Z5C reboot to sudden death

[lf12345678]

Hello all. Hoping for some insight here.
I have a z5 compact. One day in mid December my phone began to constantly reset itself. It did this more or less daily for a few weeks (sometimes once a day, sometimes 5 or 6).
Then, one day at the end of December when it tried to turn itself back on after a shutdown, a strange black and white striped distortion appeared on the bright white Sony screen. It then went to the dim screen, with further weird distortions on it. Then the screen went black and the red LED flashed 3 times. Since then it has not turned back on, and will not charge. When plugged in to charge, the empty battery indicator appears, with that same distortion.
I have tried every reset option, and software repair and it did not work.
Any ideas what the problem even is?

[NeoBeum]

You might need to flash a ROM on to it. I had a problem like that when I first bought the phone due to over heating. I think the red LED flash indicates a critical error on the OS, because now it only happens if I do something that bricks my phone because I have my own customisation on it.

[lf12345678]

Hi, thanks for your reply. Do you mean to open it up and change out the memory? I'm not quite sure how to do that, nor am I qualified to. My phone isn't customised in any non-vanilla way, so I'm not sure how this problem could even occur to begin with.

[NeoBeum]

Go to the xperifirm site and try and find the firmware that matches your region.

There'll be a write up to flash your phone using xperifim.

I recommend 32.2.A.0.253. Marshmallow 6.0.1. 

You'll basically plug the phone in to a PC and restore factory settings and software.

I'll try and find links

[NeoBeum]

 xperifim

http://www.xperiablog.net/2016/03/12/install-xperia-marshmallow-using-flashtool-and-xperifirm-guide/...

Then find the right firmware here

 http://www.xperiablog.net/forum/threads/xperia-z5-compact_e5823_32-2-a-0-253_australia_generic.19400...

[NeoBeum]

After working with electronics for a few years, Sometimes electronics like to poop themselves for no other reason than to poop you off.

[MarlonUk1]

@lf12345678: is suggest that you have your phone checked at your local service center Local support

[lf12345678]

Thanks so much for your help! I'll give this a shot. The only thing is the instructions indicate changing certain phone settings, but I can't turn it on to change anything. I guess we'll see.

The phone is currently at a store being diagnosed, but I have a feeling they'll tell me it's some sort of hardware issue and try to charge me through the nose to fix. I'd rather try all software fixes first.

And yes, technology really does seem to go bad just for the sake of it. Guess my phone decided my holidays were going a little to well and needed to put a damper on things!

[MarlonUk1]

@lf12345678: just a tip, before you check out your device on from the service center, please do check all aspects of the device, maybe run Xperia Diagnostics, check camera and other frequently used functions, this is to avoid back jobs which will take time again to repair,

[lf12345678]

UPDATE:

Just got my diagnostic via email from the service store. In Spanish because I am in Spain.

HARDWARE DEFECTUOSO Y NO CUMPLE FUNCION PARA LA QUE FUE DISEÑADO PLACA PRINCIPAL (defective hardware that doesn't fulfill its designed function)

HARDWARE DEFECTUOSO Y NO CUMPLE FUNCION PARA LA QUE FUE DISEÑADO FRONTAL TACTIL DISPLAY
SUSTITUCION DE PLACA/COMPONENTE LV3. (changing of component LV3)

SUSTITUCION DE PLACA E5823 IMEI (changing the IMEI)

Defective hardware according to them. The placa principal (likely the motherboard). And then something with the display. Substitution of component LV3 to fix it. Anybody know what that is?

The price they quote is obscene--as much as a brand new phone would cost. Since I'm out of warranty obviously not going that route.

I'll grab it from the store and try the solution posted here. Hopefully they're wrong about the motherboard and it'll work.

If not, I'll try arguing them into replacing it for free since a hardware defect is on Sony, regardless of my warranty. Wish me luck...