My TV has a vertical strip of darkness running from the top to the bottom, roughly near the center of the screen. The image is still visible in that area, but it looks noticeably dimmer. I checked the picture settings and tried different HDMI cables, but nothing changed. What is likely causing this, and is it something I can repair?
2 Answers
This is most likely a failing LED backlight strip. Since the picture is still present but the area is darker, the panel is displaying an image and the problem is probably with the lighting behind it rather than the HDMI cable or settings. Replacing the strip can be done, but opening a TV is delicate and the repair may not be worth the cost depending on the model.
A dirty-screen test may help confirm that it is a hardware fault, but a sharply defined dark vertical band usually points to the backlight system. You could get a repair estimate, though replacing the TV can be more economical, especially for an older or inexpensive model.
I checked the settings and cables mainly to rule out the simple possibilities. I’ll look into the backlight repair cost before deciding whether to replace the TV.