Vizio VO37L power problem

[ronm6962]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

Thanks, tom66.....do you have any suggestions for what I might try next to isolate my "no video" problem?

[ronm6962]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

Well, since I have ceased getting replies, I must assume no further help is available. Thanks to those that responded.

[keeney123]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

You have replace 4 boards, there is not much left. I guess the only things left is to check the cables for continuity. If you have a top board that is directly connected to the screen and there are IC's on that board you might be able to look up the data sheets on the IC's and possible be able to tell the operation and check out the most likely cause and replace them. The last thing is the screen itself which you might be able to get used for around $85 to $150

[ronm6962]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

Thanks for the advice, keeney123. I had given up on help, but I feel this problem is a simple one...if I could just isolate it.

My symptoms are the same whether or not the Tcon board is connected to the Main board, so from that I would assume either a video signal is not being sent from the Main board, or the Tcon board is not processing it. That could also suggest a cable problem, based on your continuity comment, and I have not checked that. The cable connecting the Main board to the Tcon board runs underneath a large cover underneath both boards. Perhaps I will try removing it and remove the cable to try the continuity of each wire. Will take a day or so, but will post back. Thanks again for not giving up on me.

[ronm6962]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

The 2nd replacement Main Board arrived today and while I held my breath, the screen came on with the setup menu! Hallelujah! I've been working on this TV for three weeks, and went down several wrong paths based on receiving a bad Main Board that was guaranteed to be in good working order. In the process, I replaced all the other boards, but have since gone back to the originals and now trying to see if refunds are available. Hopefully will at least get a refund on the "bad" main Board that was guaranteed.

Now I have a big decision to make, since I started out this project in hopes of repairing, rather than replacing components. I could spend a good bit more time and do voltage and resistance checks on 40+ components, with the "bad" board and again with the "good" board, to see if a failing component(s) could be identified. That's the repair hope I had when I started this thread. I suppose it would satisfy my curiosity and certainly could be helpful to others with similar Vizio video problems (and there are many!).

However, at this point I am pretty much burned out working on it. Will sleep on it and see how I feel tomorrow. (-: Thanks to budm, keeney123, vinceroger, and tom66 for trying to help me.

[budm]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

At least you got it going. The only place that I have no problem and getting the refund or exchange with another board is from Shopjimmy. It is hard to rely on some sellers as to the board is good or bad.

[ronm6962]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

I did buy the second board from ShopJimmy, and they even told me up front I could return it if it didn't resolve my problem. They are now a favorite Ebay vendor for me.

[keeney123]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

I am happy for your success. The company who sold you the main bd definitely needs to refund you, because they caused you more grief than you needed to go through. If the other boards had a return policy and they do not honor it you will need to write to the attorney general of the state the company is in. Many attorney general's have a complaint form you can fill out online some you will have to mail a letter to them. I have yet to find an attorney general's office that hasn't taken action to correct a wrong.

[budm]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

I did buy the second board from ShopJimmy, and they even told me up front I could return it if it didn't resolve my problem. They are now a favorite Ebay vendor for me.

I use his company when he first started the business and real happy with his services.

[ronm6962]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

Grooooan!!!! I guess I declared victory too soon. Yesterday afternoon after installing the new Main Board, I didn't have time to check it out thoroughly, just saw the setup screen and assumed all was working, the left for the evening. This morning, I turned on the set and got the Setup screen, but can not get anything else. The only button on the right side of the set that does anything is the power button, it does turn the set on and off. Picture attached. I do not have a remote control, but would expect to be able to do whatever is needed from the buttons. Am I missing something?

[ronm6962]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

Oops! I forgot to attach the picture of the Setup screen that I'm getting.

[ronm6962]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

Guess I'm getting Vizio crazy, working on this thing. I found a way to get past the Initial Setup screen by pressing the power button, then pressing and holding the Menu button until a blank blue screen appeared stating No Signal. That allowed me to skip the Setup screen and access the Menu. From there, I completed the setup and channel scan, and now all appears to be working A-OK. When I power it on, it goes to the last used Input device as it should. So, I'm closing this thread, and again appreciate the help from everyone.

[budm]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

Thanks for the good news, having the remote will be a good thing, I always have a hard time using the button on the TV to navigate.

[kikepr17]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

Hi. I don't know if I should start a new thread, but since the symptoms are similar I though it was OK to post here. I'm not a tv technician. I'm a diy'er with some experience repairing desktop and laptop computers for friends an family, so when a friend was going to get rid of a Vizio VO37LHDTV10A I decided it was a good opportunity to learn more about electronics. Before doing anything else, I did a visual inspection and found the capacitors in the inverter board blown. So I replaced the board. The tv shows the same symptoms that led me to this thread; no picture or sound, and the logo lights amber, but nothing else. I checked and found 5v present in connector J1 of the main board. Voltage is present in some ICs, but not in others. So following the path in the thread I start to inspect the inductors and found evidence that one was also blown. The board number is 3637-0242-0150(3B) and the inductor is the L18 at the right (positioning the tuner at the lower right) of the big heat sink. I found some service manuals, but the ones for this model don't have the part list. I just need some help identifying this component to see if I'm lucky and get this tv fixed. Thank you.

[kikepr17]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

I decided to carefully remove the heat sink, to see if there are any more components below it, and found a CB62 also blown...

[Agent24]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

How did the inductor L18 fail? Was it burnt up? That typically indicates that something has gone shorted. I can't see from the photos, but does L18 supply power to CB62? It could be that CB62 went shorted and caused L18 to burn.

[kikepr17]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

L18 and CB62 do not seem to be connected directly. The top of L18 is connected to R88 and the piece of the board where the lower end of L18 is supposed to be connected is damaged, but it seems to connect to C31 at the right. I think C31 is open. It shows infinity even at the highest setting of the multimeter. It is possible the damage was caused by the caps that where blown on the inverter?

[Agent24]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

Small value capacitors will read open-circuit, that is normal.

The damaged pad for L18 also goes to a VIA, check resistance from that VIA to each pad of C78 and CB62?

[kikepr17]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

Sorry, I don't know what VIA is. Can you give a little more detail?

[budm]

Re: Vizio VO37L power problem

VIA: https://www.eurocircuits.com/via-via-hole/