T410 Loose Power Connector

[jm1024]

I've had my T410 a couple of months now and the power connector (yellow female plug on the back of the laptop) is very loose. With the power cord plugged in I can rotate it in a fairly wide circle (about 20 degrees). I opened up the machine and got to the connector to see if I could tighten it up but couldn't find whatever screw is holding it in place.

My questions are

1. Has anyone else had this problem?
2. If so did it get worse or cause serious problems?
3. Is this fixable without sending it back to Lenovo?

Thanks - James

[Navck]

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-74470
http://www.lenovoservicetraining.com/io ... index.html
Pick your poison.

[jm1024]

Thanks, thats exactly what I needed!

- James

[tds]

jm1024,

Did you fix your loose connector on your T410? How difficult was it?

I have a loose connector too, but after reading the Hardware Maintenance Manual and watching the service video, it looks like you have to totally strip down the machine to get to the screw to tighten the power connector.

Is this what you did? Wondering if it's just a loose screw that might be accessible by somehow just removing the base.

tds

[jm1024]

Sorry for the delay in replying.

Yes I finally did this (today). If you watch the service video you'll need to get to the point where the bottom cover is removed. It's as bad as it looks. I couldn't find any way to shortcut it. The whole process took me about two hours. From the looks of it I'd say the only danger from leaving it loose is that the screw might come all the way out and rattle around in the case, possibly shorting something. I'm not entirely sure the screw has the clearance to come all the way out but it's pretty short so I'm guessing it could. Otherwise the power connector just sits in a little slot and is connected to the mainboard via some wires which have plenty of slack, so it wiggling around shouldn't cause problems.

Good luck if you decide to do it. Feel free to pm me if there's anything else I can do to help, you have my sympathy.

- James

jm1024,

Did you fix your loose connector on your T410? How difficult was it?

I have a loose connector too, but after reading the Hardware Maintenance Manual and watching the service video, it looks like you have to totally strip down the machine to get to the screw to tighten the power connector.

Is this what you did? Wondering if it's just a loose screw that might be accessible by somehow just removing the base.

tds

[bradsh]

Mines loose as well, but I think I kind of like it that way better. As long as it doesnt stop working, I'm fine with it being a little more mobile

[tds]

James,

Thanks for the reply. Thats what I feared. I have no problem with it not getting connected enough to power the laptop, so I think I'll live with it for now.

tds

[sqldba]

I've got a loose connector too and after watching the videos it doesn't seem too bad except for two parts: (1) Re-assembling the LCD screen and (2) having to take out the CPU and heat sink (because you are supposed to put some thermal grease on the CPU before putting it all back together).

jm1024, since you've done this before maybe you can help out here. On (1) can you reuse the copper tape that covered the wires from the LCD or do you need a new strip of tape? On (2) could you leave the CPU & heat sink in place when removing the chassis without causing any damage to either?

What a lot of hassle for one little screw. Suprised that Lenovo didn't put a drop of Loctite on it at the factory!