iBook G3 Clamshell display replacement failure, a cautionary tale

[mac27]

I noticed a few weeks back that the display panel on one of my clamshells was beginning to succumb to vinegar syndrome. So after consulting with others more familiar with these than myself, I ordered a new replacement panel from the 'bay, making extra certain to match the original panel exactly. They are both the Samsung LT121SU-123 panel.

New panel (top), original panel (bottom)

When I went to install the new panel, I found that the display cable connector on the new panel appeared to be flipped 180 degrees on the board relative to the new one. The connector has two tabs on each side at the ends, so that it's directional and can only be installed one way:

So I thought "no big deal" - I simply rotated the wires from the cable the other way, connected everything up, and got the new panel installed. Something minor probably changed with the way they manufactured the boards over the years and the connector changed orientation. It should be just fine, right?

Turned on the iBook, and ... no image, no signs of life on the panel.

So I reinstalled the original panel, and ... no image, no signs of life on the panel. (This was obviously working fine before, apart from the vinegar syndrome).

Whelp, a kind commenter on 68kMLA provided this diagram which shows what happened:

Flipping the connector to hook up the panel caused a direct short to the 3.3V line on the connector. So stuff got cooked.

So I now have two damaged panels (maybe?) and a damaged iBook motherboard. What a colossal fail.

Let this be a cautionary tale to anyone else attempting this repair. No idea what to do next - do I gamble on yet another panel of unknown compatibility? Now that I've learned that the model identifier is irrelevant and has no bearing on whether it will actually work.

I'd love to hear from anyone can explain - WTF? Why would Samsung make panels that are identical in every way (using the SAME identifier) but flip the connector, guaranteeing that you will fry your device immediately?

*sigh* If anyone has a replacement 366 MHz FireWire clamshell motherboard, I am in the market...

 

[wottle]

Could you clip the arms off the connector so you could insert it the proper way? Of course, that assumes all the pins are actually the same and its not a whole new pin layout... Obviously that only works if you can find a new logic board, and verify nothing in the LCD was also fried.

 

[MeTheMac]

Huh. I guess this is what happened to my magically stopped working clamshell after I swapped the screens from an Indigo one...

 

[mac27]

Could you clip the arms off the connector so you could insert it the proper way? Of course, that assumes all the pins are actually the same and its not a whole new pin layout... Obviously that only works if you can find a new logic board, and verify nothing in the LCD was also fried.

I've been going back and forth with the seller, and they suggested this. It makes me a bit nervous, as that also assumes there are also no OTHER differences between the panels () but unless anyone sees an issue with doing that, it's what I'll try next once I get a replacement motherboard.

 

[wottle]

I've been going back and forth with the seller, and they suggested this. It makes me a bit nervous, as that also assumes there are also no OTHER differences between the panels () but unless anyone sees an issue with doing that, it's what I'll try next once I get a replacement motherboard.

Might be worth trying to at least confirm that the ground pins are where the schema expects them to be. Would at least increase the confidence level a bit.

 

[mac27]

Huh. I guess this is what happened to my magically stopped working clamshell after I swapped the screens from an Indigo one...

i assume you mean that just the display stopped working? On mine everything else still works (drives, caps lock light, speaker/chime) but just the display is impacted.

 

[MeTheMac]

i assume you mean that just the display stopped working? On mine everything else still works (drives, caps lock light, speaker/chime) but just the display is impacted.

Yeah so I did a motherboard swap from a 466 mhz onto a 366 mhz indigo case, worked fine with the 466 screen assembly (grey). Swapped out the screens and bam, no luck. I still hear it booting up and everything. Switched it back, nothing. Its been a while so now I have a fully working lime model

 

[mac27]

Well unfortunately I've had no luck sourcing a replacement motherboard, so this machine and project are dead in the water until that happens. If anybody has a spare 366 MHz (or 466 MHz) FireWire iBook clamshell mobo they'd be willing to sell, or even a parts machine with one installed, let me know.

 

[wottle]

Not the cheapest price, but not bad and you’d get some other spare parts. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DfxKSh2QR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

 

[mac27]

Not the cheapest price, but not bad and you’d get some other spare parts. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DfxKSh2QR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Unfortunately I am just getting an error when I try to visit this link - possible to share a different way?

 

[phunguss]

Unfortunately I am just getting an error when I try to visit this link - possible to share a different way?

Seems to be a private group.

 

[mac27]

Seems to be a private group.
View attachment 25366

I see. I'm in a similar group with the same name but with "... or Buy" on the end. I can't even find this one by search so that's a bummer.

 

[wottle]

Apologies. I was out of town for work. Looks like it sold.

 

[mac27]

Apologies. I was out of town for work. Looks like it sold.

No worries. One popped up on the 'bay for like 30 bucks yesterday so I nabbed it ... should be here next week.

 

[mac27]

Well, finally a step back in the right direction. Got the replacement motherboard installed and I have an iBook with operational display again (granted it is the original panel with the vinegar syndrome, but still a huge improvement).

So I am now more or less back to where I started. It is also good to know that the original panel was not damaged electrically during this saga.

I'm gonna let this one sit over the holidays while I muster up the courage to attempt fitting the replacement panel again...

 

[mac27]

After a break from this project over the holidays I went ahead and snipped the (very tiny) plastic tabs/ridges off of the connector on the cable harness and got the new panel reinstalled back into the iBook once again.

Ta-da ... Worked like a charm. No fried motherboard or lack of video! Thank goodness.

After all that, I'm actually not that impressed with the new panel; it's no brighter than the original (which I somewhat expected) but it's also got a glossy finish which I'm not a fan of. But at least it's sharp, working, and vinegar-syndrome-free.

So if anyone is reading this far in the future and is able to recommend a *known, tested working* replacement panel that has a *matte* finish, I'd be curious to hear about it. Also always curious to hear if others have had similarly major problems with this panel/seller.

I've documented this whole mess on my site's page for this machine, in the hopes it is helpful to others in the future.

Thank you @wottle and GRudolf94 on 68kMLA for the advice on this one. What a debacle!

For anyone else reading this and thinking about attempting this replacement, I'm gonna attest that it is *absolutely mandatory* that you *check* the orientation of your iBook's cable/signals, using a multimeter/probe type thing, before attempting this replacement. On mine, the tabs had to be snipped off so that the connector could remain in its original orientation but still fit the replacement panel which had it flipped. But others have reported buying the SAME panel from the SAME seller and receiving a unit that worked with no mods required. Not sure why but please don't end up with a fried motherboard like I did!

 

[phunguss]

it's no brighter than the original (which I somewhat expected)

Why not try to convert the CCFL to LED ?

 

[mac27]

Why not try to convert the CCFL to LED ?

After spending nearly $200 on this repair and waiting nearly 2 months cumulatively for various parts, in addition to all the frustration and energy spent, I am not exactly in the mood for adventure at the moment. Lol. Maybe someday.