# TI-86 Calculator Display Issue - Repairable?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-86-calculator-display-issue-repairable/447882>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 3, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-86-calculator-display-issue-repairable/447882 "2008-05-03T13:57:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-86-calculator-display-issue-repairable/447882/1 "2008-05-03T13:57:11Z")

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I have a TI-86 calculator with a display problem. The display is legible for approximately 1 second after turning the calculator on, then it goes to sort of a zero-contrast state where the numbers are not legible. Because this calculator has memory, it is possible to use it verrry sloooowwly to do math by turning it on and off repeatedly. I mention that to indicate that the battery isn’t dead and the calculator still works, the problem is the display. I have installed new batteries and still have the problem.

Anyone know if this is repairable? Any idea the cost to repair?

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-86-calculator-display-issue-repairable/447882/2 "2008-05-03T14:09:53Z")

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[QUOTE=Harriet the Spry]  
I have a TI-86 calculator with a display problem. The display is legible for approximately 1 second after turning the calculator on, then it goes to sort of a zero-contrast state where the numbers are not legible. Because this calculator has memory, it is possible to use it verrry sloooowwly to do math by turning it on and off repeatedly. I mention that to indicate that the battery isn’t dead and the calculator still works, the problem is the display. I have installed new batteries and still have the problem.

Anyone know if this is repairable? Any idea the cost to repair?  
[/QUOTE]

I would say it’s unlikely that it will be worthwhile to repair.  
You could try taking it apart, removing the display, cleaning the display contacts, and putting it back together, but my guess is that’s not so easy to do.  
It’s also possible that the LCD bias generator circuit is bad, in which case you are not going to be able to fix it without a schematic and a source for parts. And very small tools.

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-86-calculator-display-issue-repairable/447882/3 "2008-05-03T15:13:29Z")

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You might try taking the thing apart and seeing if you’ve got a buildup of crap across the display connector.  
These [disassembly photos](http://www.datamath.org/Graphing/JPEG_TI-86.htm#PCB) don’t show any obvious connectors that could work loose, so unless it’s something simple, you’re probably out of luck.

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-86-calculator-display-issue-repairable/447882/4 "2008-05-03T15:16:38Z")

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Try playing with the keys controlling the contrast adjustment before trashing it.