1 of the easiest ways to relax after work is to watch your favorite shows.
But you won’t feel a hint of relaxation when you turn on your Toshiba TV…
Only to see random horizontal lines showing up on your screen.
Well, that’s disturbing.
But no worries. I’m here to help.
Continue reading to find out:
- 9 quick fixes you can try to fix this issue.
- The reasons why horizontal lines suddenly show up on your screen.
- How to easily reseat cables on your T-CON board to remove horizontal lines.
- And much, much more…
What causes horizontal lines on Toshiba TV screens?
Horizontal lines on Toshiba TV screens are caused by external damages or loose HDMI cables. Sometimes, they appear because of damaged capacitors around the vertical deflection IC. And in other cases, they can also be caused by loose connections on your TV’s T-CON board.
Toshiba TV horizontal lines on screen: 9 fixes
#1: Look for any external screen damage
When weird lines suddenly appear on your TV screen…
It’s easy to think that there’s something wrong with its internal components.
But this isn’t always the case.
External damages can also cause horizontal lines to appear on your Toshiba TV.
So before trying to fix this issue…
Observe your TV screen closely and check if there are any dents or cracks.
If you do find some…
Then you most likely need to get your screen fixed or repaired by a professional.
But if there isn’t any visible damage, you should try to:
#2: Power cycle your Toshiba TV
Have you heard of power cycling before?
If not, don’t worry.
I know it’s a slightly fancy term, but it has a very simple meaning.
Power cycling means draining out a device’s power before turning it ON again.
And the most common way to do this is to unplug your TV.
If you’re thinking…
“But how can unplugging my TV fix my screen?”
Let me explain.
When you power cycle your TV and drain out its power…
All of its active and background tasks are stopped.
And by draining out its residual power, including the ones in your TV’s capacitors…
You’re allowing your unit to refresh its operating system and clear any temporary bugs.
So now that you know how it works…
Let’s proceed so I can show you how to do it:
- Turn off your TV.
- Unplug it from the electrical outlet.
- Let it standby for 60 seconds.
- Hold the power button on your TV for 30 seconds.
- Plug the TV and turn it ON again.
Check if the problem persists.
If it does, continue to the next fix.
Further reading: How To Keep a Toshiba Smart TV From Turning Off (9 Steps)
#3: Tap the back of the TV
I know this sounds a bit weird…
But tapping the back of your TV can give you important hints on how to fix it.
So try to knock or tap the back of your Toshiba screen.
Sometimes…
The problem is only due to loose cable connections or dust accumulation inside.
And a slight disturbance is often enough to adjust the cables or knock the dust out.
So try lightly tapping your TV and see if anything happens or changes.
“The lines disappeared for a short while. But they showed up again.”
If the lines reappear…
That’s an indication that there might be a problem with your T-CON board.
Fixing or adjusting your T-CON board requires knowledge in repairing electrical circuits.
So if you’re too tech-savvy in the field or simply don’t want to open up your TV yourself…
I suggest you contact a local technician to assist you in replacing it.
But if you’re up to the challenge and have basic knowledge about electrical boards…
Read further along.
Later on, I’ll teach you how you can check the insides of your TV yourself.
But for now…
#4: Reseat your HDMI cables
As mentioned earlier, it isn’t always about the inside components.
So before you check if there are any loose wires on your T-CON board…
Reseat the HDMI cables outside your TV first.
If you’re not familiar with reseating yet…
Don’t worry, as the meaning isn’t as complicated as you think.
Reseating refers to the action of removing a component and then plugging it back again.
It’s similar to power cycling if you think about it.
But in this case, you’re not dealing with power but connections.
It’s simple, right?
So with that in mind…
To reseat your TV’s HDMI cables:
- Unplug the HDMI cable of your TV.
- Wait for 15 seconds.
- Ensure that there are no damages to the cable.
- Plug it back again.
Note: It’s crucial to invest in high-quality HDMI cables to avoid playback issues. This way, you’ll get the best experience you can from your Toshiba TV.
If you can still see the horizontal lines despite doing this fix…
Then that could mean that the problem lies in the TV’s internal components.
But before you go ahead and open up your Toshiba unit…
#5: Check if you still have a warranty
Toshiba TVs sold since 2017 are all under warranty for a whole year.
