Why does my LG G3 screen flicker and fades to darkness?

[iamaherr]

This problem started happening to my phone in early November, I sent it via USPS to LG (in Fort Worth) on the 18th of November (after hemming and hawing and investigating other options). They assessed the phone, told me it would be $146 to repair. On the 30th, I told them to do the repair (required thinking about, shopping round and there was Thanksgiving in there).
FedEx tried to deliver the phone on Saturday, 12/5, in the 45 minutes all day that I wasn't home, and I managed to pick up the phone on Monday, 12/7.

It has been functioning well since then.

I learned from this experience that Verizon has a 'suspend phone' option in the account. I'm not exactly sure what this does (haven't gotten a bill yet).

EDIT: I noticed after 3 days of having the phone (very observant, I am) that the laser cover and the power button had that 'new protective tape' that the screen and the perimeter of the phone had when I got it back from LG. They must have replaced them as well.

 

[iamaherr]

After 6+ days, my first LG repair has failed - fading to black again, just like before. I guess they still don't know what's wrong or how to fix it.

 

[adgorn]

As I reported before, I had the exact same experience. So I sent it back (they paid shipping this time) and they fixed again. It has been working now since 11/24.

 

[NW425]

Hey everyone,

I just registered because I am having this issue as well. From the US and currently past the 15-month warranty and am waiting for a response on the live chat. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[bishopx26]

As I reported before, I had the exact same experience. So I sent it back (they paid shipping this time) and they fixed again. It has been working now since 11/24.

did they tell you what was the problem bro ?

 

[Big_Rob_B]

Just started having this problem, don't know what to do next. I'm skeptical to send it in and pay a repair fee if they're not even going to fix the problem.

 

[BMIC50]

Just started having this problem, don't know what to do next. I'm skeptical to send it in and pay a repair fee if they're not even going to fix the problem.

I know that those who are not as fortunate as me are more vocal but I did not pay for the repair and they fixed it the first time.

 

[Lucas Augusto Machado]

New and strange update.

As I refused to pay "700 reais" (roughly 200 dollars, which is A LOT here in Brazil, specially since I paid around 300 euros for the phone) for the repair, I've been using another phone since. Consequently, my LG G3 had no SIM card and was out of battery.

Last week I talked to a friend of mine who repairs motherboards (computer) and he said he could take a look. I charged the phone and it returned to work. I spent the whole weekend "trying to make it break again," that is, I used it normally: played videos, increased the brightness, used the calculator, wrote notes, unlocked the screen every 5 minutes waiting for the phone to start fading again and nothing.

On Monday I decided to test it in "real life": inserted my SIM card and went to college. Didn't look at the phone, just inserted the SIM card, turned it on and left it on my pocket. I felt it vibrating a few times (which is normal when turning it on, due to any missed calls, text messages, etc.) but didn't look at it for the next 10 minutes when I got on the bus. After that, I tried to use it and the screen started to fade around 2 minutes later.
Plus: I had no network signal. Could not make calls, text, or anything.

The other day, I went back to using another cell phone and left the useless LG at home. I was going to take it for my friend to have a look (not the authorized LG) so I charged it. Without the SIM card, that is still on my other phone. Conclusion: the phone returned to work with no problems on the screen.
Out of curiosity, I inserted my mom's SIM card (she uses a different phone provider btw) and it's been working for about 3 or 4 hours without any problems ... tested it with phone calls, played videos, etc. and nothing. Which is very strange, since at this point, I haven't been able to use it for more than three minutes till the screen starts to fade.

Summary: Without the SIM card and with a different SIM card the phone is working properly for the past 3 or 4 hours (which seems little, but as I said, it's been almost two months since the last time it worked for more than a few minutes).
Someone with the same problem willing to try / or already tried to make it work without the SIM card could comment on that?

I'll keep testing it and I will post the results soon!

Thank you!

 

[Big_Rob_B]

New and strange update.

As I refused to pay "700 reais" (roughly 200 dollars, which is A LOT here in Brazil, specially since I paid around 300 euros for the phone) for the repair, I've been using another phone since. Consequently, my LG G3 had no SIM card and was out of battery.

