Dead R51 laptop. Help

[genci88]

I have an R51 Thinkpad and for all intents and purposes is dead. I am trying to revive it.

Here are the symptoms:

1) For the most part it won't turn on at all. No fans, no leds, nothing.

2) Sometimes, when I unplug and replug the AC cord it will turn on when sitting on a steady surface (like a table) and windows will load and function normally, BUT as soon as I move the laptop a little it will either shut off completely or it will freeze (with the screen on).

Now at the point where the screen is frozen I can move and shake the laptop as much as I want, and it won't lose power. If I press the power button for >5 seconds it will shut off. And it won't turn on anymore, unless I unplug and then replug the AC power (if I am lucky of course).
|
|--- I disassembled the laptop and replaced the CPU with a spare one I had around. Didn't help.
|
|--- I replaced the memory. Didn't help. I also removed the battery, hard drive, and optical drive. I also tried different batteries and power supplies.

3) There is a CLICKING NOISE for a few seconds coming from somewhere in the system board as soon as I press the power button after reconnecting the AC adapter. The battery LED will flash in sync with this noise. After that the system stays dead. It's not the CPU fan, and it's not the hard drive (I made sure). What else can possibly cause a clicking noise?

I would appreciate it if anyone could help me with this.

Thanks

[rkawakami]

Sounds like a combination of two problems: power controller and loose GPU. What's the full seven character TYPE number (e.g., 1836-xxx)? Assuming that your system has the ATI graphics chip, if you can manage to press down on it while powering up and if the system will reliably boot, then that would seem to confirm the diagnosis. Not sure what might be causing the clicking sound, other than something coming through the speakers or an electrical short (arcing) on the motherboard.

[genci88]

Sounds like a combination of two problems: power controller and loose GPU. What's the full seven character TYPE number (e.g., 1836-xxx)? Assuming that your system has the ATI graphics chip, if you can manage to press down on it while powering up and if the system will reliably boot, then that would seem to confirm the diagnosis. Not sure what might be causing the clicking sound, other than something coming through the speakers or an electrical short (arcing) on the motherboard.

The type number is: 1836-Q4U

It does have a Radeon 7500 and powering it on while pressing down directly on the GPU makes no difference.

I just noticed that when the clicking sound is happening, in addition to the battery LED light going on and off, the screen is flashing as well. It's a quick and very dim flash, but it's there (for each click there is a flash, and the rate of clicks is about 6 per second).

[Harryc]

Might be a loose DC jack. Does this machine have a battery that works? What happens if you boot off of battery with no AC connected?

[mgo]

st

Thanks

With the computer turned off and unplugged, try removing the battery and snap it back in (briskly, but not violently) several times. This acts to "burnish" the battery contacts.

A Q-tip with alcohol can be rubbed on the contacts. (avoid dripping, just moist)

[rkawakami]

Given that the screen is flashing along with the clicking noise, then it might be the inverter. The output transformer will usually "hiss" when it's not operating properly. The only other time I've heard an inverter cause any sound is when one went "SNAP" on me. At the time I was trying to measure the voltage output with a couple of clips attached to the inverter's output connector. End result was a couple of melted plastic clips and a change of underwear .

[genci88]

Might be a loose DC jack. Does this machine have a battery that works? What happens if you boot off of battery with no AC connected?

If I boot off the battery with no AC, the clicking sound doesn't happen. When I press the power button, the battery LED light turns on just once for a split second, and then nothing.

I have 3 batteries, 3 working AC adapters, and they all work fine on my other machines (another R51 and a T43p). So I know the battery is good.

With the computer turned off and unplugged, try removing the battery and snap it back in (briskly, but not violently) several times. This acts to "burnish" the battery contacts.

A Q-tip with alcohol can be rubbed on the contacts. (avoid dripping, just moist)

The battery itself is good though as it works on another system.

The problem occurred all of a sudden and out of nowhere, so it wasn't something gradual. The system was working fine for years and then all of a sudden while surfing the web the system abrubtly shut down by itself and the above symptoms started occurring.

[genci88]

Given that the screen is flashing along with the clicking noise, then it might be the inverter. The output transformer will usually "hiss" when it's not operating properly. The only other time I've heard an inverter cause any sound is when one went "SNAP" on me. At the time I was trying to measure the voltage output with a couple of clips attached to the inverter's output connector. End result was a couple of melted plastic clips and a change of underwear .

Hmm. Where is the inverter usually located and what does it look like?

[SMA]

The inverter is sitting inside the LCD Assembly.
To rule it out or confirm that the inverter can be the problem, try attaching an external monitor.

[rkawakami]

On the R51 (as well as most other Thinkpads that I can think of), it's located behind the LCD bezel below the bottom edge of the LCD panel. Download a copy of the Hardware Maintenance Manual:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-53169

and look for the section "Removing and replacing a FRU" / "Inverter card".

[genci88]

External monitor doesn't get any signal. When I connect the VGA cable the internal LCD continues to be the one that flashes.

I don't think it's the inverter though, since the system doesn't get any power at all. Yes there is the clicking and flashing, but the CPU fan (and all other components) stays off all the time. I mean if it was a bad LCD inverter, I should at least hear the CPU fan running, right?

[Harryc]

Disconnect the internal LCD entirely, including the inverter. You should still be able to get a signal to an external monitor that way, plus you'll eliminate the entire LCD assembly.

[genci88]

Disconnected the LCD entirely, but I could still hear the clicking. So, I disassembled the whole thing entirely and will use it for replacement parts. :p Time to move on I guess.

Thanks for your help guys.