Sony Bravia white stripe issue - Hardware & Software

I just picked up a new TV from my boss at work. He was just going to throw it in the dumpster because of a "white line" down the right side of the screen. However, he said if I wanted to try fixing it, I could have it. Awesome. So here's the deal, I've found what the problem is, but I'm not sure how to go about fixing it. I'm not even sure if it CAN be fixed... It's a ribbon cable with what appears to be several broken contacts. [t]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/ArmedZagi/TV%20issue/IMG_1930_zps79d94cfb.jpg[/t] And here is the culprit... [t]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/ArmedZagi/TV%20issue/IMG_1932_zps854dd44b.jpg[/t] [t]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/ArmedZagi/TV%20issue/IMG_1944_zps20603100.jpg[/t] Here is a GOOD ribbon cable for refference... [t]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/ArmedZagi/TV%20issue/IMG_1943_zpsad68b97a.jpg[/t] Any idea's on how to go about repairing such a problem? I'm afraid I'm a little out of my league here. Is it even do-able? Edit: I don't know that it matters, but the model is kdl-46hx800.

Personally I'd say it was far too damaged to repair. Not sure where you're based but you could probably find a replacement online. They're about £7-8 / $10

[QUOTE=Gustafa;42985488]Personally I'd say it was far too damaged to repair. Not sure where you're based but you could probably find a replacement online. They're about £7-8 / $10[/QUOTE] I'd love to just replace it, but the cable is part of the panel itself. Can't just replace it. I'm considering trying to clean the area, strip the top layer of plastic off the ribbon cable tab, then replace the bad traces with conductive epoxy. It's a one in a million shot but I don't know that I have any alternatives. Hoping someone else might have some better ideas.

I'd just put a big line of solder flux across the corroded parts and run a soldering iron across all of the points with a fresh ball of solder.

[QUOTE=GiGaBiTe;42990640]I'd just put a big line of solder flux across the corroded parts and run a soldering iron across all of the points with a fresh ball of solder.[/QUOTE] Thanks for the reply. I wondered about that, but it seems like there's a gap between the end of the copper in the ribbon, and the pad where it was connected. I wasn't sure if it would bridge the gap? Wish I had a way to take better pictures of it for you guys. I'm going clean up the corrosion tonight to see if I can get a better view of what all is going on...

If you have enough flux and don't use too much solder, the flux should keep the solder on the connection and not bridge to adjacent connections. If you aren't comfortable doing the whole thing in one go, you can do just a few at a time. Just make sure you don't keep the iron on the connections too long or you risk melting the ribbon cable or lifting traces on the PCB.

I cleaned off the corrosion and was able to get a better picture. You can see where the copper has been eaten away, up into the cable. Huge picture, thumbed [t]http://imageshack.us/a/img27/9097/uszx.jpg[/t] By the way, I took that picture pointing a flashlight at the wall with my neck, holding a magnifying glass with one hand, and my phone with the other. I feel like that's some kind of special achievement by itself :D

That's way worse than I thought. You're going to have to do some more intricate surgery, starting by lifting enough of the plastic shield over the copper fingers to get at the corroded ones. You'll then have to use some very fine grit sandpaper to expose the copper of the corroded finger. Then you'll have to follow the destroyed trace to a place that isn't damaged, sand off more of the board to get copper and connect the two with either really short wires or a solder bridge. I'd estimate something like that taking 4-5 hours to do.

Shucks, I was really hoping it wouldn't come down to that. The copper in those ribbon cables is only about as wide as 30-31 gauge wire. And they're only about 1/2 that width apart from each other. My biggest concern is magnification for seeing what I'm working on. I don't think a magnifying glass will cut it at that size. Maybe a jeweler's loupe... Also, what do you think is the better way to go about soldering something this small, solder paste or flux and solder? [QUOTE=GiGaBiTe;42996066]I'd estimate something like that taking 4-5 hours to do.[/QUOTE] [img]http://www.facepunch.com/fp/ratings/rainbow.png[/img]

If you use enough flux, it should work. But if you want to sacrifice a bunch of electrical tape, you can tape over the traces that you don't want to solder on and do one at a time, trying not to touch the electrical tape with the soldering iron. Just make sure you have a ventilator or fan to blow the fumes of the flux away because that shit is nasty and can make you sick if you inhale it too long. Same goes for the rosin inside the solder.

Instead of trying to wire directly to the broken traces you could also try scraping the solder resist (the green coating) off of the corresponding via and connection on the flat flex and run some tiny enameled copper wire between the two. If you actually do decide to go through with this do you actually have the tools you need such as a good (preferable variable temperature) soldering station, flux, solder (smaller than 0.5mm is kinda essential for SMD) and experience in SMD soldering, otherwise this may not really be worth repairing.

[QUOTE=ddrl46;43006581]you could also try scraping the solder resist (the green coating) off of the corresponding via and connection on the flat flex and run some tiny enameled copper wire between the two.[/QUOTE] That's the plan. I ordered some 40 gauge wire last night. [QUOTE=ddrl46;43006581] If you actually do decide to go through with this do you actually have the tools you need such as a good (preferable variable temperature) soldering station, flux, solder (smaller than 0.5mm is kinda essential for SMD) and experience in SMD soldering, otherwise this may not really be worth repairing.[/QUOTE] No experience with anything this small unfortunately. I'm in no hurry, and I want to do it right. This stuff look okay to you guys? If you know of something better and cheaper let me know. -snipped crap quality stuff- [editline]28th November 2013[/editline] You know, the more I look into this the more I realize I'm going to need some better stuff. I need to buy a real soldering station. Looking at these [url]http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WES51-Analog-Soldering-Station/dp/B000BRC2XU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385659795&sr=8-1&keywords=analog+soldering+station[/url] or [url]http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-FX888D-23BY-Digital-Soldering-FX-888D/dp/B00ANZRT4M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1385659851&sr=8-2&keywords=analog+soldering+station[/url] Also, where do you find good quality solder and flux? The selection on Amazon seems a bit weak, or maybe I'm just missing something?

