I got the monitor in this condition:

When you turn it on, it makes the click sound most monitors make. Also, as most monitors do, it makes that charge up sound at the same time- the hollow metallic "vibrationy" sound you hear when you press degauss. The problem is that nothing happens. The power/ standby LED by the power button lights up green, but nothing appears on the CRT. The clicking sound keeps on repeating as if the monitor keeps trying top turn on. I don't know anything about monitor repair. From what I've read in this forum, it sounds like it may be an issue with the flyback transformer or other. I donloaded the service manual, but it's not any help to amateurs like me. I am pretty savvy with electornics in general, but this is pretty complex stuff. I opened up the case followign the exploded diagram views in the manual. Before disconnecting anything, even grounds, I turned the monitor on whiloe looking at the pcb's and saw there was a light-bulb flashing on the biggest circuit board. I know the unit is equipped with some sort of self-diagnostics, and suspect the flashing bulb is supposed to tell me something. Last thing- at the tip of the CRT, where the huge light-bulb like glass piece that sticks into the end of the tube is, near it, there are three similar (diagnostic?) bulbs to the one that i saw flashing inside the monitor, which all look burned out (the glass enclosure of each is coated with dark gray on the inner part of the jacket) and looks like a burnt out light bulb. I've included a small MS Paint depiction. I can easily take a photo if it would help any. Thanks for any help in advance. I made this as descriptive as possible for now.I've looked at everything very carefully- every visible component of each pcb, and they all look intact as far as one can see with an eye (with exception of burnt out bulbs).

drawing of burnt out bulbs: [img][/img]

Woudl it be a good idea, or a terrible idea to bypass the burnt out bulbs and bridge to connections to test to see whther they're the problem?

I forgot to mention yet another thing: When I press the power button, and I hear the clicking sound, the power/ standby LED lights up green, but it keeps going on and off, in sync with the clicking I hear. The only tool I have is a multimeter/ voltmeter to help me diagnose.

I found some info here: ANything soudn familiar? http://www.electronics-forum.info/repair/Dell_P991_Monitor_316621.html

Just to let you know, I have read all the p991 threads in the entire forum. The most informative was this one: http://www.network54.com/Forum/thread?forumid=87612&messageid=1063655978&lp=1069770589

I am curious about the followup. Anyone have a clue?

The fault you describe will be either a faulty flyback (line output) transformer or the CRT. The link you mentioned which was the most informative tells you how to determine if its the CRT or the transformer. See the posts by Rich.

Whatever you do, don't short out the 'light bulbs'. These are not bulbs, rather spark gaps there for saftey reasons to arc high voltage to ground in the event of a high voltage circuit failure which you have on your monitor.

Good luck!

Here's the bottom of the pcd, focusing on the flyback solders- if i had to replace it, would I use my cheap RadioShack soldering gun to de-solder those points, or is there another method? (The solder points in a semi-circle):


Is the CRT the thing on the top- with the glas jacket? Are they expensive? I would think so.


Below is the circuit board with the three burn-out looking spark-jumps. The white socket is the crt socket.


Side view of the burnt out jumps- just wondering if they should look like that. How would I know if the need replacement?


Here's the top of the mainboard with the flyback. The spark-jump that I saw flashing when I turn the unit on- the color is blue tinted- like a spark. None of the other spark-jumps flash. Also, this one looks clear, as opposed to the ones I described above, which looked, as may be visible in the above pic, burned out. Also, this spark-jump is the only one on that entire board, adn is placed near the flyback as you can see. Any suggestions as to why it is the only one that lights up?- is that a good or bad thing?

The CRT is the actual screen assembly including the glass tube at the rear. The entire thing is vaccuum sealed so no part of it is user repairable. Check the component reference on the PCB e.g SG901 and compare this with the post you mentioned above.

However, I don't want to sound like I'm being offhand or anything but with your experience of monitors, I think it would be best if you took it to a repair shop. There is 25,000 volts or more on the CRT and transformer and if you are not sure what you are doing, it can be fatal.

If its the CRT that's at fault, the monitor is a write off. If its the transformer, its a possible but expensive repair.

Thans for responses. I'm just gonna write it off. I'm pretty sure it's the flyback, and it's $50 for a new one, when the monitor is worth no more than 70. If i were to get the flyback, and spend time, without knowing if it will wrk at all in the end, it's far fro worth it. Heck a nice used 22" sony is about $150 shipped from ebay, like the IBM p260's
Anyway, if anyone wants the monitor for parts, le tme know, and i'll send it for only with shippin paid by you. I doubt anyone will want it, but some repairmen may make some use of it.