Usually laptop monitor cases are easy to get into. Screws are usually hidden behind the rubber stoppers and other obvious covers. Pop the cover open and have a look at the ribbon connectors and make sure everything's snug.

It could even be the backlight itself, which is kind of a worse-case scenario. To my knowledge, you can't replace it without replacing the entire LCD unit. Might be able to find one cheap used, though...check with local used laptop dealers in that case. I got a replacement keyboard and good battery for $40 because the shop just happened to have a burnt-out laptop of the same model in the back one day.

You can always try and figure out which wire is power for the backlight and see if it's getting power. If it is, and the backlight's out, you know it's the light itself. If it's NOT, you need to figure out why not.

4.08 VLSD, NICO 8-way ECU, full exhaust with custom headers,
Tokico Blues with Eibach springs, Stillen FSTB, 20mm RSB, 255 rear rubber.

Go on ebay IBM lcds go for $40-$80 and ill gladly help you through the process or replacing it.

Then get a warranty through squaretrade for the LCD...you get a two full replacement guarantee if it ever fails.

Modified by 240Knightrider at 1:18 PM 6/22/2008

Thanks guys.

There is one important part I forgot, find the part number for yours. Dont just search for IBM Thinkpad lcd...find the part number and search for that, all the companies use the same people, so you should find a lot more that way. Some are imation, some are logitech, etc