[GUIDE] Fix iMac flickering and dark screen problems out of warranty

Hi guys.

Last friday I decided to give my last try on fixing this problem.

After tried the "pressing" solution, I gone further and disassemble the display peace. So I couldn't have enough acesses to soldering back the connector neither to soldering cables direct on the board.

Encouraged by the @Cvitanic words, I decided to go a bit further too.

I made this monster and imposible soldering with a traditional soldering tip and a old solder. Can't believe I got it yet!

To reinforce the cables and also to isolate the wires, I used some epoxi, as @Cvitanic recomended.

I took some pictures from my adventure (see it bellow).

Here in Brazil we call this kind of "tricky but usefull fix", this "jerry-rigged stuff", this "MacGyver Ninja solutions", GAMBIARRA. You can have little fun googling it.

Last tip: be very carefull on cleaning the inside panels of the display and on puting back the plastic frame. In my experience, after puting everything back again, I noticed a little hair on the middle of the screen! Also, noticed some little shadows comming from the edges. This is probably caused by the misalignment of the plastic parts inside the plastic frame. It is little tricky to put all together back again. It seems like the plastic frame have some bevels to accommodate this plastic parts (these are like sheets of thin plastic).

Realy have to thank @Cvitanic for your key contribution and, obviously, to @Kaos2K for starting this thread and identified this unbelivable problem.

Thank you guys!!

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Hi Kaso2K,

Hackaday just published this, based on my video on this subject but, rightly full attribution for the origional find has been made to you. Once again thanks for the origional post

http://hackaday.com/2014/01/21/finding-the-fix-for-a-dimmed-27-imac-screen/

Gerry

Another successfully repaired 'dim left side 27" iMac screen' here. Was pretty nervous about doing it, but it worked out fine. So thank you, Kaos2K, Gerry Sweeny (nice video!) et all.

Really didn't fancy driving hours to an Apple store and paying their huge screen-replacement bill. I also bought my iMac when we lived in the UK, so didn't know how that would affect their repair process.

Definitely an LG manufacturing fault, that connector just isn't soldered well at all.

As a tip, I bought some enameled 'magnet' wire from Radio Shack to do this. I used the 26 guage green wire, which seemed a good fit. I also bought a $20 20W Radio Shack soldering iron which was just about small enough for the job: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4314833&locale=en_US

-James in California.

Hi James,

Nice one, probably not worth the trip back to the UK 🙂

Gerry

Thanks James.

I think you just inspired me to finally bite the bullet and finally try the solder option.

Albiet in a couple months when I have the time 😉

http://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/29/apple-hit-with-class-action-lawsuit-over-fai ling-27-imac-displays/

I tried a simpler quick fix to this problem. In exposing the white plug, I was able to get the lights to come on by adding pressure but the suggestion of attaching a piece of cork to put pressure on the plug did not work for me. I then realized the pressing the plug in was not so much the problem as pressing it down. I think what has happened is the cord on the plug was pulled too tight in construction. With time and heat the wires eventually gave way. After all, there are at least 4 of these plugs... why is it only the one on the bottom left that is giving out? I wedged a small screwdriver above the plug and pushing down got the lights to come on. I then thought if I could permanently wedge something in place it might just worked. I had a japanese chop stick handy which comes to a point about 2 mm in diameter. I wedged this in and the lights came on. I then cut the tip off with sharp wire cutters and left it in place... it worked! I put some masking tape over this, sealed it up and I am back running. Hopefully, the pics show the process and results.

I agree with others that Apple should stand up and accept responsibility. I recall a company, I think it was the first manufacturer of polartec, whose factory burnt down. They decided to keep all employess on full payroll while the factor was rebuilt; I believe this took over a year. That's a company with integrity. Like others, I made the switch to Mac in the last year and have been very happy. But without integrity we are likely to switch back. I can see why Apple doesn't want to do this, they can't jury rig a fix like I and others have; they have to replace the screen which is likely the most expensive component. But there is much more than the short term cost of repair at stake here. They should not underestimate the value of long term loyalty.

Thanks to all of you for helping with this repair... without a forum like this I would have been nowhere.

Hey guys,

today I tried with some friends do the soldering solution, like Kaos2K.

I have a friend how already made some soldering stuff, but, unfortunelly, for my luck, he can't make the service.

The hole is very small and some things don't help to make, some contacts plates start to get out from the hole D:

I don't lost all my hope, I will see if somebody can help me in my town, because, pay R$ 2.200,00 (~ US$ 900,00) for a LG screen is not a way for me.

