Fixing X31/X32 that won't charge *PIC*

[Bibin]

Symptoms:
-Runs off of battery and AC
-Is aware of power state (beeps on AC adapter plug/unplug)
-Says it is charging
-Charging percentage never increases

Observations:
-Checked fuses, all good
-Inductor near the bottom of the computer (near the trackpoint buttons and battery) had one side lifted from the board from a cold solder joint.

Solution:
Removed keyboard and keyboard bezel, then reflowed solder on both sides of the inductor, computer charges without issue now.

This solution likely applies to many other ThinkPads with the same symptoms.

[RealBlackStuff]

Thanks for the publication.

That machine is from the T23 era, which showed the same inductor problems.
That was in the transition period from leaded solder to leadfree solder.
People didn't know yet then, how to properly use leadfree stuff.
They still didn't know it when they built the T4x series!

[Bibin]

I'll resize the picture, but... that is a *HUGE PIC*? It is 2013...

[Tasurinchi]

on both sides of the inductor

For the electric dummies like myself Could you highlight in the picture where is the inductor? Thanks!!

[Bibin]

For the electric dummies like myself Could you highlight in the picture where is the inductor? Thanks!!

It is the big round dark thing right behind the battery connector.

[rkawakami]

I'll resize the picture, but... that is a *HUGE PIC*? It is 2013...

Thanks for re-sizing the image. When I said "huge", I was referring to the size in bytes. Your original version was 255KB in size. While most people may have high speed internet access, there are still those "peasants", as you call them, that have dial-up or browse the forum via limited data plans on their smartphones / tablets.

The non-charging problem caused by a loose inductor is also very common with the T23 systems. There's an identical 15uH inductor tied to the same ADP3806 Li-Ion battery charger controller chip (to the right of the inductor on your X32) on the T23 motherboard.