I have a Panasonic TH-42PD50U plasma set, manufactured in July '05. Everything about it is great EXCEPT..... It has developed a vertical line on the left side of the screen (about 8" in from the left edge). The line is white-ish, and about 3/4" wide. Any clues as to what it may be and how it might be repaired?
Basically, unless you've got an oxidation problem with the address ribbon cable in that spot on the panel you've probably got a bad address driver IC on the panel. Those driver IC's are part of the panel assy and not replaceable. I'd try reseating the ribbon connector first, if it's not that it's the panel.
Major $$
Thanks MOtvGuy. It's not a spot, but a line that runs from the top of the screen to the bottom. There are boards on the left and right sides of the set (inside rear), with 4-5 ribbon cables on each one. Someone has called these buffer boards, and suggested that the problem might be corrected by replacing that?
Nope, not those. Those would give you lines running horizontally. Those buffer boards on the side of the set have small flatpack IC's on them, those are driving the panel horizontally. The address drivers are similar but unfortunately, panel manufacturers decided to actually mount those small flatpack IC's directly onto the ribbon cables along the bottom of the panel. They are not replaceable and require panel replacement if one has gone bad. Like I said, in some cases the ribbon connectors on the bottom of the panel can get oxidation on the connector and create the same symptom. Pulling and reseating those connectors will eliminate that as a problem.
The address drive IC's have their own buffer drivers mounted on boards across the bottom of the panel. Those are the boards the panel actually plugs into. Those rarely go bad.
Thanks again MOtvGuy. I've found the offending ribbon, disconnected and reconnected it, but no change.. Is there any way to clean the ribbon and/or the seat? I'm hoping this isn't a bad panel.... If so, know anyone who wants to buy this for parts?