TV that no longer turns on steady light, what to do?

The light on your TV is on but it won't turn on? You don't see any reaction from the red LED when you press the buttons on the remote control? This failure can occur due to different factors, and this is what sometimes makes troubleshooting it complicated. But fortunately, checks and operations can allow you to solve the breakdown on your own. Find out then how to try to repair a TV that no longer works but whose standby light is on?

Why does the TV not turn on even though its light is solid red?

A TV that no longer turns on and whose LED indicator remains fixed is a failure that may have different origins :

• A remote control which no longer works
• A minor bug or malfunction of software
• A problem ofpower supply
• A breakdown on one of its e-cards

To identify the fault, we advise you to follow troubleshooting steps of this article in order. The manipulations range from the most obvious to the most complex. Note that it sometimes happens that several factors are combined, especially after a particular circumstance that could impact the television (storm, overvoltage, shock, etc.). Hence the importance of properly diagnosing the origin of the breakdown.

In this article, we see the solutions to repair a TV whose light is on but not blinking. If the LED flashes, read our article on this subject in by clicking here. If the LED is completely off, read our article on this subject in by clicking here.

Television that no longer works but its standby light is on: how to repair the fault?

The manipulations that we are going to see can be applied to all brands and all models of TV (LG, Philips, Sony, Samsung, TCL, Thomson, Continental Edison, Hisense, etc). However, since each model may have particular specificities, if a manipulation does not seem feasible on your television, go to the next one.

Test the TV remote

When your TV no longer turns on with a standby light on, you will first need control the operation of the remote control. Indeed, the red LED indicates that your TV is receiving power. However, if the light is on but does not flash or react at all when you press a button on the remote control, then it is possible that the TV is not receiving the information following a failure or a loss of power from the TV. signal. In this case, it will have to be replaced.

– How to test the operation of a remote control?

To check the working status of the remote control :

1 – Try replacing the old remote control batteries with new ones. new batteries. This, even if you changed them a short time ago. Be careful to respect the direction of the + and - terminals.

2 - Try to bring the remote control closer to the TV when you press a key (less than 1 meter away). If the TV turns on again, then the remote control is probably at the end of its life, which may explain that the signal range is considerably reduced.

3 – If your remote control uses the mode infrared (small LED on the front of the remote), check that the remote is sending a signal. To do this, place your smartphone in front of the LED on the remote control and open the "Camera" application. Press a button on the remote control. On your smartphone screen, you should see the remote's LED light up if the remote is sending a signal. If you don't see any lights coming on, then the remote control is not sending a signal to the TV and it is faulty.

4 – If your remote works with the Bluetooth, it is more difficult to control its working condition. You must then try to switch on the TV with another means: thanks to the On / Off button or the touchscreen keyboard placed directly on the television (however, most recent televisions no longer have a button or keyboard), thanks to the download of a application remote control compatible with your model or using a electrical reset (procedure that you will detail in a next step of the article).

– How to replace a remote control?

If you notice that your remote control is defective, then it is most likely the cause of the fact that your TV stays on standby with its steady red light. The good news is that in this case, simply replacing the remote should solve the problem.

You can then replace it with a identical or universal remote control, but in the latter case, remember to check that the universal remote control works with your model and brand of TV. Indeed, although its name may suggest that it works with absolutely all televisions, this is not always the case. So remember to check in its characteristics that the universal remote control you choose is compatible with the brand of your television.

In the meantime, you can try to start your television which no longer works, using a Remote control application or by carrying out an electrical reset procedure.

Read also: The most common TV problems and their solutions

Do an electrical reset of the TV that no longer turns on

Secondly, when the red standby light of the TV is on, but the device does not want to start, then try performing a electrical reset. This procedure allows you to restart the TV software and remove small bugs and malfunctions that sometimes interfere with the normal operation of the TV. To reset the TV:

1. Switch off the power supply TV by unplugging its power cord from the AC outlet
2. Unplug all external devices connected to TV
3. Wait about  5 minutes
4. Reconnect the power cord of the TV directly to the electrical outlet, without intermediate accessories such as a power strip or extension cord.

If the TV turns on by itself or with the Power button on the remote control after this procedure, check if the latest update has been made (for Smart TVs). Then try reconnecting the devices one at a time and turning the TV back on after each connection. If after connecting a device the LED on the TV becomes fixed again and it refuses to turn on, then the fault probably comes from this device.

