Samsung forum: Samsung Series 3 (330), won't show any picture/no sound?

Mr Samsung HD Tech,
Your replies to most peoples' problems are to call Samsung Service. You offer no real advice, especially for the "power on" issues many Samsung models seems to be having. My TV is also a 32-inch LCD television, models number LN32A330J1D. IT IS 6 MONTHS OLD & WILL NOT TURN ON! The power red light is on, but the power button does not respond to attempts to touch it to turn it on or to remote attempts. I would like a helpful response...NOT one that says you don't have enough info, and to call Samsung's 1-800 number. I'll give you all of the details you need.... ask away.
EllenN11

I turned the set off, went to work, returned home and nothing. Red LED is illuminated but neither the remote or the power button will power the set on. Have UPS with surge and nothing. Contacted Samsung and they said that a tech would contact me and come out, at my expense, since my set is just about a month beyond warranty.
The tech wanted $175, to come put and 225 per hour for any repairs, not including parts. It just doesn't seem right to be charged as much for repairs as a new set. Are the sets supposed to be disposable?!?
I purchased a new Vizio set and it cost much less than it would to fix my faulty Samsung.

Model #LN32A330J1DXZA
Serial #AKZ43CPQ702999J
Version CJ03
Series 3/330

What has been the resolution to this problem of not being able to turn on or off a relatively new (about 12 months) HDTV? We too are having the same problem with outrageous repair cost suggested. This can't be good for business Sumsung. I know we'll never buy another. What's up?

I took my set to have a friend look at it. He's an electronics tech at NASA. He took it apart, located the problem and fixed it in about 30 minutes. I had to spring for lunch and buy the part which cost a whopping $1.05.
I can't believe that Samsung is unwilling to eat the cost of repairs for a problem that is obviously a design flaw.
Way to go Samsung.

Well. I have been looking into this on the net and it seems to universally be the capacitors on the power board inside the tv. If you have the ability to solder and de solder then you can do it but if not, it's repair time. I think if enough people complain ti should be an extended warranty repair as these are obviously bed caps.

I went to work, turned it off and everything was normal. When I returned home nothing, it won't turn on though it is receiving signals from the remote. From checking the internet it appears that the cause is pretty universal and Samsung is ignoring it - I will never buy another one of there products.

I had the same problem after owning my TV for a year and 2 weeks. Wouldn't turn on and the red power light would come on and thats it. Luckily after doing a search I found that many Samsung buyers have the same problem and Samsung won't stand behind their defective capacitors. Called Samsung and a local TV repair and was told by both that it would cost anywhere between $300-$400 to fix.
We sifted through comments on cnet and found there is a cheap fix for those willing to try and fix the problem on their own. Found a website on youtube that shows the process and it worked for us. The youtube video explains the problem and talks about the tv clicking when you turn it on but we didn't have that clicking problem just the solid red light. The process still fixed my tv though.
First we took the back off the tv and found the blown capacitor right away. The end bubbled out and was tinged black. Went on ebay and did a search for the number on the blue capacitor and was able to buy 10 capacitors for 6 bucks (shipping included). Arrived 2 days later popped in the capacitor and soldered it in like youtube instructed. Put the unit back together and all works good. Our TV is working again after spending $16. $10 for the solder gun and $6 for a pack of 10 capacitors. Would reccomend taking pictures of your boards so you know exactly how to put them back together since it was a couple days in between taking apart and putting back together. Now we have extra capacitors but we are ready when it happens again. Will NEVER buy Samsung again... this was rediculous to have to go through all this for a tv that's barely over a year old.
p.s - this tv was bought at Walmart
Go to youtube.com search "SAMSUNG TV REPAIR" for video fix

You can either call Samsung and escalate up the ladder until they agree to extend your warranty for parts and labor. But you'll have to send it in and they had mine for 3 weeks before it was fixed and returned. Or you can find the video on youtube, which shows you how to open up the set and change out the capacitors on the power supply. You wont know which type to get until you find the defective ones. You should be able to find the replacements at Radio Shack. If the blown ones are 10v, replace them with 16v or even 25v. The video is Samsung TV repair.

