LEGO Mindstorms NXT Display Repair

[MidnightStewBand]

Thanks for the great step-by-step ... and the sweet music! You saved me.

[javapda]

@MidnightStewBand Super!  So happy it helped you.

[ILoveMixery]

hey man thanks! my display wasnt broken but there were small fluffy thingys under the screen glass. i could have done it without your video but this gave me a safer feeling so thanks :P

[javapda]

@ILoveMixery Glad it worked out for you.

[tmwilliamlin]

When I was downloading a firmware to my nxt, the screen said there was a error.I pressed the orange button and the reset button but it won't work. Can you help me plz?

[TheKrazykool809]

my screen completely stoped working

i had left int in a box for a while, but had opened it a lot

it just hasnt been turned on in about a year

i tried this and it didnt work

any suggestions?

[javapda]

@TheKrazykool809 Check the obvious first.

1) Fresh Batteries, 2) Clean battery terminals inside.

Q1: do you see any activity at all on the screen? (maybe some black lines?)

Q2: when you start the Mindstorms, can you hear the initial startup sound?

[Drummer11121]

what song is at the beginning lol

[cinchgroups]

Well done video, easy to follow. Fix worked perfectly. I'm dole adding the robotics merit badge for our scout troop and this gives us another working brick. Thanks so much!

[javapda]

@cinchgroups Congratulations and happy scouting!

[mariern112]

man thx sooo much i thaut my nxt was brocken but now it's as good as new

[javapda]

@mariern112 You are welcome.

[hammoody12345]

MY NXT IS NOT LIKE YOURS :O

[fallencommaner]

@hammoody12345 you probably have NXT 1.0 this looks like 2.0 (or vise versa IDK)

[jconallen]

beautiful! this worked on my brick. I first tried without soldering (but that didn't last for long). Soldering seems to have fixed it perm. thanks!

[javapda]

@jconallen Another success story.  Congratulations.

[ttaylor84]

Thanks, that worked out great.

[javapda]

@ttaylor84 Awesome, way to go!

[rockynine11]

I was quite skeptical at first. I opened it up but the solder joints looked fine. I went ahead and retouched them anyway and it actually worked! Thanks!!!

[javapda]

@rockynine11 Congratulations. It can seem a bit intimidating at first. Way to be courageous :-)

[Ryinsult]

Thanks a lot, this really helped me out.

[javapda]

@Ryinsult You are very welcome.

[gravityandlevity]

I had this same problem and I was able to fix it without soldering. I just pressed down firmly on the black tape that connects the daughter board to the LCD screen (and which contains the ribbon cable inside of it). Probably there was just a loose connection between the daughter board and the ribbon cable -- smoothing out the tape helped to reestablish it.

Anyway, it worked for me. It's worth trying before you take a soldering iron to your $100 NXT!

[javapda]

@gravityandlevity Interesting.

[bunnytunnymoney]

what if you dont have a sording iron

[javapda]

@bunnytunnymoney You will need a soldering iron to do this.

[sch00l3r]

@javapda Thanks so much! My (I mean my son's) NXT LCD was working fine one day, the next day it started to flicker slightly with stray lines, then it was always off or just a band of flickering lines in the icon menu area. I was relieved to find your instructions and gave it a whirl. Took a few tries and I had to add some solder to get a good connection but the display is working perfectly again. Anyone who tries this and fails the first time, keep trying and maybe add some fresh solder.

[javapda]

@sch00l3r Awesome! Way to go.

[SarkaStickStudios]

Would you happen to know where I could find the cable that connects the board to the actual screen? I was attempting this and the soldering iron got away from me a little and melted the cable. I'm not even sure what it is called to do a search for one, and I can't find screen assemblies by themselves for these devices anywhere.

[javapda]

@SarkaStickStudios Sorry, I do not know.

[romkne]

Yes, this was the key! Thanks so much!

[javapda]

@romkne You are very welcome.

[scottthamilton]

This did not work for mine. Any idea the value of the caps so I can outright replace?

[javapda]

@scottthamilton The caps themselves probably only cost a few cents. Not sure what the actual cost are. They are surface mount caps.

