Sounds like the lack of signal detection is kicking in and putting it into standby mode.
Firstly, check that video is reaching the input socket and your computer is producing a picture in a mode the monitor can display. For example, if the computer is producing 1920x1080 video, the monitor will shut down in the manner you describe anyway.
Next check is to see what is on the screen for those 3 seconds. Is it only the "check signal cable" message or is there some computer video as well?
Then, try the menu buttons and see if the menu stays on the screen or whether it also goes off after 3 seconds. This will establish whether you have a display fault or a video fault, it seems more likely to be a video fault than a power supply problem to me.
Brian.