Thinkpads Forum

Hey everyone

So i've been having trouble with my AC adapter, since it's been charging and disconnecting if i move the cord a certain way. I'm pretty sure its because something with the connector at the back of my laptop is loose from the AC adapter moving around whenever i would use the laptop when it's connected. The laptop would also beep whenever it would connect and charge and beep again when it would disconnect, while the screen would go dim and bright depending on if it's connected or not. Is there any way i can fix this?

Thanks in advance,

Carnage

Possibly. What model is it? One some of the systems the DC power jack is secured to the printed circuit board by a screw directly underneath the jack. Turn over the system and see if there is one there. If so, tighten it up.

rkawakami wrote:Possibly. What model is it? One some of the systems the DC power jack is secured to the printed circuit board by a screw directly underneath the jack. Turn over the system and see if there is one there. If so, tighten it up.

nah i don't see a screw under. I have a T42 2373M3U. any other ideas on what i can do? thanks

edit: i can actually see a screw underneath the LCD that's on top of the power jack, but i dunno how to get inbetween the monitor and the power jack so i can't check to see if it's loose.

Don't have a T42 (yet) so a quick look inside the Hardware Maintenance Manual (HMM) seems to indicate that the DC power jack is mounted to the case and not the motherboard. I found a picture that is supposed to be of a T4x base:

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l296/ ... pic87q.jpg

There appears to be a screw above the jack as you say, but I don't know if that's the same one you can see. If you are not afraid of opening up the system (assuming it's not covered under any warranty), then grab a copy of the HMM:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 46464.html

a couple of screwdrivers and some time and you may be able to fix the problem yourself. There are a couple of possibilities that is causing this problem:

- the DC input jack is loose and that a connection which is normally made is now broken
- the DC jack itself has a problem internally with a dirty/loose connection
- the AC adapter wire has a bad connection

In order to isolate the problem, can you keep the laptop and plug stable within the jack and move just the wire going back to the adapter around? If this causes the laptop to lose power, then replace the adapter. If the jack is noticeably loose inside the laptop, then it's possible that it can simply be tightened and the connection restored. You will have to follow the HMM and disassemble the system in order to get to that screw. If that doesn't solve the problem, then a replacement of the jack is in order. The information in these threads:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=33863
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=6513

may be useful.

On a T42 the jack bolts to the chassis and has wires going to the motherboard. If the jack is loose in the chassis it is not a big deal. If the power plug fits loosely in the jack it is a big deal and will cause the symptoms you describe.
To fix this you need to get a small diameter paper clip, bend a very small 90 degree hook on the end of it and use it to bend the flat metal strip inside the jack so it contacts the plug correctly again.
Otherwise you will have to replace the power jack. Be warned that although it looks like an easy job to replace it, you have to completely disassemble the T42 to change this part.

So i finally found out why the power keeps on cutting in and out.

The wire that fits into the part of the jack of the AC Adapter that plugs into the laptop has become loose, and is almost about to come out of the jack itself. I need a new AC adapter.

Does anyone know if AC Adapters are covered under warranty? My warranty is until Aug 2008, but i'm not sure if it's covered under that warranty. If not, anyone know a good place where i can find a replacement? The part number is 08K8204 (FRU P/N:08k8205)

thanks!

AC adapter is covered under the normal warranty period of your thinkpad.