Bent pins on RJ-45 connector...

[bhtooefr]

(I put it in TP General because it's certainly not specific to the X series - it applies to any TP with an ethernet jack)

I've got an X21 with a little networking issue. Two of the pins on the RJ-45 connector are bent down, causing there to be very little contact with the cable, and an annoying intermittent connection.

So, what's the best way to... umm... unbend these pins?

Here's a diagram of what my connector looks like (L is the green Link LED, A is the amber Activity LED):

Code: Select all

    __    
L__|  |__A
| 234567 |
|12345678|

Basically, pins 2-6 go all the way up, but pins 1 and 8 are bent down about halfway.

[bhtooefr]

Update: I found a method at nixdoc.net.

Take out your trusty rj45 socket pin unbender tool and apply as needed?
(Unbend a paperclip, then bend the last uhm two mm or so, so that it can
be inserted behind a couple of pins. Gently pull. Repeat for the other
side.)

Didn't work, though - pins 1 and 8 simply don't REACH the top - they'll push up there, but they fall right back down. So, I need a way to stuff something under the pins to hold them up. Recommended methods, guys?

[bhtooefr]

Never mind, guys - I used the Trusty RJ-45 Socket Pin Unbender to shove a TINY scrap of paper in there. Good as new

Edit: Maybe not... not much difference... I'm still stuffing it with paper, though - at some point, the pins will have zero give, and won't bend out of the way of the plug...

[Bob Collins]

I would be concerned the pins have been bent permanently when some knucklehead pushed a telephone jack in there and the jack pushed 1 and 8 flat. Prolly bent the metal into it's plastic state and thus will not return to upright.

How about some disassembly of the Thinkpad to het better access to the ethernet connector? This is off the map, so be careful.

[bhtooefr]

Ahh...

Well, it looks like I'm going to have to get a new 27L0585, then.

I've been looking at the HMM, and it's a pretty involved process to get to the RJ11/RJ45 block, but I'll have to do it...

Here's the parts that have to be removed:

1170 RJ11, RJ45
v Battery pack (1010)
v Keyboard assembly (1050)
v CDC adapter (1080)
v BDC adapter (1090)
v Fan assembly (1100)
v Wirelesslan assembly (1110)
v LCD assembly (1120)
v Case keyboard deck (1130)
v Speaker (1140)
v PC Card slot assembly (1150)
v IRDA Port (1160)

(obviously, the CDC, BDC, and Wirelesslan adapters, and the IRDA port aren't an issue here. However, I suspect that they DO want the Mini-PCI card taken out...)

I can get a working pull for under $16 (after shipping) off of eBay. However, should I get that, or spring for a new one for $35 + shipping from Lenovo?

[Rahula]

I would be hesitant to open up the laptop when it involves disconnecting the LCD from the chassis. How about using an Ethernet adapter that plugs into the USB port. At ebay there are various shapes selling under $10 incl shipping, e.g.:

http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-to-LAN-RJ45-ETH ... dZViewItem

[bhtooefr]

Hmm... because the X21 has only two USB ports, and I'll probably be using two devices at a time (either printer and webcam, printer and UFD, or UFD and webcam)?

I MAY go for a CompactFlash NIC (I use the PCMCIA slot already), but I'd rather take advantage of the NIC that's already in the thing.

Another thing I'm thinking that falls in the MacGyver category: Solder on a DB-9 connector, and get another DB-9 connector (of the opposite gender, of course), and solder on an RJ-45 jack. Basically, use the jack that's already there, but change the connector. However, that'll mean there'll be a connector that'll be somewhat fragile hanging out of the back of the laptop.

Ninja Edit: Also, a lot of the stuff that they SAY you have to remove, you don't. For example, you don't have to remove the HDD to get the KB out. Just by looking at the diagrams, I can see that you don't have to remove the PC Card assembly or the speaker to get to the RJ11/RJ45 block. So, revised list (and tweaked for the X21, as it's an X23/24-oriented parts list:

Battery Pack
Keyboard Assembly
Fan assembly (it may not need to go, but I need to apply some AS5 there ANYWAY, so I don't care if actually has to go or not)
LCD assembly
Case keyboard deck

[Rahula]

An alternative would be to use a mini replicator that has an ethernet port.

[bhtooefr]

ARRGH!

OK, on September 6th, I got the jack replaced. Go look at the thread that I started in FS/WTB, saying I WTB a 27L0585.

Anyway, today, it starts acting up again. I've been very careful with it. Didn't shove any phone cables in it (in fact, I only used the modem jack twice, and was careful to go in THAT jack.)

So, I look, and sure enough, pins 1 and 8 are bent again.



Are any other ThinkPad users experiencing these problems?

[doppelfish]

ARRGH!
Are any other ThinkPad users experiencing these problems?

Hmmm. Are other users of the same *cable* experiencing these problems?

cheers,
-- fish

[daeojkim]

None of my TPs have had that problem so far.

[bhtooefr]

I'd think it'd be a HUGE deal if that happened, seeing as this is a 25' Belkin CAT5e cable purchased at Wal-Mart...

[doppelfish]

I'd think it'd be a HUGE deal if that happened, seeing as this is a 25' Belkin CAT5e cable purchased at Wal-Mart...

Does it show some ... physical abnormities? Is the plug broken? Use a new cable, then. Do resist the urge to strangle any WalMart employees with the old one, tho'.

cheers,
-- fish

[bhtooefr]

Plug looks FINE, the cable itself is worn, but that wouldn't affect the plug.

Anyway, I've side-stepped the whole issue. I got a free WiFi router. Posting from it right now.