Dead Pixels In A BenQ Projector: How To Fix?

When dead pixels fill up the screen of your BenQ projector, it’s definitely not a good sign.

For starters, you’ll notice some white dots or dead pixels on your screen when one or more of the Micromirrors are damaged due to heat coming from inside the projector.

This calls for urgent attention. You don’t want these dead pixels to be more visible as time passes.

Today, we’ll help you deal with the dead pixels on your BenQ projector with a simple and effective step-by-step guide.

We’re here to talk about the following:

• What are dead pixels?
• Why are there dead pixels on the screen?
• BenQ’s dead pixel policy 
• And a whole lot more!

Ready? Let’s jump right in!

What Are Dead Pixels in a Projector? 

They are black and white pixels that can’t be fixed easily. They are like stars in the sky whenever you open your projector. 

On the other hand, stuck pixels are a bit different. They are in the wrong color pattern with the colors red, green, and blue. They are normally solved easily when compared to a dead pixel problem.

Dead pixels on the projector will give you a blurred image on the screen with visible black and white spots. These aren’t easy to ignore as they will fill up the screen entirely and will be annoying when you watch your movies, TV shows, and live photos.

Why Do Dead Pixels Appear?

Dead pixels are common in projectors.

However, there are many BenQ projector users who haven’t experienced this type of problem.

But for those who have, getting dead pixels on the projector is typically caused by poor maintenance and care. 

It can be a manufacturing or a quality issue. But the easiest solution to this is taking care of your projector and maintaining it.

What Causes Dead Pixels? 

1. Smudge or Dust

When people open their projector, the screen becomes heavily exposed to touch and fingerprints. People can be careless and leave smudges and dirty residue on the screen. There are instances when the projector lens, DMD chip, and LCD screen are sensitive to human touch.

This leaves the projector having dead pixels or a distorted projection.

Maintaining the projector screen is definitely important, ensuring you take extra care of the lens. This will allow you to use your BenQ projector for a long time. 

On the other hand, dust can cause heavy problems to the screen such as projecting a green tint and overheating. The dust can get inside the projector through the air filter. You can’t really block the projector’s air filter as it may cause overheating. So the projector needs the air filter to circulate the projector’s temperature.

Therefore, cleaning your projector should be second nature.

2. Manufacturing/Quality issue

You may be one of the lucky projector owners who has purchased a BenQ projector with a manufacturing issue that has stumbled in the quality control. This isn’t always the case, but it can still be likely to happen to you.

3. Overheating

Inside your projector is the heatsink behind the DMD chip. The heat sink helps the projector’s DMD chip cool down when it is in use. This converts the heat into another form, such as liquid or air. 

Moreover, the thermal paste is added to keep the DMD chip cool. There may be an instance when a thermal paste is poorly pasted, which can cause the DMD chip to stop cooling.

Because of this, the DMD chip micromirrors cannot flip properly for the projection, causing dead pixels to fill up your screen.

4. Damaged LCD

The projector’s LCD panel is similar to the LCD on your smartphone. 

While the smartphone LCD screen is coated from one side, the LCD panel on the projected isn’t coated from both sides.

The light from the projector’s light source can easily go through the LCD panel, which can get damaged from excess heat and dust.

This can lead to having red, blue, and green spots on your screen.

Are Dead Pixels Part of BenQ’s Warranty?

BenQ’s manufacturer warranty covers any defects depending on the number of defective dots or sub-pixels on an LCD panel:

Type	Native Resolution	Bright subpixel	Dark subpixel	Total Allowable subpixel
Smaller than Full HD	Smaller than 1920×1080	3	3	5
Full HD	1920×1080 (1080p)	2	5	5
Quad HD	2560×1440 (1440p)	2	5	5
Ultra HD	3840×2160 (4K)	2	5	5

Solving the Dead Pixel Problem on Your BenQ Projector

If you’ve read this far, you may still be looking for a solution to your dead pixel problem.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do so.

Take a picture of each step so you can easily take note of the disassembled parts of the projector.

Step 1: Remove the top cover

First things first, you have to unscrew the screws to be able to take off the top cover of the projector. It can also be under your projector or at the edges.

Then, unscrew the screws that hold the projector from behind to disassemble the main circuit board in the next step.

Step 2: Disassemble the main circuit

You can disassemble the main circuit by unscrewing the screws which hold the main circuit board. Then, take out the main circuit board.

Step 3: Take out the DMD chip assembly

Like the previous steps, unscrew the screws of the DMD chip assembly and take them out afterward.

Step 4: Clean or replace the DMD chip

You can either clean the lens or replace the DMD chip entirely. It actually depends on your projector’s condition.

To inspect, disassemble the heatsink from behind the DMD chip by unscrewing the screws.

Now that you’ve separated the DMD chip and the heatsink, it’s time to clean or replace the DMD chip.

You can check out this video that teaches you how to do this process easily. 

In this video, you can see how the process of disassembling and reassembling goes. But if your projector is still covered by the warranty period, contact your dealer so they can have your projector replaced or up for repair.

As for the projector DMD chip, it has a designated model number where you can search online to find a similar one.

Here’s another way to fix it!

You can also take another route in fixing your projector from dead pixels. If your projector has an LCD panel, remove your projector’s black spot available on the screen. 

You can do the following:

1. Remove the label found on top of the projector.
2. Take the cover off.
3. Insert a cotton swab into the projector’s LCD part.
4. Gently wipe the black spot/s with a cotton swab
5. Close the cover.

Here’s a quick video tutorial of this step.

Conclusion

A dead pixel on your screen can be VERY annoying. 

It truly distracts you from having a satisfying viewing experience, whether it’s watching movies, live sports, and PowerPoint presentations at work.

A BenQ projector’s longevity can depend on your maintenance and care. 

So, when you see black or white pixels on the screen, immediately take action to not worsen the projector’s condition. It’s the little things, after all.

Have we helped you find a solution to your dead pixel problem?

Sound off in the comments below!

Good luck!