Has your Vizio TV power indicator gone into a rapid flash mode of 15 times leaving you more confused and irritated than you were before as to what to do? You are not the only one.
A good number of Vizio TV owners have previously been in the same situation and if it occurs there is no doubt it can be frustrating particularly when the TV.
Which happens to be an important element of the home theater system, is having issues.
However, there is no need to stress out. A rapid power light might be seen by some users as a menace; however, this is not the case.
It is normally outgoing because of a fault and when that fault is found, fixing it is usually smooth sailing.
In this detailed article, we will identify the most common reasons connected with Vizio TV power light flashes 15 times or so and suggest possible remedies that will enable you to restore your TV to a working condition.
After reading this article, you should be able to attempt self-diagnosis with respect to the television issue or figure out if it is appropriate to engage a professional service provider.
Understanding the Flashing Power Light on Your Vizio TV
Trial and error will be the last resort when your Vizio TV’s power light starts flashing.
The power light is not to be taken lightly and in most Vizio TVs, there is a small LED light at the bottom of the screen that does a number of things including indicating the status of the TV itself.
The power light can also be used to indicate something about the power state of the TV whether it’s on or off or some intermediate state by showing a solid light.
Blinking light and flashing light in various patterns.
In your case, the power light continuously blinking for 15 times means there is a fault internally. That is neither a coincidence nor random.
Consumers of Vizio TVs are supposed to be informed about this since it is an error code when something needs to be diagnosed.
So what does it exactly mean when one’s Vizio TV flashes 15 times?
Possible Causes for the 15-Flashing Light on Your Vizio TV
The 15 flashes have been used in the past by TVs as a code that signals a strip or peripheral component internal fault.
It occurs when the power source or any vital internal section breaks. Let us examine more closely what are the possible reasons for this type of problem:
Power Supply Board Failure
Most of the wall sockets include a power supply board that supports dc current. It is the most frequent reason for this issue.
It determines the TV power input/output and the atom load location. If there is an oddity in this circuit, the television shall experience difficulty starting, and the power light shall flash this predetermined 15 times roughly.
These oscillations are beyond the range of tolerances proposed in the design of the components, thus such defects lead to failures.
Typical causes of the power supply board failure could include a lightning strike, power fluctuations, or any other system defect.
Backlight Inverter Problem
A further possible perpetrator might be the backlight inverter, which indicates a part lighting the screen of the computer.
In case of inverter failure, the TV would probably receive power, but it will be unable to show the image or the television will indicate a warning with the flashing light.
This problem can be due to wear and tear, overheating, or a damaged short in the backlight circuitry.
Main Board (Motherboard) Malfunction
The motherboard on your Vizio TV contains the CPU and is responsible for overseeing every function performed by this television from time to time.
When the main board is not working as intended, the power turns on but the television fails to boot displaying the 15-flash error code.
This could occur due to an OS bug, an internal component which has failed or even the board itself being unable to interface with other sections of the television.
Firmware or Software Glitch
Sometimes, a failure during startup is caused by a firmware bug or firmware corruption.
This can result in inability to power the television on together with a flashing indicator. This is often fixed by resetting the TV or reinstalling the firmware.
Bad Capacitors
Capacitors are very important elements present within your TV’s internal electrical system. Most of the time.
It is because of faulty capacitors that television misbehaves which can include the limitation of the flashing 15 times warning.
This problem is most often seen in aged televisions which have been subjected to heat and humidity for a longer duration.
Overheating or Dust Build-up
Excess heat can also cause additional internal problems. In case the TV is not ventilated properly or there is dust collected inside the TV, it could cause heat up which could lead to this error code.
Connection Issues
Another possibility can be bad connections of cables or components of the TV.
This is probably the case if the TV has been recently relocated or was out of the socket for some time.
Troubleshooting Steps: How to Fix the Flashing 15-Times Issue
Now that we better know what might have gone wrong, let’s focus on how you can fix the problem.
Step 1: Perform a Power Cycle
The first and most apparent step to take would be removing the power source and moving the TV back. Many times you only need to reset the TV.
The following are the procedures for the power cycle on a television set:
Disconnect the TV from the wall socket.
Wait for less than 60 seconds for the item’s storage capability to be discharged.
At the end of the minute, do the above in reverse, and leave the power button pressed for about 30 seconds (this helps reduce the residual current).
Replace the plug of the unit and switch it on.
This can help in unlocking low-level software problems or residual issues in the power source.
