Flashing Amber Battery light

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udornf4 · #1 Post by **udornf4** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 1:49 pm

I performed a search - but could find this subject matter. Iappologize if this has already been adressed. I looked through 10 pages of search results.

My T22 just starting flashing the amber battery light one day. Since the battery was a couple of years old - I just figured that was the problem. Got a new IBM (sealed) battery. This battery started out flashing green - when it got to 100% - light went to flashing amber again.

What I have done:
1) Re-installed the power management software
2) Taken battery out, started up with no battery. Shut down - reinstalled battery.
3) Checked the Bios power management settings - OK

Still - flashing amber.

Laptop works perfectly with no battery installed.

I am above average geeky - but can't figure this one

Appreciate and suggestions

[/b]

andyP · #2 Post by **andyP** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 2:17 pm

Welcome to the forum.

A flashing amber battery light normally means the battery can't be charged, or is dead. I presume from your post that your T22 doesn't run on this new battery? If that's the case, I would call up and explain what you have done and get another new battery.

dsvochak · #3 Post by **dsvochak** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 2:36 pm

You may want to run Battery MaxMiser and check the battery information. This will provide a lot of information including the "health" of the battery.

I've seen this happen before. For reasons unknown, the machine fails to "reset" the battery status until it's cycled a few times. Currently, I've got an x22 that does this with one particular battery.

udornf4 · #4 Post by **udornf4** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:02 pm

thanks, Guys. What is Battery MaxMiser?

#5 Post by **rkawakami** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:07 pm

Here's a download page for Battery MaxiMiser, as well as other software and drivers for the T22:

T22/T23 Drivers and Software

Scroll down to find the "Battery MaxiMiser and Power Management Features", download and install. This program allows you to place an icon next to the system tray which when clicked, can tell you very useful information about the status of your battery.

udornf4 · #6 Post by **udornf4** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:09 pm

Got it thanks!!!

flashstar · #7 Post by **flashstar** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 9:03 pm

If you need assistance, I can help you with installing a new i/o board.

Thinkpaddict · #8 Post by **Thinkpaddict** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 10:32 pm

flashstar wrote:If you need assistance, I can help you with installing a new i/o board.

Do you really know how to do that? And a source for i/o boards? Because I have a T23 that won't charge any batteries, and I figured I would have to replace the entire system board to fix it.

flashstar · #9 Post by **flashstar** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:56 am

Thinkpaddict wrote:
flashstar wrote:If you need assistance, I can help you with installing a new i/o board.
Do you really know how to do that? And a source for i/o boards? Because I have a T23 that won't charge any batteries, and I figured I would have to replace the entire system board to fix it.

I have done it twice on my T23. The first time, I put in a T22 i/o board because I was shipped the wrong model. I installed the correct T23 i/o board about three weeks ago without any problems.

If you need an I/O board, contact lady_fixalot on Ebay. I got mine for roughly $10 shipped from her.

Most importantly, just follow the hardware maintenance manual. I have successfully stripped the machine down 3 times without incident.just by following the manual. If you have any specific questions, let me know.

phool@round · #10 Post by **phool@round** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:10 pm

Because I have a T23 that won't charge any batteries, and I figured I would have to replace the entire system board to fix it.

Thinkpaddict/udornf4, two components are usually culprit for no charging joy. There is a large black inductor near your battery connection that comes loose. Resolder. Usually it's this that causes the problem, at least in my experience.
A white cerarmic fuse is also near your battery connection. Check it for continuity. If none replace. Ray mentioned in another post which model/rating it is, here's a link for the company; http://www.littelfuse.com/

flashstar, I'm a little confused as to what your calling the I/O board. The I/O board (Sub card) contains the serial/usb/vga/parallel/PS2 ports. My question is if in fact this is what your replacing; How does replacing this fix the blinking yellow battery light or solve the not charging issue? I'm not being snide nor rude, I'm just not understanding.

flashstar · #11 Post by **flashstar** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:21 am

The T23 fortunately has a main system board and a sub card (i/o board) that holds all of the connectors. It's not the easiest thing to replace, but they are often cheap. Just follow the hardware maintenance manual.

If replacing the battery does not fix the problem and you want to go to the next cheapest item, then the sub card (i/o board) is what you would replace. I would guess that the sub card would likely solve such an issue because it appears to control the power from the AC adapter to the laptop. Also, if you have a loose AC jack, replacing the board would be simpler than resoldering the connector since a whole sub card can be had for roughly $10-12 on Ebay.

phool@round · #12 Post by **phool@round** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:10 am

No problem. I thought you might know exactly what the cause was on the I/O board, it's not one I've come across yet in 50+ T23 repairs.

Flashing Amber Battery light

Flashing Amber Battery light

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