Vizio V505-G9: sound but no picture
Repair odds for Vizio V505-G9
Best path: DIY.The verdict flips: DIY is Coin Flip (70), a shop is Long Shot (48). Assumes you already own the tools and skill.
DIY strips ($25.99-$59.99) beat a new 50-inch TV ($149.50); paying a shop $220+ does not.
DIY repair Better path
- $25.99 - $59.99
- Moderate to hard (4/5)
- Tools and gear not priced: expert job.
- 29% of the $149.50 replacement
Pay a shop
- $220 - $360 (1 quote) based on 1 quote
- Hands-off: you pay, they fix
- Based on a single in-home quote from the Chicago area; no mail-in or local quote found yet.
- 194% of the $149.50 replacement
Success odds: likely (same for both paths). Bands: 75 and up worth fixing, 50 to 74 coin flip, under 50 long shot.
Show the arithmetic for both scores
Each score = 40% cost + 40% success + 20% difficulty. The DIY score is also capped on hard jobs (4/5 max 74, 5/5 max 60). Replacement price $149.50. Success points 85 (Likely) for both paths: If a flashlight shows a faint picture, sources point to failed LED backlight strips, a well-documented fault. If you see nothing, this score does not apply. How is this scored?
DIY score 70 (coin flip): repair cost $42.99 (parts price, average of range) ÷ $149.50 = 0.288 → cost points 71.1. Difficulty points 40 (Moderate to hard (4/5)).
0.40 × 71.1 + 0.40 × 85 + 0.20 × 40 = 70.4 → 70 before the difficulty cap
Difficulty cap for this job is 74; this score is already under it, so it is unchanged.
Shop score 48 (long shot): repair cost $290 (average of the quoted range) ÷ $149.50 = 1.940 → cost points 0. Difficulty points 70 (flat shop value).
0.40 × 0 + 0.40 × 85 + 0.20 × 70 = 48.0 → 48
Panel and film stack must be removed without cracking glass. Replacement price is the cheapest comparable listing found: New Vizio 50-inch Quantum 4K QLED (VQD50M).
What usually fails
Ranked by how strongly sources support each failure. We have no failure-rate data, so there are no percentages. Labels are RepairOdds' reading of the sources listed, not measured failure rates.
-
1
Very common
LED backlight strips failed: sound but dark or dim picture
Faint image under a flashlight; strips fail on this panel family. Fix: Replace the LED strips (panel removal). (Strips $25.99-$59.99)
Sources: iFixit Answers (V405-G9 / V505-G9) (opens in new tab), Lapse of the Shutter (opens in new tab), ShopJimmy (opens in new tab)
-
2
Reported
Input or menu problem that looks like a black screen
Vizio's own support page lists basic checks first. Fix: Change input, power cycle. ($0)
Sources: Vizio Support (opens in new tab)
-
3
Reported
Main board or T-Con failure (no faint image)
If a flashlight shows nothing, sources point away from the strips. Fix: Board replacement. (Price unverified)
Sources: iFixit Answers (opens in new tab)
Free checks first
- Flashlight test: a faint picture means backlight, nothing at all points to main or T-Con boards.
- Rule out an input or menu problem (Vizio's no-picture guide).
- Match the strip part number to the label before ordering.
Repair guides
RepairOdds doesn't write repair steps. These guides are on other sites.
Prices behind the odds
| Item | Seller | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY part | ShopJimmy (opens in new tab) | $25.99 - $59.99 | LBM500M0901-HV-5 strips (4); strips out of stock; kit $59.99. Checked Oct 28, 2026 |
| Shop quote | Chicago TV Repair (in-home, Chicagoland only) (opens in new tab) | $220 - $360 | Quoted range for single/multiple LED strip replacement, parts and labor. Single in-home quote; not mail-in, not Ohio. Checked Oct 28, 2026 |
| Replace (used in score) | Electronic Express (opens in new tab) | $149.50 | New Vizio 50-inch Quantum 4K QLED (VQD50M) Checked Oct 28, 2026 |
| Replace (other) | Walmart (opens in new tab) | $213.00 | Same Vizio 50-inch Quantum. Checked Oct 28, 2026 |
$25.99 strips were out of stock on the check date; $59.99 is the complete repair parts kit. Single quote from a Chicago-area in-home repair shop for LED strip replacement. No mail-in or Ohio quote found yet. Prices change, so check the seller before buying. Shipping is not included. Some replacements are comparable current models rather than the identical TV or console.
Questions
Is a Vizio V505-G9 with no picture worth fixing?
RepairOdds' own estimate is DIY 70/100 (coin flip) vs paying a shop 48/100 (long shot). DIY strips are $25.99-$59.99 (ShopJimmy, checked Oct 28, 2026) vs a new 50-inch Vizio at $149.50. The $220-$360 shop figure is a single Chicago-area in-home quote, not a mail-in or local price.
What usually fails on this Vizio?
Failed LED backlight strips are the best-documented cause. Labels are RepairOdds' reading of sources, not statistics.
How do I tell if it's the backlight?
Shine a flashlight at the dark screen; a faint image points to the backlight.
Other odds
-
74COIN FLIP
TCL 55S425: sound, no picture, repair odds 74 out of 100, coin flip
sound, no picture
Best path: DIY
- DIY74Coin flip$37.49 parts
- Shop48Long shot$220 - $360 (1 quote)
Replace: $199.99
-
70COIN FLIP
Sony KD-65X85J: red light blinks, repair odds 70 out of 100, coin flip
red light blinks
Best path: DIY
- DIY70Coin flip$59.99 parts
- Shop55Coin flip$220 - $360 (1 quote)
Replace: $649.99
Sources
- iFixit Answers - Vizio V405-G9 sound but no display (V505-G9 note) (opens in new tab)
- ShopJimmy - Vizio LBM500M0901-HV-5 LED strips (4) V505-G9 (opens in new tab)
- Lapse of the Shutter - Vizio TV backlight issue (diagnose + fix) (opens in new tab)
- Vizio Support - TV has no picture or black screen (opens in new tab)
- Chicago TV Repair (in-home, Chicagoland only) (opens in new tab) (shop price)
Last verified Oct 28, 2026.