T22 display problems - advice needed

[bdgenz]

This T22 SXGA (2647-M6U) has done a great job for what I use it for.

Lately I've noticed more and more flickering especially when it warms up. It SEEMED like it did this w/hard drive activity, turn down the brightness and it SEEMED to go away - no longer the case from what I can tell but results do vary. Redish on the left side when cold, not real consistant brightness across the screen but tolerable when warm.

If a repair is not throwing away $$$ (please advise) can anyone can help w/a few questions, I would be most grateful...

I suspect an inverter board and panel bulb, does this sound right given the symptons?

The inverter board (part # 10L1402) appears to be the same for all size and resolution models, is this correct?

Should I try an inverter board first?

I found a part# 46L2493 on ebay, which is listed at IMB/Lenovo as "LCD panel (Hitachi) 14.1 (SXGA+)". There is also a "LCD panel (LG) 14.1 (SXGA+)" listed. If an entire panel is in order, how do I know which one I have/should use?

Can I do a bulb swap or should I just get the panel for $100 or $150?

Any other troubleshooting I should do beforehand?

Anyone have a link to the disassembly instructions for the panel/replacement etc (I don't suspect this to be a biggie issue if not)?

Given the symptoms, could I have other problems?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm trying to avoid having a ton of extra parts around, replacing all kinds of stuff and ending up with a non working or un-repaired money pit. This was purchased used a couple years ago at $400 and have purchased/replaced keyboard, restore disks, a couple batteries, extra power supply, 7200RPM 40G hard drive, just bought another DVD. It's probably about a $750 machine at this point and I'll cut my losses if thats the best avenue.

It has still been a wonderful machine ;~)>

TIA

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

I suspect an inverter board and panel bulb, does this sound right given the symptons?

Given that your main problem seems to be the redness and uneven brightness, I'd vote for your LCD backlight as the cause. Flickering could be a weak inverter (or loose connections) but generally if the inverter is bad it's an all-on-nothing issue (i.e. light or no light).

The inverter board (part # 10L1402) appears to be the same for all size and resolution models, is this correct?

That should be correct. The Hardware Maintenance Manual lists that FRU for each sized panel.

Should I try an inverter board first?

This is the cheapest solution, at around $10-$20 (eBay). But that won't get rid of the reddish tint or the uneven illumination.

I found a part# 46L2493 on ebay, which is listed at IMB/Lenovo as "LCD panel (Hitachi) 14.1 (SXGA+)". There is also a "LCD panel (LG) 14.1 (SXGA+)" listed. If an entire panel is in order, how do I know which one I have/should use?

To answer the last part first, you could disassemble the display and look on the back side. However, it's really a non-issue. Either panel can be used with the cabling in the lid.

Can I do a bulb swap or should I just get the panel for $100 or $150?

Ahhh... a glutton for punishment . A backlight (CCFL) exchange can be very difficult to do. You would have to partially disassemble the fragile LCD panel in order to get at the CCFL. In my opinion, it's not worth the trouble. Sure the lights are cheap, but if you end up breaking one of the tiny traces in the panel, you're left with a bunch of dead pixels.

Any other troubleshooting I should do beforehand?

(Best Roseanne Roseannadanna impersonation....) Boy, you sure do ask a lot of questions for someone from New Jersey (oh, never mind.... it's Texas). Sorry, it's real early in the morning for me . My suggestion is always that you swap out a suspected component with a known good unit that you have on hand (easy if you see my .sig). As this does not seem possible in your case, your plan of action does appear to be the most logical. Replacing the backlight (or the entire panel) would, in my mind, be the correct thing to do.

Anyone have a link to the disassembly instructions for the panel/replacement etc (I don't suspect this to be a biggie issue if not)?

The aforementioned Hardware Maintenance Manual contains all of the procedures needed for the correct disassembly (and re-assembly) of your laptop. It is available from here:

T2x HMM

You could simply replace the entire lid (LCD panel, lid, hinges, ribbon cable, etc.) if you can locate one for sale. There's only six screws holding the lid to the bottom of the laptop. Granted, you do have to rip apart almost the entire laptop to get to that point, but you wouldn't have to deal with the fragile panel and the hard-to-insert ribbon cable. Just last night it took me 10 minutes to put that puppy back into the connector.

Given the symptoms, could I have other problems?

In my opinion, probably not. The redness is a sympton of a failing backlight. Flickering could be the inverter but I'll bet that your main problem is the panel. It's also possible that a loose connection would be the cause of flickering but generally you can identify that by moving or putting some pressure on the ribbon cable extending from the back of the keyboard, up into the panel.

It's probably about a $750 machine at this point and I'll cut my losses if thats the best avenue.

If you do decide to sell it, your options are eBay (obviously) or here at thinkpads.com in the Marketplace forum. Some people here are always on the lookout for a new "project".

[dsigma6]

Just last night it took me 10 minutes to put that puppy back into the connector.

Does that have something to do with the, as you like to say, "near century-old eyes"?

That thing might be $750 to you, but to the rest of us...

If I were in your shoes, I would be daring and just try to get the old bulb out and swap with a new one. We're already guaranteeing you'll screw it up, but God it would be nice to hear someone say they did it...and it was easy!

[rkawakami]

Does that have something to do with the, as you like to say, "near century-old eyes"?

Hey, HEY, that's HALF a century ! Did I accidently type in "century" somewhere? If so, then I plead early-stage dementia

[dsigma6]

No Ray, that was my mistake. Apparently my near quarter century-old eyes are playing tricks! It would be interesting to see a 100 year old man working magic with electronics like you though..Speaking of 100...I just turned 1000!

[bdgenz]

That thing might be $750 to you, but to the rest of us...

If I were in your shoes, I would be daring and just try to get the old bulb out and swap with a new one. We're already guaranteeing you'll screw it up, but God it would be nice to hear someone say they did it...and it was easy!

Well, I never said "worth". Simply mentioned my concern for dropping any more $$$ into it.

Since you mention it tho, it is probably worth more to me sitting on my daughters desk than the $ I could recover in a sale.

If the repair works and no problems for 6 mos or a year, that's probably where it'll end up.

That sounds like a challenge! I may be just the guy you're looking for!

Thanks for all the input!!

[dwilsonfl]

Mine was flickering like that and this morning it died. No backlight makes for a very tough screen. Got a monitor plugged in and it works fine. I might take a flier on another T22 core and see if I get lucky. I've maxed out the RAM and put a faster/bigger HD in this one so I could swap stuff. Or even a T23 and sell the T22 to buy enough RAM for the T23.

decisions..