So if it hasn’t been a year since you bought your unit yet…
I suggest taking the TV to Toshiba itself to get it repaired.
Not only will you save time fixing the TV yourself…
You’ll also save some money.
And the most important part of it all…
Note: Your Toshiba’s warranty will be null and void once you open up your TV yourself.
So check your receipt to see if you’re still eligible for a warranty before proceeding to the next fix.
#6: Reseat the T-CON board’s ribbon cables
And now for the delicate stuff…
It’s time to open up your TV.
Warning: Handling a TV’s internal components is a risky process. If you’ve never opened a TV or other electronic device before, I suggest bringing it to a local technician.
But if you’re confident enough to try this, or you’re simply up for a challenge…
Then I’m all up for helping you.
But before you proceed, make sure that you have:
Warning: To avoid being electrocuted, make sure to wear latex gloves and turn OFF your TV before opening it.
To safely open your Toshiba TV:
- With its screen facing down, Lay your TV flat on a soft surface.
- Remove all screws from its back cover.
- If your TV has a stand, remove the stand as well.
- Lift up the cover gently.
- Remove any cables that attach your cover to the circuit boards.
Note: If you find it hard to lift the cover, you can use a plastic prying tool to assist you.
Now that your TV is open, locate your T-CON board.
On this board, there’ll be 2 flat identical ribbon cables.
They’re responsible for relaying information to the TV panel.
So any loose connections or dust on them will also result in incorrect signals.
Like the white horizontal lines you’re seeing on your screen.
But worry not. Reseating ribbon cables is an easy fix to this problem.
To reseat your T-CON board’s ribbon cables:
- Locate your 2 ribbon cables.
- Choose the 1 you want to reseat first.
- Use your finger to flip up the tab on the ribbon’s connector.
- Gently remove the ribbon.
- Make sure there isn’t any debris on the cable.
- Guide the ribbon back to its connector again.
- Repeat steps 3 to 6 for the other ribbon cable.
Warning: Never use a screwdriver or any metal tool to open ribbon connectors. They can cause irreversible damage to the pins.
For more information on how to reseat ribbon cable connectors, watch this video:
But before you try to turn ON your TV again…
#7: Clean your LVDS cable
Like the ribbon cables…
LVDS cables also play an essential role in relaying information to your screen.
So while the process of reseating the ribbon cables is still fresh on your mind…
It’s a good idea to reseat and clean your LVDS cable too.
This cable is also located on the T-CON board, so it won’t be hard to find.
It’s the 1 that has multiple individual strands in its cord.
Note: LVDS cables are incredibly fragile. Make sure you approach it as carefully as possible to avoid unwanted damage or tears.
Once you find the LVDS cable, follow these steps to clean them:
Step 1: Gently remove the cable from the board.
If you find it hard to lift using 1 finger, you can use 2 to make it easier.
Step 2: Use a contact-cleaner spray to clean the cable’s pins.
If you don’t have any at hand, you can also use a pencil eraser.
Just make sure to clean your cable away from your TV.
This ensures that you won’t spill the eraser sheddings on your circuit boards.
After cleaning it…
Step 3: Plug your LVDS into your T-CON board again.
Now that your cables are back to their places…
Move away from your TV and power it ON.
Warning: Don’t touch the internal boards and wires of the TV while it’s ON.
Try to peak and check if the problem has been fixed or not.
If you can still see the horizontal lines, turn OFF your TV again and…
#8: Replace the capacitors in the vertical deflection circuit
Damaged capacitors around the vertical deflection IC can also cause these horizontal lines.
So if the problem still exists…
I suggest you replace the capacitors connected to the vertical deflection circuit.
There are usually visible signs if capacitors are failing.
And some of these are:
- Fluid leakage.
- A swollen top.
- A visible brown crust or stain.
If you see any of these happening in the capacitors around your vertical deflection IC…
Then there’s a high chance they’re causing the problem, so go ahead and replace them.
You might also want to know: Where Are Toshiba TVs Made? 10 Countries Revealed
#9: Contact Toshiba
If you’ve reached this point but still can’t remove the horizontal lines…
Try contacting Toshiba’s customer support.
If you’re from the US or Canada…
You can reach Toshiba’s support by calling (855) 527-2411.