpler realworld solution for this issue --like say a bulb replacement (wouldn't THAT make sense) or something reasonable like that. Or am I just out of luck...?

Posted on Jan 24, 2005 11:36 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 15, 2005 8:19 AM in response to Kirk Kaplan

Message to Chris Schwarz:-
Having read all the discussions on this topic, I want to attempt the backlight replacement, using parts from lcdparts.com. Is there any way you could send me the pdf you mentioned please, showing how to do this?

Graham Aldred (England, UK)

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Answer 2

Feb 10, 2005 2:28 AM in response to Kirk Kaplan

For a possible remedy, please see my post at:
Jim Gebryel, "Display Backlight Problem Fixed for now", 06:09am Feb 9, 2005 CDT

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Answer 3

Kirk Kaplan Author

Level 1

15 points

Feb 11, 2005 11:53 AM in response to Kirk Kaplan

Brent Jim Chris -- Thanks for your comments & empathy. Apple should NOT be selling 1-yr warranteed screens at premium prices. A recipe for alienating fauthful customers.

Meanwhile, Jim: The unplug/rest/replug routine worked one time for me early on, then never again. So it does seem like merely a pause in the death swoon (is yours still working today?)

All: I spoke to lcsparts/moniserv as well. The bulbs are cheap, but do require a soldering step to install. Hairy enough to give me pause. Plus they could NOT confirm to my satisfaction that prob is bulb only and not inverter board. btw: they take a 20" for service and fix everything (w/90 day wty) for flat $199 thru their moniserv.com entity -- I'm tempted, but...

Meanwhile had to buy a new alum 20" b/c I NEED to function here. Boy is it bright compared to the slow fade my clear 20" had been manifesting. Skipped the alum 23 due to many posts re: pink color issue.

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Answer 4

Feb 11, 2005 3:20 PM in response to Kirk Kaplan

Kirk - Mine is still working OK since it happened about 4 days ago. Apple sent me the box to ship it back in under warranty but since it's working now I'll just have to wait until it happens again. I agree that a longer warranty should be automatic or at least an option on displays. I bought mine with the G5 so I was lucky.

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Answer 5

Feb 11, 2005 7:19 PM in response to Jim Gebryel

Kirk-

I tried the unplug thing but it didn't work for me so I'm still stuck in neutral here. I also spoke with lcdpart today. It's $20 for a new backlight for me, so I'm going to go for it. I have a friend that's good at soldering and he has instructions in pdf for the 22" model. I figure if I can't get the thing soldered I'll send it in for the $229 service.

The only downside is he's out of the part for a couple weeks. I'll keep you informed when I get the parts and put them in. I'm just going to replace all the bulbs at the same time. Otherwise, the top will be brighter than the bottom. 🙂

In any case, I don't know if I'm more disappointed in Apple due to the warranty issue ($2200+ after adaptor and tax) or telling me my display is UNFIXABLE when it's a $20 part.

Chris

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Answer 6

Kirk Kaplan Author

Level 1

15 points

Feb 12, 2005 8:03 AM in response to Chris Schwarz

Chris - good luck on the refit. Let us know how it works out; whether full original brightness returns. Aside: you refer to multiple bulbs; how many are in these things? Never been clear on that.

re: disappointment in Apple support -- you're right. They're mishandling;alienating lots of committed fans -- the precise group willing to have popped for their pricey displays.

I've been buying their gear in qty since Apple II - before the first Mac. Tons of $$. Most of which I felt was well spent. This situation, however, is unacceptable.

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Answer 7

Feb 14, 2005 8:11 PM in response to Kirk Kaplan

Hey guys, had the same problem with my 20" ADC the 2 Short 1 Long flashes of death, did as suggested by the thread (and Apple Care), its now not flashing, which is a good thing. We'll see how long it lasts. I am amazingly grateful I spent the $200 for the apple care on my G5/Cinema.

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Answer 8

Feb 16, 2005 3:21 PM in response to Kirk Kaplan

Message to Chris Scharwz:-
Just realised I cannot make direct contact via Discussions, so here is my email address

info@molotov-visual.com

Hope to hear from you soon.

Graham A.

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Answer 9

Feb 27, 2005 1:33 PM in response to Kirk Kaplan

Add me to the list -- it looks like I bought mine around the same time that many other people did (who are having the same problem). I bought mine with an original G5 w/ Apple Care, so it's under warranty, but frankly I wish I could just get it replaced (since this problem seems to be pretty widespread). Doesn't sound like a coincidence...more like an epidemic.

I'm going to shut down now to try the unplug routine, but it sounds like (as was stated before) just a temporary fix in the descent of this thing into its grave.

I highly doubt my next monitor will be an Apple. This display already has several stuck pixels...and now this...

I just look at all the cheap-o Dell LCDs in our campus computer labs, and I've never noticed any dead pixels or backlight problems on any of them -- and they've all been there for several years.

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Answer 10

Mar 2, 2005 9:09 AM in response to Kirk Kaplan

I am having the same problem and am very disappointed with Apple on this one. This display is not that old to have such a severe problem. I will not purchase another Apple display.

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Answer 11

Mar 13, 2005 8:44 AM in response to Kirk Kaplan

I am thinking about replacing my CRT with one of these LCD displays off ebay and hopefully save a couple of dollars. I did a google search and found that there is a growing group of people with failing back-light / power inverters, particularly with the 17" LCD (maybe simply because there are more of them). I've heard this has been a problem with the 20" cinema display as well.

Is this same problem more or less common on the 22" or 23 " models as those are my other choices being considered? Finally, is there any one model better or worse bad / stuck pixels? Thanks for any advice.

KK

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Answer 12

Mar 16, 2005 3:01 AM in response to Kirk Kaplan

I 've just fixed my backlight failure !! The light tubes are are 19.99 + postage from lcdpart.com. You need 4 in a 22" screen (two pairs). They sent them in a robust package from US to UK. The instructions are in a pdf on their website too. It was fiddly, but not difficult. You need a few small tools and a soldering iron. Took about 2 hours working very slowly and carefully. Don't be afraid to try !!

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Answer 13

Kirk Kaplan Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 16, 2005 7:07 AM in response to Graham Aldred1

Graham -- Were you able to pre-determine that inverter board was NOT the culprit? Or did you just begin repairs with bulb swap and hope that did the trick..? When I spoke to LCD parts, the guy was VERY fuzzy on how to tell what's broken/what's not...

Who steered you on correct bulb specs -- mine is a 20" so qty and size of my bulbs may differ....

Your response is helpful to all. Thanks.

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Answer 14

Mar 16, 2005 12:33 PM in response to Kirk Kaplan

Reply to Kirk's queries.........
Only my lower backlights had failed, also causing occasional screen shutdown. I believe there is only one inverter inside, which was still operating the top lights. (If all bulbs have failed, the balance of probability in my opinion is a backlight failure not inverter). The lcdparts bulbs page contains the specs and the list clearly identifies which model each bulb is for. By the way, it is best to replace ALL the bulbs because the new ones are a bit brighter so brightness is uneven. It is quite easy to open up the casing and investigate how many bulbs you have; just follow their pdf instructions; my guess is 4 (2 at the top and 2 at the bottom). It all looks scary inside the casing - just be VERY CAREFUL !!

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Answer 15

Mar 22, 2005 4:49 AM in response to Kirk Kaplan

I have this problem from time to time that the upper backlight goes out, to fix it all I have to do is unplug and replug the display into the graphics card. Guess it's just the connector coming lose after a while from the heavy weight of the cable pulling it down.

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