Last week I talked to a friend of mine who repairs motherboards (computer) and he said he could take a look. I charged the phone and it returned to work. I spent the whole weekend "trying to make it break again," that is, I used it normally: played videos, increased the brightness, used the calculator, wrote notes, unlocked the screen every 5 minutes waiting for the phone to start fading again and nothing.

On Monday I decided to test it in "real life": inserted my SIM card and went to college. Didn't look at the phone, just inserted the SIM card, turned it on and left it on my pocket. I felt it vibrating a few times (which is normal when turning it on, due to any missed calls, text messages, etc.) but didn't look at it for the next 10 minutes when I got on the bus. After that, I tried to use it and the screen started to fade around 2 minutes later.
Plus: I had no network signal. Could not make calls, text, or anything.

The other day, I went back to using another cell phone and left the useless LG at home. I was going to take it for my friend to have a look (not the authorized LG) so I charged it. Without the SIM card, that is still on my other phone. Conclusion: the phone returned to work with no problems on the screen.
Out of curiosity, I inserted my mom's SIM card (she uses a different phone provider btw) and it's been working for about 3 or 4 hours without any problems ... tested it with phone calls, played videos, etc. and nothing. Which is very strange, since at this point, I haven't been able to use it for more than three minutes till the screen starts to fade.

Summary: Without the SIM card and with a different SIM card the phone is working properly for the past 3 or 4 hours (which seems little, but as I said, it's been almost two months since the last time it worked for more than a few minutes).
Someone with the same problem willing to try / or already tried to make it work without the SIM card could comment on that?

I'll keep testing it and I will post the results soon!

Thank you!

Interesting that you mention the SIM card because a few weeks ago I started to have problems with the SIM, where it would randomly say the card was disconnected and ask me to restart my phone before I could use the network. I took the SIM out and am still having problems, but if what everyone's saying is true about the connectors being the reason for the flickering, the SIM slot being damaged could be having an effect.

 

[remaroo]

Hi guys. I just registered just because of this issue.
A week ago I installed a new update on my G3 and on the weekend it started to get funky.
My friend only tried to post selfies of us and then she got surprised
why my phone started to fade to black all of the sudden.
I tried most of your solutions here but none were successful.
LG's trusted repair shop here costs 800 Philippine Pesos (Roughly $17)
for a repair and for us that's a bit expensive for repairs.
Right now I managed to access my phone for a while
and got the chance to register it the Mobizen app where I can view the phone via my PC.
Right now I'm currently on the Development options disabling the HW thing.
I've currently turned off my phone for a while and will be turning on later.
I hope there is a fix on this that can help this phone.
I didn't really want to buy a phone this year because I thought my G3 was still in good shape.

But should I go on with the $17 service price for the repairs?
They said they'd have to charge me more if they think I need new parts for it.

UPDATE:
The sim and sd card removal + Disable HW only worked for me for a couple of minutes. I am starting to lose hope on this phone, but I will still try and contact the LG repair shop. I might as well get help and instruct them to check on LG's motherboard for any complications rather than check it for the LCD.

 

[bishopx26]

can you please give updates if they say its a motherboard issue or no ?

 

[BMIC50]

Re: HELP - LG G3 Screen Flickers and fades to darkness

I hope that this helps some people!

Android Keyboard Shortcuts for Gmail | Android Central

$17 for the repair..? Almost as cheap as free! Why even waste the time... Just send it in.

 

[bishopx26]

alright bruvs..LISTEN UP ...whoever has the same problem as it described read this
you gonna fix it without the need to ship to LG or spening money to your service providers
just do this what i tell u
1-make some small folded paper
2-open the lg cover motherboard
3-take the folded paper and put it at camera controller.. its that small space between autolaser and camera
4-close the cover....the paper will push the motherboard and i dont know why but it works
i have only 15 min i did that and im not getting anymore that issue....i will recharge now and hope it will not appear again
i wrote this to help u cus i know your concern about this.. i used to be sad for about 1 month since the problem occured...hope it will not appear anymore.. spread this method so others can know it.. thanks

 

[khunt8669]

hey boss can you post a picture of the fix

 

[promosrus]

I tried what bishopx26 suggested and for the past 24 hours the phone has been working fine. Just fold a small strip of paper like he says, take the cover off and stick it between the laser and the camera and close the cover so it presses down on it.
Not really sure how this fixes it...

