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

im very un easy about doing the fix at the bottom of page one ,  scared of breaking it ,

Well , that was an Interesting Experiance , all fixed !! , the prssure on the port took a while to get right , but now its fixed , thank you to everyone , really does speak to apple to not fix this ,  below are pictures Before And After

Before

After Fix

Once again Thanks to everyone !

Those are fantastic images Emma, thanks for that.

Again it shows how ASTOUNDINGLY SIMPLE the problem is ........ A LOOSE MICROPLUG.

It's just that simple - a loose microplug.

It's difficult to fix unless you're a professinal electrician - but a professional can fix it in literally like "2 minutes"

1. remove screen.

2. remove 1x piece of silver sticky tape.

3, fix loose plug.

I hope you saw my video .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QJ4rqvn2G8 ..

which shows perfectly clearly it is nothing other than a loose plug, behind that "silver paper" ... my ten year old made that video, for goodness sake.

It is totally astounding that Apple won't just fix this problem.

The moment any skilled person -- like our Kaos - opens the machine and pulls off the silver sticky tape, any experienced person instantly realises ..

"Oh, it's a loose plug"

To repeat - it si simply utterly amazing Apple don't just fix it, for the PR value.

It is an unbelievable black mark on Apple's reputation.

It is CLEARLY a consistent problem that is affecting 1000s of people with the LG screens, and it is CLEARLY nothing more than a loose microplug!!!!!!!!!!!

You know Apple are reading this .. every time someone watches this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QJ4rqvn2G8  they are more and more embarrased!

Let's consider this -- Apple knows, absolutely undeniably -- that it is an incredibly simple fix.

And they know, absolutely undeniably -- that it is a known consistent problem with these LG units.

That's a bad conbination.

Thanks Emma

Hi guys got a quick question if i were to replace the screen , do the 2010 model screens work in the 2011 imac ?  as i can get one for a reasnable price ,

Many thanks Kaos2K,

your research and pictures helped to repair my 27" iMac without having to replace the LCD panel.

It was a tricky solder job, but succesfull!!

Best regards,

Klex1404

Well although this issue is a known problem I was unwilling to make the attempt given the cost of fixing the issue.  I have read posts from 2009 to present postings showing Apple knowingly has been denying the issue based on the failure happening outside warranty.  I just dropped the Mac off at the store with the sticker shock of the $600 price tag.  Pushing on the screen didn't work from the outside case.  Why wouldn't apple just go back to Samsung and say anti up and just make good on a defective product.  When has it been ok to pay for something more than once by shortening the warranty.  Where the heck has pride and quality gone.  I converted to Mac from windows and still do not regret the change but I never had a monitor go out in 11 years. 

Make it right should be the battle cry not pay up.  Lastly if I hear you should of bought extended warranty from another apple person I will just walk out.  If we are going to sell additional coverage than make the warranty longer and cover those hard to get parts later.  When systems are in production the price of the units are low given volume.  Later those parts cost more to get because of lower volumes.  So pay now for availability later.  No part should cost more than 10% of the purchase cost. 

I emailed their new CEO and they kindly fixed it for me free.

Its far easier to ype than open up a complicated box of electrical bits.

Kaos2k,

short version, fixed without soldering - just bending those teeth on that white connector.

1st off, thank you very much to share this DIY fix. my 18 months old imac had this issue 3 weeks ago. i went to 2 different local apple store ( pleasanton, CA and santa clara, CA) just to show them a photo of the problem, they told me the check is free but they think it will cost me at least $600 to fix this. and then i found this post, after reading and reading i finally got the ballz to open it. i tried John-Paul May technique by pressing it gently with finger but it was still flickering. i pulled the white connector out (had to do some cutting on those white plastic to move it out). its really a small area for me to work with if i need to cut those black wire open and solder it down. so i tried to bend those little teeth from the white connector to point down, hoping it will get a better touch, i plugged it back in with some foam double-sided tape, put everything back together, AND IT WORKED !!!.

Thank you again to Kaos2k and John-Paul May.

That is a fantastic idea to bend the white teeth a little. Great stuff.

It sounds like a hard job to get the white plug out -- you had to cut it eh ?

Thanks for that info.

It's true we all owe KAOS a huge vote of thanks.

Apple 0, Kaos 1  !!

hi John-Paul May,

yes, there were these 2 white plastic feet to stop the white connector from falling out. I had to cut them in order to remove the white connector along with the black cable without doing too much damage. I think that is also where our problem begin as that white connector was not a snug snap in that hole.

Thanks to all the contributors here.

I had the exact same problem, left side of screen dimming, not to mention grey smudges now appearing in the top right of the screen.

I couldn't bring myself to go the soldering route but packed self adhesive pads over the socket and it worked - so far. It does seem to be a half arsed fix, but it works.

There is no doubt that Apple should issue a recall for these displays.

Anyway, my display is bright all over and I didn't have to buy a new one.

Now, if I could just resolve the erratic magic mouse problems...