Samsung Note Pro 12.2: Screen flickering problems

[Beut]

Forcing a reboot shows an empty battery briefly, before showing the proper battery charge. That convinces me that it thinks the battery is completely gone when it really is not


Take my advice, go to a repair shop where a guy can do the solder job, ask them to re solder the battery connector, I believe it doesn't cost you over $30 to do the the fix which takes only under 2 minutes . You never know if you don't try it. Based on your description, it's exactly your tablet has a cracked battery's solder joints .

 

[muzzy996]

Actually it's not theory if everyone takes the time to look at the battery connector and inspect its solder joints under magnified glass . The tablet cannot read the battery's capacity correctly if it has a loose or intermittent connection. If I can post picture, you will see clearly what I'm talking about .

Understood. Bad choice of word, my post wasn't intended to cast doubt on your particular issue or solution, it was to point out to the other poster that they did not rule out that they didn't have the same issue.

 

[Beut]

If you search youtube for "note pro 12.2 lcd flickering fix", the poster fixed the flickering problem by raising the motherboard a little bit and mentioned if he press the back cover, near the location of battery connector, the flickering screen go away. He did find a solution but doesn't realize that trick only temporary close the gaps of battery connector's cracked solder joints. I fixed mine by just simply re solder the connector. No more flickering or auto shutdown or quick discharge, all problems come from a bad battery connector which loosely connected to the motherboard .
You can test by pressing the back cover at the center when the screen is flickering or tapping the back and the tablet shuts down, then you might understand where the problem comes from.
For confirmation, open the rear case and press directly on the connector when the screen is flickering if you're still not sure.

 

[Beut]

This is where you should look for flickering problem. If it's moving when pushing the connector or the pins misaligned with solders joints, then you have a cracked battery connector.
The fix is simple: reheat to melt the solder and add more to secure these pins to motherboard.

 

[MarkSlowhand]

Hi Don, thank for you so much for that very helpful photo, which illustrates where to look. All what you have written sounds promising and makes sense with respect to the failure. I have 2 such devices and will check for it. I wonder if the cracked pins are always the same ones! So can you please also tell us which of the 6 pins have been broken in your NotePro 12.2?

 

[srvctec]

Hi Don, thank for you so much for that very helpful photo, which illustrates where to look. All what you have written sounds promising and makes sense with respect to the failure. I have 2 such devices and will check for it. I wonder if the cracked pins are always the same ones! So can you please also tell us which of the 6 pins have been broken in your NotePro 12.2?

I can't speak for Don, but in my 27+ years in the electronics repair field as a living, any one of those cracked could cause an issue AND if one is cracked, more eventually will. In cases like this concerning cold solder joints over the years, it's ALWAYS best to solder all the pins on a connector that has any cracked. So, in short, re-solder all 6 pins to be safe so you won't have to take it apart again and solder another one of the six.

 

[MarkSlowhand]

I can't speak for Don, but in my 27+ years in the electronics repair field as a living, any one of those cracked could cause an issue AND if one is cracked, more eventually will. In cases like this concerning cold solder joints over the years, it's ALWAYS best to solder all the pins on a connector that has any cracked. So, in short, re-solder all 6 pins to be safe so you won't have to take it apart again and solder another one of the six.

Yes of course I would re-solder all 6 pins. I was just curious whether this issue is random or systematic and maybe always affects the same pins.

 

[Beut]

Yes of course I would re-solder all 6 pins. I was just curious whether this issue is random or systematic and maybe always affects the same pins.

You should do all 6 pins, the most important 2 on the right and 2 on the left which are positive and ground pins.
Look at your battery cable you will know, red is positive, black is ground. Trust me, flickering problem will go away but nobody can verify this critical fix because solder skill not everyone knows how to do.

 

[MarkSlowhand]

Thank you very much for all the tips and hints!

I have one more question. Do I need a special tool to remove the back and open the Note Pro? I have seen a tool that comes with a battery replacement kit. Any idea how to get this tool only or is there any alternative?

 

[Beut]

Any prying tool will work, you need to work on the back cover with the LCD facing down. Pressing one by one to snap open the rear cover, you should start from the USB port first because the metal bracket will help you pry open the rear cover easier than other places, or the S Pen opening, prying open the rear cover from there also a good starting point.
After open one or two you will find where to press open the locking tabs, I think one or two inches apart.

