How to fix broken pixels on a tv screen?

November 30, 2022 3:55 PM

My beloved 2007/2008(?) model 37" Sony Bravia tv has developed a line of broken pixels along the left side of the screen, top to bottom, and getting larger by the week like a run in a stocking. Have you, personally, fixed this issue? And if so, how?

A google search result is instructing me to run a frankly alarming twelve-hour video that strobes in multicolor to get the pixels to reconnect, but does that actually work? Thanks for your help!

posted by mochapickle to Technology (11 answers total)

Oh interesting, can you link to the suggestion/video please for clarity/posterity?
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:23 PM on November 30, 2022

I tried using a similar technique on a laptop screen back in the day. It didn't end up working ... I believe because the pixels were dead and not stuck. I suppose playing the video is worth an attempt.
posted by oceano at 4:29 PM on November 30, 2022

Oh hello SaltySalticid! I can't find the exact set of instructions I read the other week, but the video it linked to was something like this. (As a warning, the video blinks and flashes quick and bright, so just to be safe please don't click if you're prone to seizures.)
posted by mochapickle at 4:30 PM on November 30, 2022

Those flashing videos sometimes can be used to 'unstick' single pixels, but if you're seeing an entire row or column go bad I would say it's the connection at the edges of the LCD that's going bad.

Has the set experienced any severe change in temperature or humidity?
posted by JoeZydeco at 4:31 PM on November 30, 2022

Hi! Sorry, not to threadsit, but the issue started maybe about 8 inches from the top and four inches from the side, maybe a column of 10-12 pixels, one pixel wide. I could only see it when I was standing directly to the side. A few weeks later, it's all the way to the top, 1-3 pixels wide, not yet touching the bottom.

The tv is indoors, with indoor temps between 56F-65F typically. Lately I've fallen asleep with the TV on, which is somewhat unusual, so perhaps the tv was warmer than usual.
posted by mochapickle at 4:44 PM on November 30, 2022

Make a PowerPoint presentation that rotates every half second between full screen of red, green, blue, black, white, black automatically and leave it running overnight. That might help, but won’t hurt.

The colours should be chosen with the relevant RGB values set to either 255 or zero.
posted by mhoye at 6:09 PM on November 30, 2022

Sounds like it’s just wearing out. To fix it you would need to get into the TV and diagnose the issue. I have a friend who went down the road trying to get his older plasma TV fixed that was in great shape except a minor issue. Took it to a repair shop. Tried to get parts. Etc. Was a lot of time and had to spend money for parts that didn’t fix the problem. Never ended up getting it fixed.

I think it’s likely that you will end up needing to replace it (used may make this cheap if you are near a city with Craig’s list TVs available).

I have fixed stuck pixels with a rubbing technique (like https://www.techwalla.com/articles/how-to-stop-dead-pixels-from-spreading), but not a whole column.
posted by creiszhanson at 6:11 PM on November 30, 2022

I mean, this sounds like a problem with the conductors in the LCD panel. I'm afraid I have very little hope that flashing colours on the screen will fix that, nor that replacing any part of the electronics will fix it either; the screen sounds like it's karked it, I'm sorry to say.

If you are willing to admit defeat to that level, then rubbing techniques are your best answer (broken conductor -> butt the ends together sort of thing) but it doesn't come with any guarantees that it will work or that it will last.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 7:11 PM on November 30, 2022

I agree with the above comment; your tv is likely borked and it's definitely not worth the money to fix it, it's 15 years old, time to let it go.
posted by rhymedirective at 7:47 AM on December 1, 2022

If it's at the far edge all in a straight line just cover it with a suitable piece of tape from top to bottom. Other than ignore it that's about the only thing you can do.
posted by jmsta at 9:05 AM on December 1, 2022

I think you're right -- this TV is most likely done. But do think I will go ahead and try the weirdly unnerving pixel video overnight in a closed, locked room just to see if it does anything (I'm skeptical!) and I'm also going to try out jmsta's tape idea for a while until I can pick out a new set.

Thanks for the help, everyone!
posted by mochapickle at 11:00 AM on December 1, 2022