As a Vizio TV user, chances remain high that you suddenly notice your TV’s screen flashes several times and the display refuses to turn on.
And you get confused about what to do to fix the problem. This article shares some solutions on how to solve the issue.
Why Does Vizio TV Power Light Flash 15 Times?
Whether your model is new or old, Vizio TV screen flashing is a common TV error that most users often experience. Generally, the Vizio TV power light blinks several times, on average 12, 15, 16, 20 times, or blinks continuously.
If your TV keeps flashing and refuses to boot up, it does so for various reasons. It might have recently experienced a power surge or low power supply. Overheating or a power glitch on the PSU (Power Supply Unit) can also cause the flashing problem.
Furthermore, the technical issue could be a sign of outdated firmware. Several users also recently disclosed that the problem emerged after lightning struck their TVs.
This article shares tips on how you can fix the flashing problem. These are tried and tested solutions you can use to troubleshoot the issue before taking your TV to a repair shop.
1. Voltage Fluctuation
As mentioned above, the flashing problem mostly occurs after a power surge. The voltage fluctuation after a power surge causes a power glitch in the power supply circuit, which can cause this problem.
You can do a soft reset to fix the power glitch problem. The hard reset will enable you to clear out any internal memory clogs, corrupt data, and malfunctions.
If you panic that the reset will delete downloaded content or clear the settings, be certain that it won’t.
How to conduct a software reset:
- Turn off your Vizio TV and other connected devices.
- Disconnect the TV from the power source and unplug the power cable from the wall socket.
- Long press the power button and hold it for about 2 minutes while keeping the TV disconnected.
- Plug your TV back into the power source.
- Wait for at least 2 minutes.
- Now take the TV remote and switch on the TV.
2. Cable and Port Issue
If you have connected external devices (like a gaming console, sound systems, a set-top box, ports, and cables), chances are that such devices have gone bad and are causing the blinking problem.
In such a case, you can implement an elimination method to diagnose the problem.
How to fix:
- Remove all the connected devices from your TV one by one and isolate the TV.
- Once you’ve isolated your TV, connect it to the power.
- The TV should power up itself if any of the devices were the cause of the blinking problem.
- Through the elimination method, you will know which external device is damaged or not working properly.
- So you will need to repair damaged devices or buy new ones.
3. Incorrect Picture Settings
Your TV’s picture settings might also cause the screen flashing problem on your Vizio smart TV.
Instead of changing each setting manually, you should reset the picture settings. Doing this will enable you to reset the picture settings to default values, fixing any problems caused by wrong settings.
How to fix:
- First, you need to reset the picture mode.
- On your remote, click the MENU button and then go PICTURE > MORE > Reset picture mode.
- If this option is unavailable on your Vizio TV, there are other adjustments you can try.
- Go back to PICTURE and make a few adjustments to the various settings there.
- You can begin with Brightness and turn this down to about 90%.
- If your TV has Backlight Control, then try turning this down 5-10%.
- You can also turn OFF the Ambient Light Sensor.
If none of these work, you can try other options, like updating software on your Vizio TV. Software problems can sometimes cause your TV to flash on and off.
You need to ensure your TV is running the latest software version. If your Vizio TV is connected to the internet, it should automatically check and install new software updates. However, if the TV can’t install, you should manually update your latest software.
4. Outdate Firmware
The firmware is also another major element responsible for the flashing problem. The blinks normally occur because of outdated firmware. Corrupted Vizio firmware is the major cause of this problem. When the TV’s firmware is corrupted, the TV screen will blink continuously because the television is attempting to repair itself.
In most cases, the TV updates the latest firmware version automatically whenever a new firmware software update is available. But despite the availability of a new version, the TV may refuse to install the update.
How to fix:
- You can install the latest firmware versions manually.
- First, check available firmware updates.
- Then go to the TV’s ‘Menu,’ move to ‘System,’ and click on ‘Check for Updates.’
- The TV will notify you when to install an available update.
5. Software Issues
Factory resetting is another option you can use to resolve the flashing problem. This method will help you solve any corrupted system files causing the TV to blink.
However, the factory reset differs from a hard reset as it will delete all downloaded content and saved settings on your TV.
So try the factory reset when the first option doesn’t work. You should save your downloaded content before doing the reset. It would be best if you tried all other options before going for this method.
How to fix:
- Press the MENU button on your remote control to conduct a factory reset
- Move to ‘General Settings’ on your Vizio TV.
- Go to ‘System’ and click it.
- Select Reset & Admin, then click ‘Reset TV to Factory defaults’ and select ok.
- Put your TV’s password, and click ‘Reset.’
- Wait for about 10 to 15 seconds for the television to factory reset.
6. Hardware Issues
After performing the options above and the power light flashing doesn’t disappear, know that the internal hardware of your TV is faulty.
It’s now the time to inspect each internal component of your Vizio TV and fix the flashing problem.
TV blinking glitch also happens often due to hardware failures. Power surge can trigger hardware failure in your TV. In this case, a power surge can blow the capacitors or the fuse on the power supply unit of your TV or damage the entire Power Supply Unit (PSU). That’s how it can cause hardware malfunction.
Sometimes, the power supply unit of the TV can go bad and cause hardware failures and other problems. Low current can also affect the TV’s circuitry, leading to the TV’s hardware malfunction. This can cause the screen to refuse to turn on.
Power board malfunction is one of the main reasons why your Vizio TV power light flashes 15 and 16 times. This problem occurs when the power board on your TV is not offering the expected voltage feedback.
Other factors that also cause the power board malfunction in your TV include doomed capacitors, bad electrical outlets, blown-up fuses, and loose connectors.
How to fix:
- Open up the back panel of your TV and inspect the power board for any damage.
- In case the power board is defective, you must replace it.
- Inspect and replace the board’s internal components like capacitors, fuses, etc.
- At this level, you’ll need to reach out to a professional to repair or replace the PSU of your TV.
- Install voltage stabilizers or surge suppression to prevent voltage fluctuations and power surge hitch.
With a faulty motherboard, your Vizio TV won’t turn, and its power light flashes 16 times. When the main board stops functioning, your TV doesn’t receive adequate power to operate. Eventually it begins giving you the error indication of the power light flashing problem.
Damaged power cords, worn-out internal components, lousy resistors, overheating TV, and power surge are other potential causes of main board malfunction.
How to fix:
- Begin by checking the motherboard of your TV. Unplug your TV and unscrew its back panel.
- Now go to the motherboard and use a voltage tester to test its internal components.
- You can fix the flashing glitch by replacing individual bad components. When the entire board is lousy, you should replace it.
- You will need to contact a professional to help repair these issues.
- You should avoid plugging electronic devices and your TV into faulty power sources.