NEC 2010X LCD problems

A visually impaired lady has a NEC Multisync LCD 2010x that has started giving her trouble. After it has been on for 20 minutes or so the screen starts to blink off and on. Over the period of several minutes it finally just stays off. The green power light stays on.

I know a bit about software but very little about hardware so I gave her an old CRT monitor I had and recommended she send the NEC into the shop or break down and buy a replacement. She sent it to the shop.

During the month that it took her to find a repair shop and get it in she continued to use my CRT with no problems so I assume the problem is not with the video card.

The guys at the shop connected her LCD to a system and let it run over night and returned it with no trouble found. She hooked it up at home and the problem came back immediately.

She gave me the monitor to take home to see if I have problems with it and I've been running it for 3 days with a slightly different problem than the one she is having. At first when I booted up the entire display was used as the various messages and splash screens cycled through their processes. Then yesterday I clicked on the shutdown option to power off as I was going out for a few hours. When I got back the system was powered off but the NEC was still displaying the Windows splash screen and it would not respond to the poweroff button. The light stayed green. Now whenever I shut down some portion of the Windows splash screen remains, sometimes just an inch or so, somtimes more, and it does not respond to the power off button. When starting only 3/4 if the display is used until the Windows desktop appears then everything seems normal.

The only other symptom that she had that I do not seem to have is the front of the shell on the monitor gets fairly warm to the touch.

Any ideas what to tell the guys at the service shop? They gave her a 30 warranty on their diagnosis that there is nothing wrong with the monitor.

We had the repair shop take another look at the thermal fuse as a possible root cause. They came back to say the power supply is the culprit. They want $300 to fix it.

For not much more than $300 we can get a new monitor that is large enough. What is involved in replacing a monitors PSU? Is it as straightforward as a desktop PSU?

Thanks in advance.

Disclamers:
CAUTION:
1. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).
2. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
3. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
4. DO NOT PERFORM ANY SERVICE UNLESS YOU ARE QUALIFIED TO DO SO.
5. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SERVICE OR ADJUST THE INTERNAL PARTS UNLESS ANOTHER PERSON, CAPABLE OF RENDERING FIRST AID AND RESUSCITATION , IS PRESENT.
6. IF YOU STILL WANT TO OPEN THE INSTRUMENT AND DO THE REPAIR, PLEASE DISCONNECT THE POWER CORD AND/OR CABLE(S) FOR AT LEAST 15(FIFTEEN) MINUTES.
7. KEEP THE POWER CORD AND/OR CABLE(S) AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND/OR ANY SUICIDAL PERSONNEL.
8. IF ALL OF THE ABOVE DID NOT HINDER YOU FROM SPENDING $300.00 AND LET OTHER PEOPLE TO DO IT FOR YOU, AT LEAST YOU SHOULD TRY TO DO THE REPAIR IN FRONT OF A NOT-ABANDONED EMERGENCY ROOM AND ASK A NURSE/DOCTOR TO KEEP AN EYE ON YOU.
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The short answer is: replace the "G3M-203P" (US$ 9.XX to 14.XX each) on the power board.

The longer version of the story is: I have two NEC 2010X monitors, one black another ivory. Both of them shown the same problem at around the same age. At the beginning, I had the plastic back cover removed along with a metal cover on the power supply (if horizontally oriented, at the opposite side of where the power/D-sub vga/DVI plugs are). It worked, at least for several weeks, but than my black monitor start acting again and later the white one follow suit. So, I start to tickle (yes, the behavior someone did to their pets, intimates, or even themselves...) the problem. Tickle? How? While nothing but the little green LED stay lit up, I systematically "tickle" various electronic parts with a plastic ball point pan. The initial idea is tha if there is any "cold soldering" I should be able to see the screen flick back to the brighter side. And, BINGO, I found that when I tickle the relay (G3M-203P, a black rectangular stuff close to the top of the power supply board), the monitor returned back on. However, the solder of the relay seemed pretty rugged to me. I than remove the relay and attach a switch at the "LOAD" side of the relay. This time, the monitor never automatically turn itself off anymore even I turn the computer off. So, I purchase two relay and replace them. Ever since the replacement of the relay, my monitors were dressed up and kept working flawlessly.
Hope that you can revive your monitor, GOOD LUCK!

I posted a more detailed question.
Charlie

I am having the same problem with my NEC. It starts blanking out after 3 to 4 hrs of usage. If I press the on and off switch it will come back on but not for long may 5 or 10 minutes.

I just took off the cover on the power supply and found the chip you mentioned. PLaced the order for the relay. Hope it will work for me.

Thank so much for the info. I just love this monitor.

Charlie

The G3M-203P relay fixed my monitor too. I tried "tickling" but to no avail. I then jumped a wire across the load side of the relay after the monitor died. I turned it back on and it stayed working for a couple of hours. I ordered the relay from Mouser.com for $9.45 plus shipping. I soldered it in and it's been working great for over a month. I also looked like a genius to my girlfriends brother who had thrown the monitor in the trash. Too bad for him, it's mine now. He's a rich spoiled brat anyway, so he can just buy a new one.
Can't beat the internet for finding the truth and solving problems. Thank you very much!

I'm looking to do this relay-replace fix, but which G3M-203P are you guys using? 12V? 24V?

Did you ever find out if the G3m-203P was 5, 12 or 24 volts?? I have the same issue with my 2010X and woud like to buy the relay right away before taking the monitor apart.

Thanks

Sorry, I don't monitor this site as often as I should. The relay was the 5 VDC. I accidentally ordered the 12 volt the first time. Mouser was gracious enough to take it back and then I got the 5 volt. Good Luck!!

Thanks a lot for the info. Got one on order now.

Guys, from where I can get this relay in GTA/Toronto?
Please help.

Thanks

The site mentioned in the post earlier is www.mouser.com

I got mine from Mouser. Installed it and the monitor works great again. Just like new. I should be able to get another 4 - 5 years of use !

Hi,
Just want to confirm before I order it from Mouser, the omron part # is G3M-203P-DC5 and Mouser part # is 653-G3M203PDC5.
Is that the correct relay to order?

Thanks