T42p - Power jack replacement

[livevil]

Hi,

I've got a faulty power jack on my T42p (bad contact) and I've ebeen trying to replace it. I've removed a lot of things but I don't understand how to access the plug.

It seems it should be removed by the bottom because it's to big to be remove by the inside and it cannot be removed by the back even if the plastic around it was removed (I'm talking about the plastic around the LPT / power plugs).

Can't you tell me how to properly remove the plug (and if possible without removing the motherboard )

Thanks in advance.

[Harryc]

There's no way to remove it without removing the systemboard ... sorry.

[livevil]

argghhh !!! That's what I thought after re-reading the hardware maintenance manual.

Removing the system board means removing everything before... I think I'm not going to replace it

[poshgeordie]

Stripping a Thinkpad is not actually too difficult - certainly it's one of the easiest ones around (try an Apple iBook by comparison!).

This leaflet, though for a generic T4x, should help you, and also shows where each screw goes back afterwards too.

Once you have the motherboard out of the base, you then need to remove the back metal chassis:

1. Disconnect the flat cable to the external video connector from the motherboard.

2. Use a pair of pliers to carefully undo the two hexagonal screws on either side of the parallell port.

3. The top screw into the yellow DC connector should be removed.

4. Carefully ease the rear metal chassis from the motherboard. You will need to wiggle it around the parallel port and DC connectors.

Good luck!

[livevil]

Thanks for the pdf.

I'll probably try when I am less busy: it takes some time if I want to do it right.

[netzspannung]

I did that with me own hands. Took me an hour approx., following the HMM exactly.
You may be able to salvage the old power connector by bending the retaining pin inside, but that's a matter of luck, and can only be done with the connector removed already.

Do it and be amazed at the marvellous design. May disynteria and hemorroids strike the engineer responsible for this one. I mean, who in their right mind makes the single most easily-damaged piece of a laptop so intricately impossible to remove?

[livevil]

About two months later...

I finally did it ! After removing the PC Card Slot, the Ultrabay assembly (without deconnecting), the speakers, the modem card, and all the screw from the bottom, I was able to lift the mother board to access the plug from the bottom and remove it (after also removing the screw from the LPT port).

It took me about one hour and a half, but I took my time grouping and labelling the screws. I wouldn't say that's easy, but it can be done without problem if you follow the HMM.

Also I keep saying that it's probably the most stupid design for a plug of this importance...