I bought a Moto X pure edition, having given up on this phone. Now im not so sure! Hope this really keeps the phone going.

 

[USA0794]

Same thing described in this forum began happening to me last night.
Have had phone for almost 13 months from Verizon.
Tried switching out batteries with backup stock ones I purchased several months ago, but as noted, that didn't work.
Then hit the google search & found this forum.
Thank you to everyone who has posted their trials & tribulations.

On a different forum, I found a suggestion that seemed to provide some temp relief.
That was cooling down the devise by placing an ice pack from the freezer in a towel & setting the phone on top.
It allowed me to keep it working for 10-15 min at a time before flickering out again.

While analyzing the possible causes, I remembered that the phone had occasionally (4-5 times) turned itself off when I was taking pictures over the past 3-4 months.
Last night I didn't take any pics, but I had played YouTube videos for about 30 min-1 hr prior to the flicker issue beginning for the first time.

I'm thinking that all these symptoms may be motherboard issues caused by overheating. God knows that the manufacturers don't make things to last anymore, they want it to wear out so you go get a new one as soon as the warranty is up.
Not that they purposely designed it to fail this way, just that some connection on the motherboard, probably near the camera, has a tendency to go bad.
I too am trying Bishopx26's idea of the paper between the laser & camera to see if it makes a difference. Hopefully I can avoid calling LG on Monday.

 

[lweeter]

Hello, I just started having this issue this morning out of nowhere. Has been pretty consistent and virtually makes the phone unusable. I can sort of guess where things are so I could turn on the bluetooth and make a call from my car but otherwise can't do much at all. Other than app updates I have not had any software updates pushed to my phone. I tried deleting the cache, which seemed to help make me be able to use the phone for short periods of time but didn't really solve the problem. Taking the battery out and then restarting the phone seemed to get the screen to light up long enough to delete the cache and try to back up SMSs and photos. Trying to avoid doing a factory reset as I doubt it will work. Could you post a photo of the paper between the camera and the sensors as I'm a little unclear about this one (or maybe I'm making it more difficult than I should be...). I opened the back cover, put a folded piece of paper to the left of the camera lens but it hasn't work at all so far. Thanks.

 

[bishopx26]

http://i.imgur.com/Jhd7wzX.jpg

in this photo its explained where is the camera connector.. its number 1.. u try make a the small folded paper to fit perfectly between there without blocking the autolaser.... i put some folded paper at pic number 2 to be sure lol..... the feedback its pretty impressive....it changed a lot the way how it works.. it used to flicker everytime i tried to work with my phone now i open every program without flickering.. just today it flickered a bit ...seems like when it gets pretty hot gives problems..but u wait few seconds and its back to normal.. i would suggest everyone this method.. maybe it doesnt solve completely the problem but it really recoveres it like 70%....anybody who tried this its welcome to tell me if u got anymore flickers.

 

[qz88]

Put the folded piece of paper right on top of camera connector (brown square thing between the camera and the laser)....and make sure that the paper thick enough to push the motherboard down when you put the cover back on. work for me since 18 desember until now

 

[remaroo]

alright bruvs..LISTEN UP ...whoever has the same problem as it described read this
you gonna fix it without the need to ship to LG or spening money to your service providers
just do this what i tell u
1-make some small folded paper
2-open the lg cover motherboard
3-take the folded paper and put it at camera controller.. its that small space between autolaser and camera
4-close the cover....the paper will push the motherboard and i dont know why but it works
i have only 15 min i did that and im not getting anymore that issue....i will recharge now and hope it will not appear again
i wrote this to help u cus i know your concern about this.. i used to be sad for about 1 month since the problem occured...hope it will not appear anymore.. spread this method so others can know it.. thanks

Wow this is a relief. I hope you can observe your phone and post your updates here from time to time.
I still haven't given my phone to the repair shop yet, so this is a good sign for me to repair it for myself.

If you have the time, sir, can you post a video or images of the instructions that you've given us?
In that way for not so handful with the hardware would really know what to do. Thank you in advance!