There have been a few temporary fixes having to do with applying pressure at the connecter in various ways. I'm skeptical that these will last long, but for those who have had success, I sincerely hope it lasts!

When I had my panel out (mid-2011 27" LG panel LM270WQ1) I could get the backlight to power on briefly with slight finger pressure, which to me confirms that the solder joints have indeed broken. Trying to get power to the backlights by applying a little pressure to a broken solder joint just doesn't seem like a fix to me. If I can't get resolution through Apple, I'll try soldering.

Afterwards, I filed a bug report/issue online @ Apple, and also emailed Tim Cook (Google it), and the next morning I got a call from an agent at Apple Corporate Executive Relations (PR). While no resolution was offered by the agent, the action did create a case number, or record of the complaint. He sent a confirmation email which I replied to with photos documenting the affected panel & dimmed screen & computer serial#.

I think it's important for Mac users experiencing this issue to contact Apple directly and register a hardware issue complaint. Be thorough and polite. Posting on forums isn't enough. Fixing it yourself and getting on with life, while simpler in most cases, doesn't help pressure Apple to take responsibility for the components they use, or to tighten up their component testing protocol.

If it comes down to a class-action case, Apple will have to reveal how many complaints they've received to the court. Until a case comes to trial, enough legitimate complaints may force Apple to resolve the issue on it's own. I don't know if my case will be resolved. I do know that the dim screen is a nuisance and it places an asterisk after the iconic "Think Different*"

@pici while I agree with your centiment in relation to complaining to Apple, I have been around the block a few times in the commercial world and I think left to their own devices, in reality Apple will ultimately *choose* what to reveal in a court of law - they can afford very expensive lawyers to craft an appropriate defense I am sure. So long as the information is collated on forums like this one, has tracable witnesses and is a matter of public record then thats every bit as compelling as evidence in a court of law as any complaints lodged with Apple directly and disclosed under court order - in fact you could argure its better because its not up for any kind of professional manipulation. No matter how wrong or right Apple are, the very best thing that can happen is enough people with the problem voice their views in the public domain. Of course lodging an official complaint with Apple would not hurt either.

In terms of fixing it yourslef, whats the alternative? Live with it? Buy a new one? Switch to windows? You see I would argue that if Apple were to loose a class action lawsuit on this specific issue, I would have every right to make a claim for my efforts in fixing the problem myself on my own computer that Apple refused to fix - so if you have the capability then why not get back up and running. Of course of you do try to fix it yourself and you fail - and you have caused any damage (which you will if you get the point of trying and failing) then you are basiclaly smoked because as soon as you take it apart and break it, Apple do not have to do a bean for you.

Like the wildcard on the Think Differnt* logo - nice touch 🙂 they certainly are Thinking Differently on this issue

I too am suffering from iMacular Degeneration.

Unfortunately, I chalked up the occasional flicker to bad AC, lights, or my eyes etc. and didn't get it in for warranty repair in time.

I'm curious, as to the consensus, on whether the Apple replacement panel is a permanent fix or not. If the manufacturers process hasn't been corrected this could be a very expensive ongoing expense.

I had it into the Genius bar but didn't really get an answer on the permanence issue.

I received a call back from Apple Corporate Executive Relations on my report about the display issue. Apple Tech had viewed my stills & video and concluded that I had modified the computer (by pulling back the silver tape on the rear of the LG display) hence they would not consider taking the issue further. Again, in my case, AppleCare is expired. I purchased the system used from a private party, and it was an Apple RM unit, as I discovered later.

Points from the call:

—The representative refused to send me an email detailing what he had just told me. He said I could call AppleCare Support with my case number, but that they would only give me the status verbally, same as what he just did. So, no paper trail to support a record of Apple's response. This is Apple official policy.

—The representative conceded that Apple has received "a number of calls" regarding the display issue, and that they are addressing them on a case-by-case basis.

—The threshold for being denied service is incredibly low, though the representative refused to specify what that threshold encompassed in my case. I concluded that they're looking for any excuse to not absorb the repair of these iMacs.

I thanked him and wished him good luck with the class action lawsuit. He didn't sound pleased.

I'll be doing the soldering fix soon, guided by Gerry's excellent video. Thank you to all who have contributed to the discussion and for posting your DIY experiences!

Hi Rain Man, I know your post is from a while ago but I made the exact same mistake unfortunately while cleaning the LCD. The LCD still works but there's a big brown line through the screen.. did you ever find a way to fix this without replacing the entire LCD?

If anyone knows a solution please let me know!