[QUOTE=Zags;43008300]That's the plan. I ordered some 40 gauge wire last night. No experience with anything this small unfortunately. I'm in no hurry, and I want to do it right. This stuff look okay to you guys? If you know of something better and cheaper let me know. -snipped crap quality stuff- [editline]28th November 2013[/editline] You know, the more I look into this the more I realize I'm going to need some better stuff. I need to buy a real soldering station. Looking at these [url]http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WES51-Analog-Soldering-Station/dp/B000BRC2XU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385659795&sr=8-1&keywords=analog+soldering+station[/url] or [url]http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-FX888D-23BY-Digital-Soldering-FX-888D/dp/B00ANZRT4M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1385659851&sr=8-2&keywords=analog+soldering+station[/url] Also, where do you find good quality solder and flux? The selection on Amazon seems a bit weak, or maybe I'm just missing something?[/QUOTE] Since you live in the USA (according to flagdog anyway) you might want to look into the Hakko FX-888, also make sure to order some nice tips along with it such as a 0.8 or 1.2mm chisel point tip such as [url=http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-T18-D08-Series-Soldering-FX-8801/dp/B004ORB8GK/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385665516&sr=8-1&keywords=T18-D08]this one[/url] (avoid the tiny pointy tips, those may look useful for SMD stuff at first but they are utterly useless). I use Stannol 0.5mm Sn60Pb39Cu1 solder for everything, including SMD, but if you cant find that try looking for Kester / Multicore brand solder and make sure you avoid lead free solder at all cost. As far as flux goes I think this will work [url]http://www.amazon.com/NTE-83-1000-0186-Rosin-Liquid-Flux/dp/B0089EQGW0/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1385664860&sr=8-3&keywords=kester+flux+pen[/url].

Station and materials are ordered. Now I just need to find a way to magnify the area enough to see what I'm working on.

It begins... Sorry for bumping this old thread, but everything above is still relevant. Hope that's cool. I hate it when people don't finish threads like this, so I decided I wouldn't be one of those people. Took forever for a couple things to come in, then I got busy with work stuff. Here's the little station I setup to try and get this done. Biggest problem is going to be the microscope I'm using. Thanks to the way light works, everything gets flipped horizontally and vertically as I work. [t]http://i.imgur.com/M0A83Wv.jpg[/t] Here's what I've got to try and fix... 23 of these little buggers. Some worse than what you see in the picture. [t]http://i.imgur.com/xygYwyA.jpg[/t] Wish me luck guys!

Slow going, although I think I've got it figured out now. After a few hours, I've managed to FINALLY get ONE wire done. I have a question for you electronics gurus though... After I manage to get all these wires soldered in place, how can I go about securing them? They're literally the same thickness as my hair and are super fragile. Can I drip epoxy onto them? I would use hot glue, but whatever I pour over them needs to be pretty thin to fit back underneath the tv's bezel. If I smush the glue down with a piece of tape or something I'm afraid I'll knock a connection loose. Progress pic for anyone interested. [t]http://i.imgur.com/KGkSaEm.jpg[/t] [sp]Yes, I realize I spelled soldered wrong, don't hate me![/sp]

Just use some rubber cement or something, you can brush it on carefully.

Um... Guys... I think I actually did it... [t]http://i.imgur.com/Vm3zqei.jpg[/t] So, many, tiny, wires. And solder bridges, which are so small they don't even show up in the pic very well. But yeah... The stripe is gone! Hopefully it will stay gone. I'll have to let it play some movies for a few hours to make sure, but DUDE... I think it works! [t]http://i.imgur.com/Hrw9Ugu.png[/t][t]http://i.imgur.com/6ZHty3Q.jpg[/t] Seriously now, thank you guys for the help. I don't think I would have had the confidence to try it without talking it through with y'all first. I posted this on a couple other forums, neither of which were nearly as helpful, even though they were legitimate TV repair forums. A+ facepunch. Edit: My avatar has never been more appropriate.

Nicely done. Always good to see a tricky repair work out. I would now look at conformance coating the rest of the contacts, just to avoid the same fault on a different ribbon.

[QUOTE=Zags;42982034]I just picked up a new TV from my boss at work. He was just going to throw it in the dumpster because of a "white line" down the right side of the screen. However, he said if I wanted to try fixing it, I could have it. Awesome. So here's the deal, I've found what the problem is, but I'm not sure how to go about fixing it. I'm not even sure if it CAN be fixed... It's a ribbon cable with what appears to be several broken contacts. [t]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/ArmedZagi/TV%20issue/IMG_1930_zps79d94cfb.jpg[/t] And here is the culprit... [t]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/ArmedZagi/TV%20issue/IMG_1932_zps854dd44b.jpg[/t] [t]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/ArmedZagi/TV%20issue/IMG_1944_zps20603100.jpg[/t] Here is a GOOD ribbon cable for refference... [t]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/ArmedZagi/TV%20issue/IMG_1943_zpsad68b97a.jpg[/t] Any idea's on how to go about repairing such a problem? I'm afraid I'm a little out of my league here. Is it even do-able? Edit: I don't know that it matters, but the model is kdl-46hx800.[/QUOTE] Hey Zags, my fathers bravia also did this his model number is kdl-46hx800 also but im just struggling to find where about the corroded traces are, iv already pulled off back panel with tv facing down, but cant seem to locate where you found the dodgy traces to clean up and re contact. any help will be muchly appreciated :)