Thunderbolt Display turns off randomly

I see more people are suffering from the same problem. I wish Apple would acknowledge this issue and provide a proper resolution.

In the mean time, I need to try a new combi power cable to see if that helps as it seems to have done for some fellow sufferers.

I'm using a 2011 Mac Mini so I only use the thunderbolt part of the cable. Does anybody know :-

1. If there is a simpler cable for Mac Mini only.

2. Where I can buy a replacement cable? I can'y find one on the UK Apple site or any other site for that matter.

Thanks in advance

Chris

I had this problem and just talked with Applecare. This is what they had me do. It seems to be working so far...

1) Reset Thunderbolt display by unplugging the power cable from the back for 15 seconds.

2) disconnect display from macbook pro

3) SMC reset your macbook pro

a. turn off;

b. hold down shift-control-option and the power button for 10 seconds;

c. restart)

4) Reset the p-ram:

a, Turn off your computer;

b. hold down command-option-p-r all at once and restart; keep holding until the restart sound happens twice then let go

5) Turn off computer, plug in display, turn back on.

Just purchased a stacked imac with 32gb/4gb vid/ssd/etc. Picked up a TB display.

Within 3 days of the system up and operational, I've experienced:

1. Audio grinds to a halt, sputters, sounds like a far off AM radio station after about 5 minutes of playing music through itunes or any other audio app.

2. Screen has gone into a spasmotic flickering episode 3 times now. Pulled the TB connector and it calmed down

3. Screen turned off on me once at random.

I just found this thread, along with a mess of others dating back to the release date in 2010. Found a few firmware updates, system wouldn't run them as it's current. Did PRAM/SMC/etc, still same audio. The imac was released a full 3 years after this display, and the same problems appear to persist. While I understand this is par for the course for many apple products, this one really surprises me.

My questions:

1. Have these issues been resolved?

2. Is is possible I received an "old stock" dud unit? (bought at apple.com)

3. Should I give apple a shot at making this right or is the product hopeless?

I have until 1/31 to return it.

Thanks

Reject it and get a replacement, I've had mine for a year and it works fine. However having read these posts I did take up the option of Applecare (the TB is covered free if you cover your new Mac).

I don't suppose my problems are the same as others being experienced here, but in the end I put the 'not waking up after sleep' issue down to the simple fact that I was using a wired keyboard which was not capable of waking a sleeping mac with any consistency (I have an MBA with TB screen). Now I have replaced the keyboard with a bluetooth one it wakes up every time.

It just blows my mind that a company can continue to dump a clearly defective stock of product onto consumers for three years straight. Seriously, this is brand new, high end kit. Idiots.

I have had this issue for many months now with no resolution. I transported my 27 inch display to the Apple store where they ran a test for 3 days with no problems observed. Now that I have it home it is doing the same thing again - must re-boot sometimes, must unplug and replug, must watch my screen flicker and go a bit darker then completely go black.

Apple will not acknowledge this probelm and will not provide a fix. With all of my Apple products I am very frustrated that this montor problem persists.

Wake up Apple - you will be losing many customers over this issue. I have a house full of Apple products as do my many family members and this problem will preclude any further purchases until it is resolved!!!!

I now have a solution. this is a heat problem. There must be a thermal switch in the monitor that is causing this problem. I placed a small fan from Brookstone on the back of the monitor and have had it running now since my post of 20 Jan and the problem is resolved.

I suspect that it is really a noise margin problem which means that the design it near to its limits. Small problems in any of the circuits or connections can cause the failure, and heat increases the noise in electronic systems.

I do not think that the extry cooling is a universal solution, rather a remedy for your particular case - still if it works that's great.

Regards

Same issues. Brought in for several day test (though not with my machines, Air and MBP). They said fine. I took home and after a week, flickering and then just went black again when browsing web! This is really puzzling. I use the ports on back for FW800 and USB drives. Nothing really special using software-wise and already did multiple NVRAM/PRAM resets. Takes unplugging from back for it to come back on; not even hot. Apple please help!

haha

Hi, guys, I got a solution,

it's been working perfactly for my TBD. but my case is kinda complicated, so if you have same problem with mine, it might be your solution too.

My TBD started randomly turning off and blinking exactly two weeks ago, when I just got my second monitor, LG 27'' IPS monitor. at first, I thought it was the LG monitor, but after replaced another LG monitor and a 32'' VIZIO TV, I figured it was the Thunderbolt display. So I went to the store to repair it, after a series of tests, they replaced me a new one. When I got home with this brand new Thunderbolt display, just 20 mins later, it happened again. Then I realized that it was my mac mini. something was wrong with it. BTW, I upgraded my mac mini with 256GB SAMSUNG 840pro SSD and 16GB RAM 4 months ago. After lots of research online, it might be the RAM. So I took one RAM out.Then it solved, everything goes very smoothly, although it only has one RAM on it.

So if any of you have same problem like I had before, try to take one RAM out. Make sure the one you left in Mac mini is big enough to run your system.

Went back to different Apple store and left off display again after flickering and random blackout. This time Genius read prior notes and actually said the problem had been observed during first repair which was actually no repair, but rather an obeservation period of sleep/wake. This time, they replaced logic board and TB cabling. Just put pack together with my system at home and will post again when / if completely resolved. Fingers crossed!

Went back to different Apple store and left off display again after flickering and random blackout. This time Genius read prior notes and actually said the problem had been observed during first repair which was actually no repair, but rather an obeservation period of sleep/wake. This time, they replaced logic board and TB cabling. Just put back together with my system at home and will post again when / if completely resolved. Fingers crossed!

Im having the same problem. My Macbook Pro is late 2011 and was working great with my Thunderbolt Disply. All off a sudden it's started playing up. Tried resetting the laptop and still no joy. Doing my nut in. Any help would be much appreciated.

I had this problem with a new Thunderbolt Display a few weeks back. The screen would go black and come back on again frequently and most annoyingly. They replaced the all in one cable and that fixed it. Guess what, the reason I am now having a groan is that I have another brand new Thunderbolt display with exactly the same problem. Clearly, the all in one cable that is built into the monitor is being poorly made. I'm assuming this is not soldered in but just a plug type connection, so I would say they've made a dodgy batch of cables. I have a 3rd Thunderbolt display that I'm just about to deploy to someone else. We have quite a lot of these displays, but any purchased before November last year seem OK so far. If the 3rd new one I'm about to deploy has this problem also, I will be having a very big moan indeed. They are rather heavy to carry about a mile to the Apple Store. Considering it's DOA they should really pick it up and send a new one, but taking it to the Oxford Authorised Repair Centre is the easiest way to get service. Once repaired I will confirm whether it was the cable or not.

Actually I have a fourth new one too - so we should be able to identify how bad a batch there is. I'll keep this forum updated.

Cheers, John.