I investigated a bit further, removed the black touch screen border and inspected the cable some more. I applied meager amounts of pressure along the cable to see if the cable was failing at the touch panel or at the cable connector end.
The devil is truly in the details.
Look at what I uncovered cutting back the .1in pitch amp connector.
bugger
The flex cable looks like conductive tape / conductive ink. It has that silver/gray color to the trace.
Anyway I could solder to the trace? I have a feeling it will melt before the solder can wick.
There is enough slack in the cable length that I could probably install another connector, but I don't have a crimping tool to redo the connector.
Edit: This definitely looks like conductive ink deposited on plastic film. I'm going to try out the caig circuitwriter I used in the past. It worked great for about a year fixing the conductive ink touch panel in my fridge. That is a moist environment, so I can understand why that repair failed. I think It'll work well in this case. Wish me luck.
Any repair ideas welcome!


