CP713-2W-5874 Chromebook has hazy screen with vertical lines & some flickering while scrolling

My Spin 713 developed a very hazy screen with vertical lines, and some flickering while scrolling. This happened rather suddenly while typing. The computer has not been dropped or suffered any other trauma. I have tried changing screen settings, restarting, hard reset, and powerwash. Nothing has helped. The problem seems to come and go a little. It is severe at startup, but fades as I use the laptop a bit, but can get worse again. Opening and closing the lid (screen) has no effect.

I bought this laptop as a certified refurbished unit less than two years ago in the USA, but I am now in Germany. I'm not sure if it's still covered by warranty or where I should take it if it needs repaired. If this is a hardware issue, can I repair it myself?

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title]

Accepted answers

JackE

Remove 9 screws from bottom cover.
Using a credit card or plasti c wedge, pry bottom cover off starting from the side opposite the hinges.
Disconnect the battery pack from the mainboard.
Then re-seat the LCD video cable mainboard connector a half-dozen or so times to help clean the contacts.
At this point, you have to decide if you want to also re-seat the connector at the base of the screen because it will probably require futher disassembly by removing 4 screws affixing the two hinges to the mainboard and top cover

All comments

JackE

Unless you purchased an extended warranty (~$200+usd), standard refurb warranty is 90 days in the country in which you bought. There is also extra cost traveler's insurance that only covers while travelling through another country, not residing in it. If it was mine, I probably take it to a local laptop repair shop in the town you're in for an evaluation & estimate. Acer out of warranty repairs are usually not too practical and often cost almost as much as another refurb irrespective of what issues..

https://acerrecertified.com/warranty/laptops/

LesIsmore

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1186408#Comment_1186408

Thanks JackE! I realize it's not covered by warranty, but I'm really more interested in how to fix the problem. Overall it's still a great laptop and I'd like to get a couple more years out of it. I might try a local repair shop, but I'm also willing to give it a go myself. I just wish I could find some information on how to troubleshoot this to narrow it down a bit. I feel like it's a connection problem, but is it most likely in the display, or in the body? I can't find any videos or tutorials on how to open this particular model.

JackE

You can try to re-seat the LCD video cable connectors at the mainboard and base of the screen to help clean the contacts. The bottom cover, screen bezel & possibly the keyboard depending on the full model number (For example CP713-2W). I'll try to walk you through it but I have to know what full model is.

LesIsmore

Thanks! It's CP713-2W-5874

JackE

Remove 9 screws from bottom cover.
Using a credit card or plasti c wedge, pry bottom cover off starting from the side opposite the hinges.
Disconnect the battery pack from the mainboard.
Then re-seat the LCD video cable mainboard connector a half-dozen or so times to help clean the contacts.
At this point, you have to decide if you want to also re-seat the connector at the base of the screen because it will probably require futher disassembly by removing 4 screws affixing the two hinges to the mainboard and top cover

LesIsmore

Thanks! I'll give this a try today and let you know how it goes.

LesIsmore

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1186847#Comment_1186847

Ok. I gave it a shot, but it didn't change anything. I'm reluctant to undo the hinges and open up the screen, so I think my next step is to try a local repair shop. Otherwise, I'll wait until I'm back in the USA this summer, and take it to an Acer certified repair shop there. Thanks for your help!

JackE

A good local laptop repair shop would be my first choice for an evaluation and repair estimate.

mnr3

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1186847#Comment_1186847

If I may ask (and keep similar procedures together in one thread) how different would this be for the CP713-3W-5102? do these techniques ever succeed? (haven't seen anyone rejoice yet anywhere)

thanks in advance

mr

JackE

JackE Jack E/NJ

mnr3

Thanks Jack E/NJ,

looks like it is the display then. I got everything off and even popped the bezel but no luck. This had been by far my favorite Chromebook and even laptop in a long time but dang I thought it would last longer than my plasticky cheapies. Really, really disappointed it didn't even make it to 3 years. Won't say it's never slid off the couch, but it spends most of its time at home and never in a backpack, almost never in tablet mode. Oh well.

Many thanks for the response. Now to decide if I get another CB or throw Linux on a cheap windows machine. Or just get a tablet without hinges since the opening and closing seems to be the Achilles heel of the form factor

JackE

Replacing the lcd cable (part# 50.HQBN7.007) might be a fix since it's most vulnerable in the hinge area. About $25usd

billsey

You can verify if it's the cable by connecting an external monitor. (And BTW the 3W and 2W are fairly different, using different generations of chips.) The HDMI connector is on a different video channel off the chipset, so if the issue is a cable or display issue the external monitor will still work. If both the internal display and an external display don't work, then we need to look at the motherboard instead.