[ejfh2000]

Thank you so much! I am now a hero for fixing my boy's NXT brick!

[javapda]

@ejfh2000 Way to go! Congratulations!

[TheBohrokMan]

Just wondering, what causes the screen to not work properly? And how does this method fix the problem?

[javapda]

@TheBohrokMan Great question. I believe it has to do with the quality of the original solder joint made on the device. Over time imperfections in this joint become more pronounced and leads to degradation of signal strength. This video enables the solder to re-join itself creating a better connection.

[sondhiaakash]

hii is there any alternative for the soldering iron?

[MDpine]

Great! now the screens of three NXT are working! Thanks a lot.

[javapda]

@MDpine 3!? Great! Way to go!

[zangtong]

Worked perfect, 3 tries and got a little better each time. Thank you so much for taking the time to share!

[javapda]

@zangtong Spectacular!  What a success story. And you are welcome.

[Inventor22x]

=(. I have two broken NXT screens, and this method has not worked on either of them...

[javapda]

@Inventor22x Sorry to hear that. Is there any chance that your screens were affected by water/moisture?

[legofan431]

omg it looks so complecated!

[javapda]

@legofan431 It may seem that way, but there are many people who have had success with this method. good luck.

[fishcontrol]

A great service to mankind!

[DragonJohn]

awesome, my nxt screen was flickering, i warched your video, and now it works again. kudos for figuring it out.

[javapda]

@DragonJohn Fantastic. Congratulations DragonJohn!

[midcyber]

Thank you! Worked like a charm. Took 3 tries but I was sure I'm on right way! You should count how many NXT you did resurrected lol

[javapda]

@midcyber Awesome! Love to hear about these success stories!

[silberlocke44]

Thanks!

Good help at the right time.

All works now.

Thanks from Switzerland!

[javapda]

@silberlocke44 Great!! Congratulations.

[javapda]

@silberlocke44 Way to go!

[mentileman]

so do you re-soldier the caps, replace, or remove them ??

[javapda]

@mentileman there is usually sufficient solder near the capacitor, so simply heat it up and it will re-secure itself.

[shadsluiter]

Great video. My mindstorm is working again like new.

[javapda]

@shadsluiter Love to hear these success stories!

[langecrew]

Holy crap, IT WORKED. I've never even touched a soldering iron before. Thank you for this video dude. You rule.

[javapda]

@langecrew Way to go!

[langecrew]

@javapda Thank you, sir!

[javapda]

@langecrew you are welcome

[phalpernnh]

Bought a used Mindstorm on ebay and it arrived with this problem. Your video saved my son's Christmas. Thanks!

[javapda]

@phalpernnh Congratulations! Glad to hear it was a success.

[viperrwk]

Thanks for this! I received a hand-me down brick that had this problem and your video allowed me to fix it in 10 min (including setting up and putting the tools away.) I'd offer you a beer but given all the other offers of alcohol you've received I suspect you wouldn't want another one. Thanks again!

viperrwk

[javapda]

@viperrwk Glad it was helpful to you. Congratulations.

[bludde2]

I see you've fixed the 1.0, but does this also work for the 2.0?

[javapda]

@bludde2 Yes it does. I have done this process on both NXT 1.0 and NXT 2.0 bricks.

[lucasccrema]

Thank you so much.

You solved my problem in 5 minutes!

I even hadn't to take the meter out of the shelf (which probably would have been useless...)

I'll be happy to offer you a beer+pizza too, in case you pass from Crema (CR), Italy.

[javapda]

@lucasccrema So happy to hear of your success! Next time I'm in Crema, I'll stop by. Ciao

[doctorvogt]

hey.... im an EE, and had my sons NXT apart and traced the trouble back to 'either' the display ribbon cable attachments, or the driver caps.... YOU saved me some complications by posting such a darn nice and clear video. any time youre in Minneapolis area, you lemme know and ill buy you a beer (or anything else youre drinking).

well done.

doc

[javapda]

@doctorvogt Glad to help...just might take you up on your offer one day :-)

[amrkahaleh]

hey guys,

my screen wasn't working at all, not even showing lines. so i tried to fix my nxt using a screwdriver that i heated on the oven for 5 min, did the same steps... but didn't fix the whole problem, i can now see lines only, but not continuous lines, they showed up for 3 min then they stopped appearing at all. i did the same procedure three times and still it's not fixing the whole problem... can u help please??

