LCD repair

In this video I show how to fix a fading pixel problem for LCD screens. Because usually the problem is with the LCD connections not the LCD itself, I look at the two most common types of LCD connections, that are used in the industry. After that I show how to repair these types of LCD connections to fix the problem.

Contents:
00:00 - Introduction to fading pixel problem.
01:21 - How zebra connections work.
03:14 - How FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) connections work.
04:50 - How to fix LCD screen, that has zebra connections.
07:00 - How to repair LCD screen, that has FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) connections.

[mikescher]

I thought I had destroyed my thermostat so I searched for instructions like this. Yours are by far the best explanation that I found. Thank you for taking the time to make this.

[giulianocrepaz]

The suggestion was excellent to solve the issue of LCD in my Casio calculator. The problem was in the connection strip. By heating with hairdrier and pressing in the contacts area, the LCD now working like new. Thanks

[NarrowboatJourneys]

I cleaned the zebra connector of a kitchen timer but no luck. The problem was the other side of the connector which was stuck to the lcd. I pulled it off and cleaned it. It was tricky to put it back as there were no guides to locate it correctly but I got there in the end. Now it works like new. Thank you.

[richardmoody]

Hi, well I've had a good day today, I fixed the LCD pixel problem that I had on my SONY mini hifi system using this video as a guide.
I didn't do it exactly as the link but it was certainly a good guide. What I did in the absence of a soldering iron was use the side of a kitchen fork prong that I had heated up on the gas ring for 10 seconds. Then I positioned the heated prong exactly where I wanted it, pushed down on the furthest fork prong away to give a good amount of pressure and held for 75 seconds which allowed the heated prong to cool down. So, I was doing 3/4" about every 2-3 minutes. I did have to put the unit back together to see how I got on & take it all apart again several times but eventually I got there. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction ShortcutElectronics.

[rco]

I have many many many years trying to fix my VW LCD clock which is dead since I get the car, like 17 years ago. I really appreciate your detailed explanation how to fix it...

[ronkirzinger]

No one repairs my car's (1997 Mercedes E420) non-displaying pixels but I noticed that simply putting pressure on the ribbon cable at point of attachment worked to a very limited extent. I suspected already that heat or pressure would work and now that I see it in this video, it makes perfect sense! Definitely worth a try, though I might have to come up with a method to know the temperature of the soldering tip. THANK YOU for this video. :-)

[joelcordier]

Thanks a lot for this tutorial. I discovered the hot method. By the way, my gess for the zebra problem is the oil escaping from the rubber polymer. Same for remote controls or keyboards using the same method of conductive polymer pads to short pcb pads. It might be related to the pressure as I noticed that on remote controls, it's often the most used keys that become oily. Joel.

[eddyvanoosterbosch]

You are a hero: I just fixed the LCD.l display of a Gazelle E-Bike: the display uses a flex cable which was indeed loose at the display end. Heating this side of the cable with a soldering iron at 195°C worked perfectly I have a electronicly adjustable temperature on my soldering iron)

[dave-ospamalot]

Thanks for this very instructive and thoughtfully-made electronics repair. Explanations with visual examples were very helpful in understanding the underlying concepts. I appreciate the care with which you demonstrated the repair, as well as additional applications. You earned my subscription! Please CONTINUE TO TEACH US VALUABLE LESSONS!

[DerekCampbellIS]

Thank you for sharing this troubleshooting method on the repair of an LCD board. I'm about to try it on my fading pixel problem.

[csc]

This gentleman gives a very clear explaination and excellent, understandable fix that even a non-tech person like me! Thank you!!

[angusmacsac]

thx to your experience and a few other youtube videos covering "Zebra" rubbery conductive contact strips (i had no idea such existed) that are used to connect circuit board contacts to LCD contacts and how to clean them - i was successfully able to restore my LCD display functioning on a very expensive race car digital dash display - cost $0 - just 10 minutes of my time and some research and patience

[frankedwards]

It now works great! Thank you ShortcutElectronics for this easy to understand LCD screen repair! I'm a big fan.

[andrewmansker]

Excellent. 20 minutes to clean contacts and add three layers of tape top and bottom and works like new. Thanks.

[Falkentyne]

Thank you for this video! I was able to fix my Chronos Chess Clock's left panel display with your exact trick, with some tin foil and a TS100 soldering iron @ 200C, and it's perfect!!!!

[waynoswaynos]

Thank you. Method 1 did it. Now for the part of the repair you can't help me with, which is to find the 2 tiny screws I managed to lose while searching for an LCD repair video.

[ПётрПроценко-бк]

Thank you you reassured me that there are no other ways of them to fix those zebra connections or whatever connects to them

[INeverWanted]

Very concise video. Thanks! I'm going to try this on a very old General Electric alarm clock that's been missing a few segments for years.

[ekawa]

I had a hacked ghost box with no numbers showing besides the very first one.. I'm gonna give your idea a try.. :-) thanks either way, I for one appreciate that you showed this so clearly!

[DameAndThatGame]

Thanks for this, my BMW screen is full of lines, a new lcd is 68 quid, def going to give it all a clean and reseat, worth a try, cheers for info