This guide will explain how to repair a failed or loose DC power jack on a laptop computer yourself. Here’s my previous post related to DC power jack related issues.
Disclaimer: I’ve made these instructions only for people experienced with soldering and repairing computers. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this job, please do not open the laptop or you can permanently damage your computer. Take your laptop to a professional repair shop instead.
Use this repair guide at your own risk. 
First of all, you’ll have to disassemble your laptop and remove the motherboard. Here you’ll find disassembly instructions for some major laptop brands such as IBM, Dell, HP, Compaq, Toshiba. If your laptop is not on the list, you’ll have to figure out yourself how to take it apart.
For this repair you’ll need the following tools.
1. Soldering iron or soldering station. I use Weller WES51 soldering station and for this job I set temperature to about 800-850°F.
2. I use high-tech rosin core silver-bearing solder from Radioshack with diameter 0.022″ ( Catalog #: 64-013 ). I think standard rosin core solder will work just fine.
3. Desoldering pump for removing solder around component leads. I use Edsyn Soldapullt pump, model DS 017.
4. 99% isopropyl alcohol and tooth brash for cleaning the motherboard from flux.
5. A new DC power jack, you can find a cheap one here.
Laptop DC power jack repair guide.
As you see on the following picture, the solder drop on the positive terminal looks different than on other three contacts. That’s where the problem is. The positive pin is not making a good contact with the motherboard and because of that power to the laptop cuts off when I move the power plug inside the power jack.
I’m going to desolder the power jack from the motherboard, clean contacts on both power jack and motherboard and then solder it back in place – this is the proper way fixing the power problem.
Start desoldering process with adding some new fresh solder to all three contacts. This will make old solder more flowable, easier to remove.
While heating one of the contacts, remove the solder from this contact using the desoldering pump. Repeat the same steps with all power jack contacts until you remove as much solder as possible.
Grab the power jack and carefully try removing it from the motherboard. Most likely you will not be able to remove the power jack the first time because there will be some solder bridges left between the contacts and traces on the motherboard. Carefully wiggle the power jack without applying any significant force and at the same time heat up all contacts one by one. This will help you to remove the power jack.
The DC power jack is almost removed from the motherboard.
Be careful. Inside the positive hole there is a copper sleeve witch connects the terminal on one side of the motherboard with the traces on the other side. If you are removing the power jack with force, you can pull the sleeve from the hole. You don’t want to do that.
UPDATE: If you accidentally removed the internal sleeve, check out this post: How to fortify damaged power jack connection.
So, do not apply any force and make sure the solder is melted when you are removing the power jack. I hope you understand what I’m talking about.
After the power jack is removed, clean all oxidized contacts with a knife.
Apply a fresh coat of solder to all contacts on the power jack.
The power jack terminals will look dirty because of melted flux.
You can remove the flux using the tooth brash and alcohol. It’s not necessary but it will make your job looking clean.
Apply a fresh coat of solder to all power jack terminals on both sides of the motherboard.
This side has been coated.
And this side has been coated too.
Now you can install the power jack back on the motherboard. Put something under power jack so there is no gap between the jack and the motherboard. Now you are ready to solder the jack back in place.
Solder all power jack pins.
The job is done and the laptop DC power jack is fixed. B-E-A-utiful!
Now just install the motherboard back into the laptop and you are done.
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May 31st, 2009 at 9:34 am
My laptop works when the charger/120 v adapter is hooked up, but it will not charge. I did buy a new battery. Is like jack issue a possible cause?
May 30th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
It’s possible that you fried the Mobo during your interactions with it. There are so many different things that can go wrong with a pc it’s simply amazing. Off hand, I can give you some simple things to try. Reseat your RAM. If its not properly seated it wont boot. But it sounds like the board is shot though. If nothing kicks it’s usually no good. You could try resoldering it again. But, most likely, it’s a waste of time.
May 30th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Hi Aaron,
Just an update on my trials and tribulations.