[amrkahaleh]

hey guys,

my screen wasn't working at all, not even showing lines. so i tried to fix my nxt using a screwdriver that i heated on the oven for 5 min, did the same steps... but didn't fix the whole problem, i can now see lines only, but not continuous lines, they showed up for 3 min then they stopped appearing at all. i did the same procedure three times and still it's not fixing the whole problem... can u help please??

[joeynuggetz]

I just busted out my NXT after a year of having it stored in a bin and it had this problem. I tried the fix and it worked. I put it back together and it stopped working. Took it apart again and repeated the procedure and it seems to be ok now but I think it's going to fail again in the future. I dont know much about electronics but can I add a bit of solder on each side of the caps? I dont want to short something out but I do want this repair to be solid and I dont want to worry about this.

[javapda]

@joeynuggetz You can do it.

[TheAxel4444]

What are you holding infront the camera at 4: 15

[hegemon1973]

This movie is great! it helped me a lot, now the NXT for my daughter is working again. Thanks to the autor of this movie.

[javapda]

@hegemon1973 Great news. I bet your daughter is thrilled! Way to go.

[Sally88ish]

Thanks so much! You just saved us a lot of money! It is an easy repair, but I never would have attempted it without your great instructions.

[javapda]

@Sally88ish Thank you for the kind comment. And congratulations!!

[33125577]

hey can you help me my nxt dose not turn on it dose only a clapping sound before i try to turn it on and it dose not show the logo and im surprised about the cheap quality of this

so can you help me i need this for a demo i promised!! by next month SEPTEMBER

[javapda]

@33125577 When trying the repair in this video I had a similar experience. Then I tried it again and it worked :-) The capacitors that you are trying to adjust are surface-mounted components - very small - so it is not always obvious that a good contact has been made.

Good luck.

[Muziekschuur01]

I did the repair and a tiny capacitor fell off. But I was able to solder (without any extra solder) it back on and now my screen is working again...

[javapda]

@Muziekschuur01 Awesome!  Congratulations.

[Muziekschuur01]

I tried this repair. But the screen stays garbled, non readable.

[dontregartha]

This is right on the money old lad. My kid took it apart but wimped out at the soldering so the old man had to step in.

You need plenty of magnification to see what you're doing - not great for old eyes.

BUT it works!!!

[javapda]

@dontregartha Way to go!

[jeffaroundtheworld]

We have 10 NXTs and use them for teaching programming at our high school. One screen just died at the begging of class and had it back up and running before the end of the hour - thanks for the help!

[javapda]

@jeffaroundtheworld That is great news! Thank you for sharing your success! I bet your students are happy too!

Btw, do you teach programming through the NXT software alone or do you use other languages/environments too?

[jeffaroundtheworld]

@javapda Used the Lego programming environment and was great for beginners (and still used it with the grade 9s) but I am migrating toward RobotC. Much more powerful for the senior students and allows me to throw some C at them.

Have looked into the interface for working with Python (the language I teach for pure programming) but it isn't stable or accessible enough to use with a large group of students.

One student who is currently playing with Java on the brick and a plugin for Eclipse IDE

[skydivescott]

Awesome! You just made my day! Fixed it like a charm! Now I'll see if I can fix the other ones that don't work at our school... Thanks so much for making the vid & posting it to share!!

[javapda]

@skydivescott Excellent! Congratulations

[marcinsikorski]

Thanks! It worked for me. My son is happy again :)

Dziękuję

Muchas gracias :)

[javapda]

@marcinsikorski De nada

[snabeli1]

Thanks, that could be handy. But do you know how to fix a loudspeaker? Two bricks have lost there ability to make sound and I'm really tired of replacing them. Now I have 2 bricks without sound and 1 with. Any help would be great!

