Thinkpad T43 problem

[rabbarba]

Hello. Bought an used Thinkpad t43. The problem is, it doesn't recharge. He didn't have the adapter, he had dropped it and it had broken. Before i bought it, i used it in windows and so on, with the battery. I got a cheap universal 35w adapter. I accidently put the 19v clip in it and plugged it in, NOTHING happened. I put the 16v in, NOTHING happened.
Then i tried another universal 120w one at my local computer dealer, on 16v. Didnt work there either.
I bought a targus adapter, 16v. It said it supports IBM thinkpad T-series. Plugged it in, nothing happened, at all. No led's were on, on the laptop.
I got one of these (Dont know the word in english)

ADMIN EDIT: the word is Volt Meter or Volt, Ohm, Milliamp Meter or VOM..
i removed the image since it is no longer needed

I plugged my friends ibm adapter in, 16v 3,36 amps. I opened the laptop, checked the volt from the behind of the plug. Showed 16v.
I checked the volt on the batterys output pin's that should charge the battery, and they just showed like a few millivolts.
So the power is lost through the mainboard..
I tried to measure the ohm in the dc input plug, it didnt show anything. It is supposed to rise.

What can I do? Is there anything I can do? I don't think there is any warranty on the laptop.
Lenovo sais it would cost lroughly 600$ to replace the mainboard..

What can do?

[BillMorrow]

First thing, get the Hardware Maintenance Manual for that T43..
start here:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... OME-LENOVO

and then enter the model/type number of the T43..
it will take you to a place where you can find LOTS of info on this thinkpad..

there should be a small sub-assembly for the charge circuit that might be easily replaced..

also, if you can identify the charge circuit there might be a fusable link that "blew" when you plugged in the 20VDC AC adapter..

second, how do you know the warranty is over..?
though if you tell lenovo what you did it would sure end the warranty right then..

and lastly, kick yourself in the [censored] for killing that T43..
you should have purchased a real IBM AC adapter for that thinkpad..
they are very affordable and easy to find online..

OH, welcome to the club..

[rabbarba]

You bet that im sorry/[censored]...

So you think the 19v input killed it?
It makes me wanna bash my head into the wall, because of my stupidity. Oh well, i just wanted to save some $$ and not get an original adapter..

So. My model type is the 2669.

Got hold of the hardware maintenance manual, couldn't find that sub assembly for the charge circuit. What would it be called? What is the part called?


Sigh..
My t43

Edit: In the manual it says something like this: If your computer doesn't recharge with the adapter, check the output voltage. If the voltage is acceptable, replace the mainboard

[EOMtp]

There is no sub-assembly for the charging circuit -- not on T42, not on T43, not on T60 ... and others. Don't bash your head against the wall: I would bet that the unit had the charging circuit problem when you bought it. You were not the one to destroy it.

[rabbarba]

So there is nothing to do but replacing the mainboard?

[EOMtp]

Yes, you have to replace the motherboard to fix that problem. However, if you don't mind running on batteries, you can buy an external battery charger for the Thinkpad T4x batteries, and charge the battery outside the unit. If you buy an extra battery, you can always have one charged battery ready when the other one is depleted.
Please read the Private Message (PM) that I sent you.

[rabbarba]

That's annoying.

I might will have to use a separate charger.

[BillMorrow]

check around for a system board for it..
ebay..
or a T43 with a damaged display..
or check out a service center for a rebuilt system board..

sorry you had this problem..

just why IS that T43 out of warranty..?
was it one of those that had only a 1 year warranty..?

[rabbarba]

Well I bought it from a friend. His son is very fond of picking things. He started scrathcing off the stickers that sit under the laptop.
That's why i do not know if there is any warranty or not.

I'll talk to ibm and see what they'll say..

[NS]

Well I bought it from a friend. His son is very fond of picking things. He started scrathcing off the stickers that sit under the laptop.
That's why i do not know if there is any warranty or not.

I'll talk to ibm and see what they'll say..

You have an internet connection right?

Check your warranty online here

select automatically detect the warranty status for your system.

~Cheers~

[rabbarba]

Well I bought it from a friend. His son is very fond of picking things. He started scrathcing off the stickers that sit under the laptop.
That's why i do not know if there is any warranty or not.

I'll talk to ibm and see what they'll say..

You have an internet connection right?

Check your warranty online here

select automatically detect the warranty status for your system.

~Cheers~

The battery is dead too.

[rabbarba]

Edit: Its not dead, its just not recharged. Aint that easy to recharge when nothing happens when i plug the ac adapter in!

But the computer works fine when it runs on the battery..

[BillMorrow]

i sure hope that you got a deal on the T43..

as it came with lots of problems..

IF you can get it powered up the serial number will be found in the bios..

which should be able to be read by the warranty status page at the link provided above..