T460s Bottom Panel Loosening?

[Elmer Fishtwanger]

My T460s bottom panel will not stay on in front. There's about a 1/16" space that opens at the front after all the screws are tight. It looks like the plastic clips at the front might be replaceable, but they don't appear damaged.

Anybody know anything about this?

[Bobber]

I am not sure, if I understand your problem correctly, but owing my experience with putting together many off leased ThinkPads, this panel needs to "click" a little. So you kind of push it forward and downwards.

[Elmer Fishtwanger]

Thanks. That sounds like what I have done. With comp upside down and oriented with touchpad closest to me, hang the bottom plate under the edge closest to me, then carefully push down all the way around and do the screws. By the time the screws are tight, the part of the bottom that was originally hung under the edge has popped up, leaving about a 1/16" gap there. It was not always that way, and I can't see anything broken. Something is not retaining the bottom plate on that edge.

[Elmer Fishtwanger]

SWOLLEN BATTERY! The battery nearest the front edge was swollen, making a fulcrum that had the back at about a 20 degree angle after the front bottom was snapped under the body. That put the back under tension and made that edge pop out. Removing the battery fixed it. Back slips on flat now, with no tension. First experience with swollen battery... Feels like a water balloon. Utilities said it was a good battery though...

[RealBlackStuff]

Bring it to a recycling center before it sets your house on fire!

[Elmer Fishtwanger]

Can't waste it. I'll use it to blow out that old stump out back.