So your TV's acting up, but you're not quite sure what's wrong? We've all been there. That dreaded black screen, flickering image, or no power situation can throw your whole evening off track. But before you haul your TV to a repair shop or replace it entirely, there's a smarter, more cost-effective solution: symptom mapping. At TVpartsToday, we're all about helping you diagnose the problem and fix it yourself - the right way, the first time.
Here’s a more in-depth look at how to match some of the most common TV failure symptoms to the right component, save yourself the guesswork, and avoid ordering the wrong part.
Rather watch a video? Check out our helpful YouTube video on Troubleshooting 101 below:
⚡ No Power or Intermittent Power
✨ Common Symptoms: TV won't turn on, red standby light is off, TV randomly powers off/on
🧠 Likely Culprits: Power Supply Board ⚡ or Main Board 🤖
The power supply board is responsible for delivering power to every component of your TV. If it fails, your TV might not respond to the remote or power button at all. Sometimes, a failing power supply will cause the set to turn off at random or fail to boot entirely. If your TV has a red standby light but won’t power up, the main board may be failing to send the “power-on” signal.
TVpartsToday Tip: Look for blown capacitors, scorching, or bulging components on the power supply board. Use a multimeter to test for standby and DC voltage output if you're comfortable with advanced diagnostics.
Rather watch a video on the topic? Check out our YouTube video below:
🔌 TV Turns On, But Screen is Completely Black
🔦 Check: Do you hear sound? Try shining a flashlight on the screen at an angle.
🧠 Likely Culprits: Power Supply, Backlight Strips, or LED Driver
If your flashlight test reveals a faint image, it means the backlights have failed. The power board may not be delivering power to the LED strips, or the strips themselves may be burned out. If your TV has no picture and no sound, then consider the main board.
💡 TVpartsToday Tip: Start by testing your power board output to the backlight connector — if voltage is missing, the issue lies there. If power is reaching the connector, your LED strips are likely the problem.
Unsure about the flashlight test? Check out our video on the topic below:
🌈 Picture Discoloration or Strange Tints
🧠 Likely Culprits: T-Con Board 🕵️ or Main Board
If your image shows odd colors (greenish, bluish, purple tint), missing colors, or overly bright whites, you may have a bad T-Con board or signal processing issue on the main board. T-Con boards manage pixel activation and timing, and errors here can distort colors or cause picture issues.
Special Note: If the “tint” is blue-ish in color, the phosphors on your backlights have likely flaked off! In this special circumstance, replacing the backlight strips would be necessary. Check out our Blue Screen vs Blue Tint blog article for more information!
💡 TVpartsToday Tip: For screen issues with normal sound and menu function, suspect the T-Con. Still not sure? Take a photo of the display and email it to us for help!
Still struggling? Check out our helpful video below:
🗺️ Partial Image / Half-Screen
🧠 Likely Culprit: T-Con Board
If half the screen is black or frozen, the T-Con board is usually to blame. These boards can fail in a way that causes only part of the image to render, while the other side remains dark, mirrored, or frozen.
💡 TVpartsToday Tip: Some T-Con boards are built into the main board itself. If you can't locate one, it may be integrated with the main board.
Rather watch a video? Check out the repair video below:
📉 Flickering, Flashing, or Vertical/Horizontal Lines
🧠 Likely Culprits: T-Con Board, Main Board, or Panel
Lines or flickering typically come from timing issues. If they are static (always in the same spot), the panel may be damaged. But if they flicker or move, it’s likely the T-Con board. Also consider a bad LVDS cable (connects the main board to T-Con).
💡 TVpartsToday Tip: Always re-seat ribbon cables before replacing a board. Sometimes the fix is as simple as a loose connection. These ribbon cables almost never fail, but check them over anyway for any signs of damage!
Still need some more information? Check out our blog article on Horizontal vs. Vertical Lines!
❌ No Signal or HDMI Ports Not Working
🧠 Likely Culprit: Main Board
The main board handles all external inputs. If your TV powers on but doesn’t respond to HDMI ports, USB, or coax, the main board is most likely the issue. Software freezes, menu lockups, and app crashes can also point to this board.
💡 TVpartsToday Tip: Try different inputs and cables first. If multiple ports are failing, it’s almost always the main board.
We've got a video for this one too! Check it out below:
🔎 Why Part Numbers Matter More Than Board Numbers
Ordering the correct replacement is everything when it comes to DIY repair. Here’s the key difference:
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🔢 Board Number: Usually printed directly on the PCB. These numbers refer to the board layout design and are not unique to one specific part.
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🌐 Part Number: Printed on a barcode sticker and identifies the specific configuration (firmware, components, etc.). Examples: BN94-#####X, EAY########, 6871L-####X.
💡 TVpartsToday Tip: Even if two boards look identical, different firmware versions can cause compatibility issues. Always match the part number, not the board number!
Still Stuck? We’ve Got Your Back
TVpartsToday isn’t just a parts warehouse - we’re a team of real people who love helping you solve these puzzles. We offer:
🔁 Free troubleshooting 🌊 Lightning-fast shipping 👍 Friendly, no-pressure support
💬 Need Help?
If you’re still unsure about the issue or need to replace a part, reach out to TVpartsToday. We can help you identify the exact cause of the problem and provide the right replacement part!
Would you rather watch a video? Check out our helpful Troubleshooting 101 playlist over on YouTube!
Would you rather chat with a seasoned repair expert? Head on over to our TVRepairHelp subReddit!
📦 Need help finding the right board or part?
📞 Call us at 930-212-1975 or browse our inventory online.
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