Step 2: Inspect the Power Supply Board
In case the power cycle does not work, the chances of the Power Supply board being faulty are high. Here’s how you can look for power supply concerned problems:
Unplug the TV:
To check the internal components of the TV, unplug it from the power handle and take off the backside.
Caution:
Static electricity is a form of discharge that can get you shocked, so remain in a suitable environment.
If you do not have the right tools or knowledge to perform any electrical activity, it would be wise to get someone who does.
There are components within the power supply board that may be damaged and could be the cause of the problem.
Look for burnt marks, leaking capacitors, or anything that seems out of the ordinary. If you see one, the power supply board has to be changed.
If you do not see any evident damage, consider applying a multimeter to the power supply board and check the outputs.
The board needs to be replaced if the voltage is either too high or too low.
Step 3: Check the Backlight Inverter
If the power supply board does not seem broken, check out the backlight inverter next:
Once again, turn off the TV, and take off the back cover.
To the side of the screen, the backlight inverter should be located around the rim.
The easiest fix for this would be to replace the backlight since any damage or fault in the backlight inverter would mean that the backlight would not work.
Vizio Tv Screen Goes Black Randomly [Fixed]
Step 4: Reset the TV to Factory Settings
Should the problem still be within reach, see if resetting your TV back to factory settings would work.
A reset is among the first things one should try when they notice problems due to corrupted firmware:
Power down the TV by removing it from the socket and allow it to rest in this position for 60 seconds.
Hold down the power button for 20 seconds to initiate enough force to reset the system.
Return the power supply for the TV and ascertain whether the blinking indicator light has gone out.
On the other hand, if the blinking persists, you may opt to conduct a factory reset in a more thorough manner through the settings menus of the television, assuming that the screen is still operable.
Step 5: Test the Main Board
Testing the main board is an advanced step that may be performed if one has the impression that the motherboard is what is at the core of the issue:
First, switch off the television again and take out the back panel.
Secondly, visually inspect the main board focusing on areas where damage such as scorch marks etc, might be present.
Should the board then be damaged, it would best be replaced.
Step 6: Professional Repair or Replacement
In the event that you have done all the above and are still experiencing the same problem, perhaps it would be the right time to consider taking the television for repair.
Call the Vizio customer support number if the TV is still under the warranty or visit any installer’s authorized service center.
Occasionally you might find that the internal damage cannot be repaired just by doing things on your own and the only sensible thing to do is change the television set.
FAQs about Vizio TV Power Light Flashing 15 Times
Can I fix a Vizio TV with a flashing power light on my own?
In most cases, indeed! If problems arise with software, dust accumulation or. hardware related issues that are relatively minor, then a quick power cycle may just be enough to fix the issue.
However, when the problem is more complex in nature regardless of whether it is the power supply unit or the main board, you will need to replace certain components or resolve to professional assistance
What should I do if my TV is out of warranty and I can’t fix it myself?
As to the case in which your TV has already passed the warranty period and you cannot make the repair on your own, there are two alternatives:
Hire a professional who will fix the TV for you or simply buy a new television set. Depending on the damage assessment, the repair of the TV set is considered too expensive in some cases.
Could a surge protector help prevent this issue in the future?
In application. Surge protection devices are incredibly useful when it comes to protecting your electronics like your televisions from problems encountered in the power line, outages and everything.
It goes bad with the power supply and other internals with the TV and other electronics, therefore it is always good to invest in a good surge protection device as this would save you from having the same problems in the future.
What should I do if I notice a burning smell coming from the TV?
Smelling a burning odor means that there is something that has internally failed like a power supply board that is blown or some component that is burning.
In such circumstances, the customer is advised to switch off the TV set and also unplug it from the power source. Do not attempt to use the TV before the experts take a look at it.
Conclusion
But if you are stuck with a Vizio TV power light flashing 15 times, there is no need to panic. This is indeed a serious television issue, but several factors may cause this.
Most of these problems can be fixed with a little perseverance and sufficient troubleshooting. Start by understanding and performing a power cycle.
The power supply and backlight inverter , and reset or firmware update and see if any of these works.
If no resolution is found, please report accordingly to Vizio customer services or a professional repair services.
Bear in mind that TV repair is never that easy and you should only go about this step when you are absolutely sure of what you are doing.
Otherwise, it is advisable to seek the assistance of a professional who is in the best position to analyze the problem and suggest a suitable way forward.