Screen goes dark with the slightest touch

Question

Okay, so my screen went dead on my ibookG4, but I was able to physically manipulate the display and it would come back to life for a minute or two.
So I took it to the repair shop- 1st they replaced the inverter board with no success. 2nd, they charged me $400-plus labor for a new LCD.
So I go to pick up my machine at the shop, and the repair guy brings it out and fires it up, while I'm talking to him, the screen just goes dark. I said to the guy that something is still wrong, but he assures me that the computer has just went to sleep- B.S.. I tap on the keys trying to wake it up, but I have no luck... The repair guy taps on the power button, and it miraculously comes to life.
Cool... or so i thought.
So I take it home and open the lid. I go to adjust the screen angle and as soon as I touch the display it goes dark.
So now if I touch the display, or breathe a little bit too hard in the direction of the computer, the screen goes black.
I payed over $600 to fix this problem, and I think the repair-shop charged me for parts that didn't need to be replaced. Any Idea what could be causing this problem?

Answer 1

Okay, admittedly I don't have your unit in my hands. But, the instant, long distance, I've never actually seen your iBook diagnosis is that the issue is caused by a damaged inverter and reed switch cable assembly, pinched as it passes through the hinge from the lower case to the display, and therefore intermittently open.
It's actually a very common problem. And, if that is the case, it's pathetic that a certified technician missed it. It's also possible that it's a damaged display cable, but that is far less likely.
Although a limited number of early iBook G4 models—in rare circumstances—may have been affected by the separation of a ball-grid array video chip from the logic board, that issue is limited almost completely to iBook G3 models.
iBook liquid crystal displays have backlights built into into them, and backlights display binary behavior: they either work or they don't work. They do not intermittently work. That's a primary clue that it is the interruption in current to the backlight because of an open cable, combined with movement of the display and therefore the hinge, that suggest that the cable is the culprit.
Apple authorized service operations must meet technician certification and service excellence metrics to remain so, and to be reimbursed in warranty service events. They pay a serious penalty for not getting repairs right the first time, even under circumstances where additional issues are masked by a single defective part and where the subsequent issues aren't discovered until the first part is replaced.
If you do not believe that you have been treated appropriately or fairly, Apple has provisions to address your concerns. Your initial move should be to return to the same service provider, ask that the problem be properly resolved, and that you not be charged for the inverter and display assembly that were not required to properly effect the repair. If you cannot negotiate that outcome, contact me by electronic mail and I will outline how you can take additional steps to resolve the matter. The first step, though, is to return to that dealer, who should take the necessary steps to complete the repair properly, reimburse you for the parts not required, and likely refund a portion of the labor fees charged so far. That advice is based solely upon your representation of what has happened so far, but it strikes me as a reasonable one.