[javapda]

@snabeli1 Have you checked the continuity of the wires from the base-board to the speaker? There may be a break in the line.

[snabeli1]

Thanks for your prompt response. Took it apart and the wires looked fine. Put it back and it still doesn't work. That was one brick. I'll try the other one when I take apart the bot, NXT Gravity Skyway, which I posted yesterday.

[javapda]

@snabeli1 This may be a lot of work, but since its not working now it may be worth a try.

If you have an old computer speaker (cheap), you might want to disconnect the wires from the NXT speaker, and run the wires to an external speaker, this way you can verify that the speaker is the problem.

When you start the NXT you can hear the little startup sound.

[javapda]

@snabeli1 Hope it goes well

[wurft]

verry good (not that i needed it)

[HaydenStudios]

Thanks! I'll do this if this ever happens to my NXT! But I don't see why it should happen until at least 25 years have passed, I have had an RCX for 7 years, and an NXT for 2 years, and a second NXT for 11 days, and they're all in fine working condition. This vidoe will be added to my favorites, and I will share it with all of my friends.

[zzangyohan]

Thanks!!! I really appreciate you

[javapda]

@zzangyohan Great!  I hope it was helpful to you.

[jospwrs]

Totally awesome! Thank you so much, you just saved me a few hundred bucks...

[javapda]

Way to go!

[mins2]

I used your tutorial to fix one. It worked! Thank you.

[javapda]

That is great news!

[ronaldmcrae]

I've pointed a few folks to your video but today I had to use it myself. Had to work the capacitors a couple of times with the fine tip soldering iron but it worked. Excellent job. Thank you.

Worked the second time

[javapda]

Congratulations! I hope you are developing the confidence to do these things. If you try repairing other items I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks for watching.

[Roken96]

Thanks it realy works now i can continue working with mindstorms THANKS

[javapda]

Way to go!

[0x435448]

Hey! I just tried it, twice, and it worked the second time. I have a Weller soldering gun but the wrong tip, but I managed to finesse it anyway. Thanks, I never would have risked it without your instructions. I like the music you picked too!

[javapda]

Congratulations! Way to go! Glad to hear you were successful using this video.

[crashbandicoot1963]

wow dude im 12 (no im not a dumb teenager) and it actually worked!!! thanks! wait a sec... crap im missing the game bye!

[javapda]

Way to go! Just think what you'll be fixing in another few years! Keep learning.

[MinshikKong]

My NXT has problem and I see your contents. I repair my NXT and now it works very well!

Thank you!!

[javapda]

Glad it helped you.

[MinshikKong]

My NXT has problem and I see your contents. I repair my NXT and now it works very well!

Thank you!!

[javapda]

Great job!

[thmspl1]

You are awesome!! I'm a 46 yr old mom with no electronics background, but love a challenge... followed your video & IT WORKS!@#!! I think you're smart for figuring it out. I think you're kind beyond words for sharing.... you saved me a fortune. Thank you! Thank you!

[javapda]

I am pleased you found this helpful. Your comments really made my day! Thank you.

[matty961]

I lost the C3 contact, and now it wont even turn on. Any thoughts?

[justin20204]

nice vid, as soon as i got mine the lcd wouldn,t work so i took it apart and as it turns out i had a loose contact that somehow connects to the orange button and the screen nice video.

[javapda]

Excellent! That must have been a fun diagnosis and repair.

Glad you like the video :-)

[justin20204]

well i had gotten the nxt for my b-day on vacation so i had to wait about a week to even play with it, then my dad took it apart and pulled out his fluke meter and messed around with it and when he removed the daughter board he noticed the contact looked more open or wider then the others, he got a skrewdriver and pryed it tighter, put it back together and its worked great since.

[javapda]

Excellent! Love to hear those success stories.

[Roborocketry]

Very nicely done!

[javapda]

Thank you

[dasikalyan]

Congratulations! Job super well done and thanks for the detailed video.

[NeXTSTORMING]

Thanks for sharing! NeXTSTORM

[javapda]

You're welcome