Hi,

Had same problem-no power on.TV was 1 year out of warranty.Called Samsung help desk,told them suspected capacitor problem-please fix though out of warranty due apparent design original defect due to so many complaints.They called their nearest authorized repair guy;got him to call us and come over.He came in next day,with all capapcitors,testing tools etc,found the one capacitor showing problem;it was 2200 micro F,10 V.He replaced it with a 2000micro F,25 Volt capacitor(the closet one he had).TV works fine.Free of cost to me!So Samsung did respond.Thanks Samsung (though you caused the problem in the first place,but to err is human,accept is divine!!)and Alvin!!

I live in East Bay,CA and the guy who came in was very professional,great guy to speak to.In case anyone has hassles with TV ,I would highly recommend this guy -Alvin Cayanan (alvincayanan@yahoo.com/510-314-3535).In case above cap fix does not hold out,then most likely entire Power board needs to be changed-will costs $92 incl shipping,per Alvin.Try him out-for folks in Bay Area.

Cheers and all the best,
Mohan
(Try not to open your TV or most technicians will refuse to work!!)

So, I have the same problem with the same TV. Took it to a local repair shop that quoted $220 to fix the capicators and a blown regulator. I called 1-800-Samsung and actually got results. I told them that I took it in and the capicitors are bad. They apparently have a new policy about these capicitors. They offered (with no problem) a one-time free in-home service call to fix the capicitors only. The one catch is that if it is something other than the capicitor then I am responsible for the service call. And my TV is about 1.5 years old and out of warrenty. So call Samsung and complain. Tell them that it is documented all over the web and by local repair shops. You can also view the Youtube video fix if you're handy. Good luck, y'all!

Just wanted to follow up. The samsung tech came out the other day. Replaced the entire power supply board, reset the TV, and voila it works! And no cost to me even though TV was out of warrenty. All you folks out there with the same problem - call SAmsung and complain. Tell them about the bad capicators and that it is a known problem and they should offer a free repair. An in-home repair that is. Mine was fixed within a week. If you end up doing the repair yourself, don't forget to RESET the tv otherwise it might not work. Good luck!

My Samsung also quit working. Can't get it to power on, the red light stays on. I read the other posts on this site and thought oh good, I will call Samsung. We called last night and they told us that we could box up our 32" TV and send it to New Jersey (We live in Mississippi)We would have to pay for the shipping and they would put a hold on our credit card for $120. If it was the capacitor, they would fix it and pay to send it back and then release the $120 hold. I thought this was very unreasonable since Samsung caused the problem to begin with. We told them to forget it. I called a TV repair business about 30 miles away and they said they would look at it and if it was a capacitor problem, they would fix it and bill Samsung. They were familiar with the problem. Sumsung never said anything to us about dealers that would fix the problem and Samsung would pay. I imagine this will be the last Samsung that we buy....

I had the exact same problem. I called the Samsung 800 number I found on this forum. To my surprise and delight Samsung said if the problem was with capacitors (it was) they would fix the problem one time for free. An hour after I spoke with them I received a call from a TV repair business called newTRONICs here in Wilmington, NC. I brought the tv in and 3 hours later they called and said it was ready for pickup! What great service. They replaced 7 capacitors and the tv works fine now. Needless to say I was pleased with how Samsung handled this and the TV repair business newTRONICS was fantastic. The had the tv for 2 years and 3 months when this occurred.

My TV is doing the same thing that everyone else has talked about. Red light on, but will not turn on. Talked with Samsung. Sounded real good at first. Free one-time repair for this problem. But....have to box up, pay ot ship to NJ, they put a $120 hold on credit card, if that's not the problem, they charge me $50 just for looking at my TV. Not much for customer service. SO how did you other folks get better service, hove visit that they paid for or local folks doing the repair? I appreciate any help or advise.