If the TV no longer turns on and its red light is still solid after the reset, then you will need to check the power source.

Test the TV's power supply with the solid red light

When your TV does not start and its standby light is fixed, it may also encounter a problem with its power supply. Indeed, it is possible that it receives the voltage necessary to maintain its standby, but not the voltage necessary for its start-up and operation.

Here are the points to check when your television remains on standby and its indicator is red:

• Check the working condition of the power cord. If the cord or its ends seem damaged, replace it because its internal connectors are also probably faulty. If it appears to be in good condition, test it electrically using a multimeter, or try replacing it with an identical cord if you have one available in your area.
• Remove power strip and/or extension cord and connect the television directly to the mains socket as these accessories may be faulty and/or cause electrical noise and voltage problems.
• Check that the electrical outlet is working, either by plugging another functional device into it or by electrically testing the outlet. If it is faulty, contact an electrician to test, secure and repair the faulty outlet.

Test the electronic boards of the TV that does not start

Finally, at this point, when the red standby light is on on your TV and it refuses to start up, the problem most likely stems from a problem on one of the TV's electronic boards. A component is probably faulty and then prevents it from starting. This is very often a capacitor, which is why these will be the first parts to be tested.

At this point, you will need open the rear panel of the TV to access the electronic panels. The following checks and manipulations require electronic skills. If you are not suitable for the operations, contact a professional.

Important : If your TV which no longer turns on is under guarantee, contact the after-sales service of the retailer or brand without carrying out the dismantling, which may cause you to lose your rights. Attention : risk of electric shock and irreversible damage to the device. Switch off the power supply before opening the TV. Protect yourself with antistatic gloves and be very careful to avoid breakage. 

Test capacitors

The capacitors are on the TV's power board. To test and verify if they are the cause of your TV not turning on and its LED remaining fixed, here is how to proceed:

1. Discharge the main capacitor present on the power board by making a short circuit with a screwdriver with an insulated handle. To avoid electric shock, do not touch the electronic card before performing this operation.
2. Observe the capacitors. If one looks bulging on the top, it means that the capacitor is no longer working. It must then be replaced.
3. If none of the capacitors are swollen, then you will need to unsolder them to electrically test. Indeed, a capacitor can be tired but not completely out of order. In this case, it is not necessarily inflated even though it is indeed defective.
4. For test a capacitor, discharge it then use a multimeter in position ohmmeter. Put the red test probe of the multimeter on the + terminal of the capacitor and the black test probe on the - terminal. If the value goes high and goes back down to 0, the capacitor is working normally. On the other hand, if the value goes up but does not go down again until 0 or that it stagnates on OL, the condenser is out of service.

Note: If you have never performed the procedure, we advise you to watch tutorials on the internet by typing " how to test a capacitor in the search bar of your search engine. We recommend that you consult the Spareka video which details the procedure for opening a television and replacing faulty capacitors: how to repair the power board of your Thomson television?

If you have spotted that one or more of the capacitors are faulty, then you will need to replace them.. Always be careful replace a capacitor with an equivalent, either same capacity (expressed in uF). Once you have received the spare part, you will need to resolder it on the power board in the same location as the old one. Be aware that replacing a capacitor yourself should not cost you more than a ten euros.

Test the power board and motherboard

When the red standby light is on but the TV does not start and that the capacitors are not the cause of the failure, then you will need, check electronic boards (motherboard and power board).

Note: Some TV models have only one electronic board which acts as a power supply board and a motherboard. These are generally entry-level televisions. 

First, check visually if you see any black streaks (burns) or a melted or damaged component on one of the boards. If so, you will need to either replace the component in question or replace the entire board.

Secondly, test, using a multimeter, the input and output voltages and components of the power board. If the power board works, then go to the motherboard side and do the same. Depending on the origin of the failure, replace either the defective component or the entire plate.

To help you test a power board, we invite you to watch Spareka's video: how to repair a samsung television that has a power failure? 

Contact the after-sales service or a professional repairer

If you can't find out why your TV no longer turns on and the light remains fixed, or that you do not have sufficient skills to repair the fault, unfortunately, all you have to do is contact a professional, Or replace the tv.

If your television has the right to guarantee, contact the after-sales service of the retailer or brand. In the event that the warranty has expired, we advise you to contact several independent professional repairers. You will thus obtain different quotes and you will be able to make an informed choice.