Ti 83 plus small black screen?

hi adamsukienni,

Clean the battery damage up real good. Gently scrape to terminals of corrosion. Back in my day we use to put a little bit of coke cola to clean car battery posts to get a good connection. If you could put a little bit of coke on a Q-tip without getting any inside the calculator that would be good. Just let it soak in for about 30 minutes. And gently scrape the bad areas again clean of the corrosion. You have to clean it up to metal so, that when the battery is in it will be metal to metal connection.

If you can download new OS with another Ti83 Plus or, don't want to install the new OS goto Procedure 1.

Be ready to install the new ti 83 OS v.1.19. So, setup your computer with Ti Connect software and, have the new OS v.1.19 download ready and, in "My Documents \ My TI Data \ Downloads." If you need additional instructions on how to connect the computer to the calculator you can read my instructions at another posting I did. You can go to that posting by clicking, "Connection Instructions," under this paragraph. Just remember the OS was for a Ti 84 Plus and, your's is a Ti 83 Plus so, don't download the OS from the other posting. I'll give you a link below this paragraph to download the correct Ti 83 Plus OS v1.19 for your calculator here at your posting. Just follow the other posting to where I say, "You can also go back and, download the Ti 84 Plus guidebook too, if needed." After that statement the computer and, calculator get connected with the cable and, your not ready for that process, yet! When you come back to this posting and you have downloaded the new OS to the proper folder goto Procedure 1.

Additional computer to calculator connection instructions click, "Connection Instructions."

Ti 83 Plus OS v.1.19 download click, "Ti 83 Plus OS v.1.19". Save this download to "My Documents \ My TI Data \ Downloads".

Procedure 1.
Take all the batteries out for 10 minutes, including the very small one that you have to use a small philips screw driver to get it out. Watch out for the spring under the small battery, it might pop out. Replace all the batteries after 10 minutes with new ones, including buying a new small battery. The small one might cost about $5. I know it is expensive but, this might work.

A battery reset procedure should bring your Ti 83 Plus back to life.

Make sure the batteries are in correctly? The batteries alternate negative/positive, positive/ negative and so on. The first time I put the batteries in, I didn't have them in correctly. I know if it happen to me that anybody could make the same mistake. And of course, the calculator will never come on if the batteries aren't in correctly.

If your Ti 83 Plus turns on when you put the batteries back in you do not have to re-install the OS. I just think it is better since, your OS might be corrupt.

The process below should reset your calculator.

1). Pressing the [2nd] key followed by pressing and releasing the [Up Arrow] key. This adjust the contrast in case the contrast was to low. Keep repeating if necessary for about 10 seconds and, then go to the next step. If calculator comes on and responds to key functions your done. Once again, if your calculator turns on after this procedure you do not have to re-install the new OS. You can quit these procedures now with a perfectly good calculator.

Please be prepared to re-install the calculator's OS, if you run through this process.

2). Remove one of the AAA batteries. Press and hold the [DEL] key. While holding [DEL], reinsert the AAA battery and then turn the calculator on. The calculator should display
"Waiting...Please install calculator software now". Connect to other Ti 83 Plus and, install OS from that calculator. Or, follow the instructions, I gave at the other posting "Connection Instructions" to reinstall the calculator operating system and, connect the computer and, calculator. You can start where, I say, "Link your computer and, Ti 84 Plus (Your's is a Ti 83 Plus) with the proper cable (USB or Black Link). Upon completion your Ti 83 Plus will be ready to use and, the new OS installed.

Try a new set of batteries, also make sure that the battery contacts touch the batteries properly and that they are clean, if old batteries have leaked it may have corroded the contacts.

The button cell backup battery keeps the memory electrically refreshed when the calculator is turned OFF. The necessary power for regular use is supplied by the 4 AAA batteries (main power). That nothing happened when you put in a fresh set of (expensive) lithium batteries may be due to the screen being too dim to see anything.

If the calculator displays RAM CLEARED each time it is turned on, it may be due to a depleted backup battery. The battery model number is CR1616 or CR1620. On my TI84PLUS the backup battery is of type 303 (Sony) or SR44SW (Maxell).

Not for sure but if it has a reset button on the back you probably need to press and hold it for about 10 seconds and see what happens.

Try 2nd Down Arrow. Your contrast may be turned up too high. This can appear to happen with new batteries.

possibly water damage... there might be an indicater of this such as one on a cell phone. behind the battery possibly, a small sticker that changes color when dampened.

as for solutions... warrenty? lol

Batteries:
Make sure to replace the "battery backup" too the little lithium ion battery

Try Adjusting contrast:
Hold down "[2nd]" key press up or down arrow repeatedly to lighten or darken contrast.

First attempt reseting:
Step 1: Remove all the batteries
Step 2: Hold "Clear" key down
Step 3: Still holding "Clear" key reinstall batteries
Step 4: Still holding "Clear" key press "On" key until home screen is displayed.

Second shot reseting:
remove all batteries including lithium ion (backup battery), wait 3 hours and reinstall batteries.

Third Shot reseting:
Step 1: Remove a battery
Step 2: Hold down "DEL" key reinstall battery
Step 3: Possible msg pops up saying "Waiting ... Please install software" IGNORE msg and take out battery again
Step 4: Reinstall battery do not hold down "DEL" key

reseting will cause the handheld to loose all of its stored memory.

Hope that helps!

TI calculators have an annoying habit of dimming the screen when the batteries are changed so that it appears as if the calculator isn't turning on. Turn the calculator on (or at least press the ON key). Press and release the 2ND key. Press and hold the Up-arrow key for a few seconds and see whether the screen becomes legible.

Try adjusting the brightness by pressing 2nd key or witchever name is on yours for the Alt key + the up or down arow key(as you see fitted)

Remove one of the AAA batteries. Press and hold CLEAR while reinstalling the AAA battery. Continue holding CLEAR button and press ON. Release buttons and press CLEAR again.