Canon t5i display problem

[GypsyMoon]

Hello. I received a Canon t5i as a Christmas gift exactly 2 years ago to this day. I noticed about 5 months ago that the display screen was black and I was unable to see anything until I clicked the button that flips the view to the screen. What I mean to say is...I could only see the images that I was about to take, but no data showed at all when I clicked the button again. It just went to a black screen. I thought it was something that I might have changed in the settings and have been so busy working two jobs since to pay bills my teenage daughter was diagnosed with an incurable disease that I hadn't looked into it until today. I reset the camera to factory settings and nothing changed. Then, as I was reprogramming it, I noticed that the display appeared and disappeared as I tilted the camera back and forth at about a 90º angle. There is also a faint rattle in the camera (Not sure if that is normal or not as it was like that when I got it). I have babied this camera as it is my absolute joy. When not in use, it is stored in a very nice camera bag and has never been dropped. When I first got it, it was a bit quirky and the screen froze and then went totally black and wouldn't turn off within the first 5 minutes of use. In addition to it not turning off, the red light on the bottom right was also flashing for about 10 minutes until I removed the battery and reinserted the battery. That is how I finally got it to turn off. Then it seemed to fix itself when it restarted, so I figured it was a fluke and it would be just fine. I'm really sad that I can't see any of the settings on screen when trying to take photos unless I tilt it up towards the sky. It is impossible to see where I have the wheel set to at night without the onscreen display. Any suggestions as to what I should do? Thanks for your time.

[TCampbell]

As for the turning off / not turning off... you may have had memory card issues.  Often correctable by doing a "low level" format on the memory card (using the camera to perform the format... not a computer.)

As for the display... you mentioned you could see the image you are "about to take" (presumably you are using live-view mode).  This impies your screen works.

When you press the "menu" button, does the menu display on the screen?

There is an "Info" button on the back of the camera.  This button causes the camera to cycle through a several optional things it can display on the rear screen (shooting info, etc.) however one option is to just have the screen completely dark.  Press the "info" button to see if the display comes to life (you can press it several times and you'll notice that each time you press it, it displays different information but eventually just cycles back to the top of the list.)

To review an image you've already taken, you should press the blue play triangle (triangle pointing right).  That button is located on the lower right corner of the display.  

[GypsyMoon]

I have over 40 formatted memory cards. All are working fine. The problem is with the Live View Shooting button and/or display. When I turn the camera on, there is only a black screen unless I tilt the camera. Then the display comes on. I tilt it again and it goes off. I slightly shake it and it blinks on and off. The only time it stays lit is when I push the Live View Shooting button to see the image I am about to capture or to view the captured image. The feature guide is what is not displaying when it should. All I see is a black screen unless I give the camera a slight shake. Then it shows up.

[Waddizzle]

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@GypsyMoon wrote:

I have over 40 formatted memory cards. All are working fine. The problem is with the Live View Shooting button and/or display. When I turn the camera on, there is only a black screen unless I tilt the camera. Then the display comes on. I tilt it again and it goes off. I slightly shake it and it blinks on and off. The only time it stays lit is when I push the Live View Shooting button to see the image I am about to capture or to view the captured image. The feature guide is what is not displaying when it should. All I see is a black screen unless I give the camera a slight shake. Then it shows up.

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A slight shake?  That is not good.  I suggest that you write down a detailed description, very much like you have done here, on how to consistently reproduce the problem. 

Once that is done, you are ready to contact Canon U.S. Support.  Most likely, they will want you to send the camera in for inspection, ALONG WITH a detailed description of the problem and how to reproduce it.  The more accurate and detailed your description of how to reproduce the issue, all the better.

[TCampbell]

That sounds like the wiring harness to the LCD is coming loose.  There is a tilt-sensor in the camera which detects the screen orientation... but if that sensor is stuck it would normally result in the display orientation not being flipped to match the screen orientation (it would be stuck in one position).  So my guess is that the the wires are worn or loose.

There's no magic reset feature for this... you'd need to send the camera in for service.