I think the screen is LCD, going by this spec sheet: http://support.acer.com/acerpa…..Zsp2.shtml

All screens are LCD but some of them LED backlit and others CCFL backlit and specs do not mention that.
You can carefully separate the screen bezel from the screen on the bottom of the display and take a look inside. If you see the inverter board, it’s CCFL LCD screen.
I posted some Acer laptop disassembly guides here: http://www.insidemylaptop.com/.....r-laptops/

I’ve just been getting lucky with hitting Fn-F6, the key to switch the backlight on and off, and sometimes it works and stays on, sometimes it stays on for 3-4 seconds and turns off, and sometimes it just flickers.

If you have a CCFL LCD in your laptop, most likely it’s either failing inverter or failing CCFL lamp. I would try replacing the inverter board first.

Unlike James my backlight has not been dimming though, so I don’t think that’s a factor. If it helps, I think the screen is LCD, going by this spec sheet: http://support.acer.com/acerpa.....Zsp2.shtml

My suspicion has been that maybe something is wrong with whatever part can tell that the lid is closed. I guess it could be that the cable is loose or something, I figure if something is damaged to where it needs replacing then it wouldn’t stay on once I can get it to come on… but I’m just spitballing so I really have no clue. Any thoughts?

My particular screen didn’t come apart exactly as the one in your example, but it was close enough to get me through it with care and patience.

The one thing I would add would be that it is possible during reassembly to pinch the metal reflector so it is slightly closed around the lamp. I was perhaps a bit too forceful in squeezing the framework back together, and ended up with only the bottom portion of the screen well lit.

I did eventually figure out what I did wrong, but it took a fair amount of head-scratching and 2 more times of opening the screen. And the eBay seller of the lamp wasn’t fluent enough in English to be very helpful. I carefully pulled the sides of the reflector so that it was more open, and used extra care not to pinch them closed again while shutting things up. It is probably only a few millimeters more open, but makes all the difference in the world, in regards to making the LCD usable again!

Once again, thank you for a very usable tutorial! With your help I saved a bundle and gave new life to my aging computer.

backlight seems to be out, image does show on screen with a flashlight, external monitor display works fine. The laptop display has been getting dimmer these last few months, then a couple of weeks ago it went out. During troublshooting, it would come on from time to time, but only for a second or two at most.

Do you know if you have a CCFL backlit LCD screen or LED backlit LED screen? It looks like Acer Aspire 5732Z might have either one installed.

If you have a CCFL screen installed, it’s hard to tell what’s causing the problem without testing the laptop with another screen or inverter. Could be either one.
For some reason I think this is backlight lamp failure. You said the screen was getting dimmer the last few months and I assume the backlight lamp was slowly failing. Could be wrong.

If you have a LED backlit LCD screen installed. Probably this is LCD screen failure.

The manual for T43 should be found here:
http://download.lenovo.com/ibm.....9t2393.pdf
If not, google T43 hardware reference manual
The manual only include pictures how you take your T43 apart but not how to take the LCD assembly apart. They assume you buy a new LCD assembly as a whole and replace it and that is the safe way to go. You might anyway need it if your surgery fails. However, if you are prepared for the more expensive solution, then you can always try.
I’m not sure, but possibly the T42 and T43 have more or less identical displays. My display had the Samsung LCD with 1400×1050 dots. The reflector is just thin metallic so you might be able to bend it back even if it’s not perfect. I was able to change my CCFL without removing the reflector as I took it out where the plastic light leader goes in (was removed). Yes, there are many steps that can go wrong in the disassembly so that’s why I added my own experience and thoughts. I bought the small bag with tape (never used) from LCDparts where I also bought the CCFL and a spare cable (wrong type). I don’t think you can find a new reflector unless you can get a destroyed LCD and can take it from there. Try contacting your local computer repair shop and ask if they have one for you, or it might be possible to do your own reflector using aluminium foil and tape. Could be worth trying.
Good luck Marc.