t42 motherboard

Message

keith5523 · #1 Post by **keith5523** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 7:12 pm

I was told by IBM in Atlanta earlier today that the warranty expired on my T42 3 days ago, and that they would not offer any help replacing a motherboard. Running a motherboard RTC test in the Access IBM set of tools gave me an error code and failed test message. The machine performs on par, but it will just mysteriously cut off, just like you disconnected power. I have a part number #93P4156 given to me by an ibm rep, but have no idea where to find a reputable supplier for this part. Any help would be appreciated. Also, is this a part that can be changed by the consumer?

Thanks,

Keith
kc5523@gmail.com

sktn77a · #2 Post by **sktn77a** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 12:52 pm

Bummer! I would call back and get a different tech. If that doesn't work, I would escalate the problem within IBM Technical Support. If a motherboard goes out within a couple of days of the warranty expiration, they should cover it as a goodwill gesture.

mitchellst · #3 Post by **mitchellst** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:03 pm

Definitely call back again. Those parts aren't cheap. Probably around $400 - $500 just for the part.

As far as putting it in yourself, you'd need the hardware maintenance manual. Installing a motherboard requires that you completely strip down the laptop (or the bottom half, anyway).

Besides that, there's a decent chance that IBM misdiagnosed the problem. You could end up spending the money, and still have the same problem. To be fair, it is probably the motherboard, but I'd have a hard time taking their word for it.

keith5523 · #4 Post by **keith5523** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:14 pm

thanks for your replies. my post didn't detail all of the people I spoke with inside the atlanta office. every tech, manager, department head all said the same thing, "too bad!" the machine was actually SHIPPED on the 28th, so they said warranty started on the 27th! i told them there was no way it could have been shipped on the 28th and received before the 30th, which would have made it 'under warranty'. worse part for me, and i explained this to them, was that i PURCHASED the ibm EXTENDED warranty trying to prevent this sort of thing. customer service and repeat customers just don't mean anything i guess. how likely do you think i am to buy another ibm product? right....

thanks anyway for your responses. i still need a motherboard, but another word that starts with 'mother' is all that comes to mind right now!

Keith

sktn77a · #5 Post by **sktn77a** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 5:55 pm

This is absolute bullshi_! If the machine was built on the 28th, it takes at least 2 weeks to get to the US to be delivered to the end-user. Did you escalate this to a level of management higher, and if this didn't work, did you escalate it even higher? If technical support won't help, did you try to find customer service?

I think everyone will agree, if the machine was built in China on the 28th, then they owe you a motherboard!

lifrancis · #6 Post by **lifrancis** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:01 pm

keith5523 wrote: how likely do you think i am to buy another ibm product? right....

I agree 100%. I have 3 Thinkpads, 2 with motherboard problems. A replacement motherboard from IBM will cost more than a new complete laptop from some lesser brands like Gateway.

keith5523 · #7 Post by **keith5523** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 8:21 pm

this is my 2nd thinkpad and probably 4th in my immediate family, but mine was bought from ibm, not lenovo. under warranty, it's a treat to have it serviced out of Atlanta, because i can understand Atlanta style english. but now, they don't even give you a case # until they've established whether you're in or out of warranty. the poor telephone reps take the heat and then apparently as a ploy, you're left on hold for another 30 minutes before a supervisor reads you the same paragraph, the sends you to the 'entitlement department' (not kidding) so they too can tell you you're not entitled to ANYTHING. Oh, yea, another 30 minute hold time. actually, in order to get me off of the phone, the entitlement department rep told me he would have someone in tech support call me back..within the hour..and maybe they would have some leeway to offer me a break on the service or the part. guess what, no one ever called. the rep i talked to this morning apologized for that and added that the entitlement rep was just getting me off the phone, because no one would do anything.
later, this morning, i was told the part alone from lenovo would cost $711, but also told i should try another number for the 'ez serve' or 'easy serve' department because sending it in to lenovo may actually be cheaper. packing it up and sending it to ibm/lenovo would cost $475 to replace the motherboard.

well, i guess this forum has served as my therapist and has kept me from kicking the dog or beating someone. but i still feel like the victim of a crime.. all told, i probably spent over 3 hours on the phone or on hold, and had 4-5 people tell me 'tuffshitski'. and i've still got a laptop with a bad motherboard. now 4 days out of warranty.

anybody got any ideas on finding a replacement?

Keith

SlamX · #8 Post by **SlamX** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 12:18 am

Keith don't give up yet. If you purchased your TP and warranty with a major credit card they most likely extend the warranty by one year free. So contact them if you did buy with a credit card.

gunston · #9 Post by **gunston** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:43 am

how could the motherboard spoiled?
overclock?

sktn77a · #10 Post by **sktn77a** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:12 am

The T4x series has a design weakness due to flexing of the lower case causing the solder on the motherboard to loosen.

Plus, a whole host of other things can and do go wrong with all computers.

keith5523 · #11 Post by **keith5523** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:57 pm

question for sktn77a or others with insight into this problem

I use a docking station with my T42. Given your comments about the flex, is there a chance that someone could look at and actually "see" a problem with my motherboard if the solder is coming undone? If so, give me an idea of who or where? As helpful as the factory community has been, I don't know that I'd trust too many whose main objective is to separate me from my money.

Another helpful comment was about the possibility of a credit card purchase, which may would offer additional warranty. I'm looking for the credit card bill, but unlikely I'd still have it after 3 years. Great idea though!

Thanks and keep commenting. Sooner or later I'll come up with a cure.

Keith

sktn77a · #12 Post by **sktn77a** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:17 am

Check these recent threads. It's not good, I'm afraid.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=33952

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 618#340618

tyito2000 · #13 Post by **tyito2000** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 2:07 pm

Sent private message.

lifrancis · #14 Post by **lifrancis** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 12:08 am

I have finally bite the bullet and bought a brand new motherboard on ebay to replace my dead T42 motherboard.

Is there any warranty from Lenovo for new motherboard, bought on the ebay and installed by the user?

kyrotech · #15 Post by **kyrotech** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:55 am

lifrancis wrote:I have finally bite the bullet and bought a brand new motherboard on ebay to replace my dead T42 motherboard.

Is there any warranty from Lenovo for new motherboard, bought on the ebay and installed by the user?

NO, and "brand new on ebay" reminds me of "Serviceable Used Part"

lifrancis · #16 Post by **lifrancis** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:34 pm

According to the seller, the item is "a *NEW FACTORY SEALED* T40 system board". I will have to see if it is true when I finally receive the item.
http://i16.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/b9/19/0673_12.JPG
http://i15.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/b9/19/0ee4_12.JPG

TribesMan · #17 Post by **TribesMan** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:26 am

lifrancis I have bought a replacement motherboard on the eBay (from Hong Kong) for $299 + shipping. It is the one with R9600 graphics so it is a bit more expensive. The board I got was brand new, factory sealed. The shipping was also fast about a week.

Here is the link if you are interested:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-IBM-ThinkPad-T4 ... dZViewItem

FTC · #18 Post by **FTC** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:49 am

Well, I bought the same board as Tribesman from the same seller one month ago. Also new/factory sealed and working perfectly since mid september....

t42 motherboard

t42 motherboard

Who is online