There are several ways you can fix the three red lights flashing on your LG TV and we’ve put them all together in one handy guide so you can get back to watching your favourite shows. The first two fixes are short term solutions that don’t work for everyone however the third option should resolve the problem with a little work on your end.
What Causes 3 Red Lights Flashing on LG TV?
Here’s the problem: you go to turn on your LG TV but it flashes three times with a red light before powering down. You might even see the LG logo startup before it disappears again quickly. No matter how many times you try to turn it on, it just stays blank.
The reason why your LG TV flashes with a red light 3 times before turning off is because of an electrical fault with the power board. It is most likely due to faulty capacitors.
It is common for LG TVs to need new power boards or capacitors after only 3-4 years. If you have this problem then it may be because you’ve had your LG TV for a few years. The bad news is that you’ll need to invest a few pounds to fix it yourself but it’s not very expensive. If you’re going to fix it yourself, you’ll need to know a thing or two about power boards but you’ll be saving more money in the long run.
Nevertheless, here are several ways you can try and fix this problem.
But before that, here’s something important:
If you’re looking for ways to save some money in TV repairs, continue reading and we will show how. However this is a serious issue that needs fixing then it’s best contact an expert technician who can help fix your TV in no time! Some brands/shops even offer free servicing while inside guaranty; however as soon as you open the chassis or any other part of your set (even before) – there are chances it might stop being covered under warranty so be aware about these things too..
1. Get your power board repaired
The first fix you can do is to take your TV to an LG specialist. An LG engineer will easily be able to replace your power board but it’s not going to be cheap. In fact, this type of repair is going to set you back at least £200. When you take into account the fact you can buy a new LG TV for around this amount of money, it may be worth sucking it up and buying a brand new TV set if you’re not very confident about trying to fix it yourself.
2. Disconnect From The Power
LG themselves are well aware of this problem with the power board and they have some advice for users who are experiencing it. However, this is realistically only a short term fix but it might allow you to watch your LG TV for a short period of time.
To try this fix, unplug your LG TV from the wall and leave it for 6 hours which will let the internal caps drain. Plug it back in and see if it turns on.
3. Hold Down The Power Button
Another fix you can try is to again remove the power cable from the wall and then hold down the power button for 10 seconds before plugging your TV back into the mains. This fix might let you get some short use out of your TV.
4. Replace Faulty Capacitors
If your Power board is the cause of this issue (which it likely is) you can take your LG TV apart and look at the capacitors. The capacitors should be flat at the top but if they appear bulged or domed, you’ll need to replace them to test if they are the culprit.
To change your TV capacitors, you’ll need;
- Phillips screwdriver
- Soldering iron (£15 on Amazon)
- Pliers
- Wire cutters
- New capacitors
Warning: Always make sure your TV is unplugged before you attempt to repair it.
- Unscrew the screws on the back of your LG TV. You should have anywhere from 12-16 screws on the back of your TV. Unscrew them all and keep them safe.
- You should now be able to pop the back of your TV off.
- Take a picture of your power board. This will help you to use it as a reference when you reassemble your TV.
- Remove all power harnesses using a simple tug on the connector clip (not the wiring)
- Remove all screws holding the board down.
- Now you need to identify the bad capacitors. You can do this by looking at any signs of bulging at the top or leaking. Don’t worry about the large capacitors (they rarely fail) your focus should be on the smaller ones.
- Capacitors have polarity. What this means is, like a battery, they have a positive (+) and a negative (-) side. Before removing any capacitor, note which side the white stripe of the capacitor is facing. You will need to put in the new capacitor in the same direction. Take notes or take a picture, or you will ruin your TV.
- Flip your power board over and identify where the bad capacitors are located from underneath.
- You may need help from a friend whilst you use your soldering iron to heat up the leads. You should start to see the iron melt. Keep going back and forth on each lead and apply a small amount of force as you tug on the capacitors until they fall off.
Once you have removed any bad-looking capacitors, you can go ahead and attach your new ones. When buying new capacitors, you’ll need to look at the values on your existing ones so you know which ones to buy. Make sure you purchase compatible ones. You can find cheap capacitors on Amazon.
Install New Capacitors
Once you have your new capacitors, it’s time to attach them.
- Place your capacitors in the holes on your power board and then bend the leads down on the rear side to hold them in place. Use your soldering iron until the metal melts and your capacitors hold in place.
- Clip off any excess from the leads so they’re not sticking out and solder any parts that protrude off the power board.
Now it’s simply a case of doing the method above in reverse to reattach your power board and the back of your TV. Congratulations! Your TV should now turn on and you have saved yourself at least £200!
If you’ve had faulty capacitors, this fix should work for you. After all, it’s worked for hundreds of people to fix their LG TV’s.