Another way, pry and lift the rear cover will open it faster and easier. Mute the first minute because there's too much noise, the rest is ok.

 

[Beut]

I have seen a tool that comes with a battery replacement kit.

Assume your adapter, USB cable, and USB charging port are in good working condition. Try to fix the battery connector first ; bad or loose battery connector besides flickering problem, it also the source of quick discharge, short battery life, taking long time to get full charge, auto shutdown, intermittent powers...etc.... all problems related to battery power.

 

[78tahitman]

I have the Note Pro 12.2 and I had this same screen flickering issue. It would start to flicker at first around the 38% mark. I did research online and found this thread and many others. I tried the software fixes like the enabling of Developer Mode and screen brightness and other tries, but to no avail. When I pressed on the back of the tablet, the screen flickering would stop but then shortly return. So I saw the fix of trying to raise the motherboard which worked for about 2 weeks, then the screen flickering did return. It would then start to flicker around the 58% battery level mark and when it got down to around 26%, the tablet would shut down. When I plugged it in, it would show battery level of 0%, then quickly jump back up to the 26% mark when it shut itself down. So then by this time, I saw more of this thread and now was shown the soldering of the battery connectors. I had soldering equipment, but it was too large for this repair as these 6 pins are very close together. So I went to the hobby shop and purchased new equipment for about $30 with a smaller pin to be able to do this. Now, I am not an electronics guy and my past experience was replacing two bad capacitors on my Plasma TV when it went bad. That was the extent of my experience to date. So I opened up the back of my tablet and soldered the 6 pins again and the screen flickering has not returned. I am on my 5th battery cycle from 100% all the way down to 2% and the screen flickering and shutting itself down has not returned. Some people have said an electronics guy will do this for you for around $30. Well, I spent the $30 and did it myself. I want to thank the people for posting the solutions here as the soldering worked for me.

 

[treetopsranch]

Would like you to post a video on how you opened the back of this tablet to re-solder the pins.

 

[srvctec]

Would like you to post a video on how you opened the back of this tablet to re-solder the pins.

Umm, did you not read any of this thread before posting? If people would just read the thread, most of the info is already there. Post # 72 already has a video showing exactly what you requested without how to solder, which if you have no clue how to do, you can probably Google "how to solder".

 

[Beut]

Would like you to post a video on how you opened the back of this tablet to re-solder the pins.

Post #72 has the video, you should open the rear and gently pry the battery cable side by side to disconnect it, and hire someone to do the re-work. It takes less than 5 minutes , don't try DIY as you might damage the main board.

 

[treetopsranch]

Sorry guys, I had a Alzheimer moment. I now remember that video.

 

[Beut]

Well, I spent the $30 and did it myself. I want to thank the people for posting the solutions here as the soldering worked for me.

You did an excellent job that most others can't. I'm glad that you solved the headache causing by this tablet.

 

[ABKudva]

A permanent fix is re solder the battery connector to motherboard . It has weak solder joints and easily has cracks which can see under microscope or tested by slightly push it to right or left, do this if you are ready and know how to solder, the battery connector will move if you lift or push it slightly, this is the source of flickering problem, common seen in Galaxy Tab or Note Pro 12.2 , two identical models, the only difference is S-Pen added in Galaxy Note.
Don't waste your time to do anything else .

Thank you! Just got the soldering done and no flickering since then. Fingers crossed this lasts and no new problems....

 

[Beut]

Thank you! Just got the soldering done and no flickering since then. Fingers crossed this lasts and no new problems....

I recommend to use this case cove to stabilize the rear cover and minimize the movement of mainboard; it's weakly secured to the frame, that's the reason of loose or cracked from this connector overtime. It takes me under 2 minutes to remove the main board completely as there're only 3 screws to hold it and 2 speakers. Someone has new replaced main board, but its battery connector cracks just after 4 months. Be aware that the main board sits on top of a fragile and flexible LCD; nothing to secure it except 3 screws at two speakers.
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Don't worry, the major problem of this tablet is flickering screen, quick battery discharge and you already know how to fix it. If it happens again, I'll tell you what need to do next but it's not necessary right now.

 

[Giorgi Tevdoradze]

It helped thanks