Could not get my dc jack removed from the board so I brought it to a tech and he was able to do it. Right tools and know-how I guess.
Anyway, he re-soldered the jack to the board and I put it all back together again.
NOTHING!!
No lights, no fan, no start.
Still have power in the adapter. Power through the jack when plugged in. Just not booting. Even when I plug in the battery, which is old and dead, the charging light does not come on.
Any suggestions??
Other than the obvious “Buy a new one”, I mean.
Frank
May 30th, 2009 at 11:35 am
[...] Now you can access and repair the power jack. You can use these power jack replacement instructions. [...]
May 28th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
GREAT ADVICE!! My Toshiba is up and running just like the old days, what a great computer to resurrect. THANKS!!!!!
May 28th, 2009 at 11:32 am
thanks for the info on website i got dc jack problem no power on pc,i didn`t repair it then i buy a new pc toshiba 17 in will let you know later about other pc.
May 27th, 2009 at 10:50 am
I’m very familiar with the Dell Latitude D600. I’ll make it easy for you. Go to Google and type “DAOJM1YB6E6″ in the search box. Hit the enter key. Wallah! There’s the part you need to fix it without hassles. It’s like $23.00. It’s a riser board attached to the motherboard by a ribbon cable or a socket. It will take you 10 minutes to fix with any luck. Just make sure to go to Dell’s website and download the service manual so you don’t break anything on accident. Such as the key board cover, for example. You’ll have to take the key board cover off, the keyboard. . .scratch that, I just checked, you’ll have to take the entire top half of the laptop off, including LCD, keyboard, keyboard cover, top bezel, you’ll have to unhook the wireless(it’s easy to hook back up, so don’t worry), and I think that’s it. It shouldn’t take you any longer than an hour each way. As long as you don’t take it apart with a hatchet, I think you should be okay. Just make sure to unplug it, take the battery out, and pull your HDD and put it somewhere safe until you’re done. I hope this helps
Frank, I suggest this with great caution. I’ve heard of some techs using Flux to get rid of tough solder. Use it sparingly, and with great care because I think it can actually melt your PCB if you use to much. Before trying this try looking at other jack repair websites for info on using it. I personally have never tried it so I cant attest to its effectiveness. If you do consider this method BE VERY CAREFUL! ! ! Good luck though, if you do try it let me know how it turns out!
May 27th, 2009 at 8:57 am
PLs help
my dell latitude d600 power connector button broke from the motherboard. It can’t powerup again. please help. how can i get and alternative way to power up my pc? or can i trace two wires on the board that can be joined to power the pc.
thanks
pls reply
May 27th, 2009 at 2:19 am
Thanks for the reply, Aaron.
The clean pin was not clean to begin with. It was the only one I successfully opened.
After failing to completely clean the others, I added solder to all pins and put everything back together.
Nothing!!
No power, no fan, no lights, no change.
I have the laptop apart again and am going to try and find something HOT to get this DC jack released from the pcb.
I figure since it isn’t working now, what have I got to lose?
I tested the jack for continuity and it seems to be okay because I got the long beep on my meter. I checked the voltage on the adapter and it showed 19.3 volts. Then when I plug into the jack, and test the jack, it also shows 19.3 volts.
Am I right in assuming that the adapter and the jack are both okay?
If so, the problem is most probably the jack’s connection to the pcb.
Since I used to have intermittent starts and shutdowns, I am guessing the first order is work on the joints of the jack/pcb.
May 25th, 2009 at 1:41 am
If the pin was cleared before you took apart your laptop then simply resolder that singular pin and you should be good to go. The solder is there to connect the pin to the conductive runs in the motherboard which feeds power to everything else, basically. So, by adding solder to that one pin you reconnect it to the power grid, so to speak. At least, assuming that you haven’t burned the runs off the board. If you’ve burned the runs off of the board, it will never work again, unless of course you have some way to follow the runs and solder wiring from the pin to whatever that pin needed to power. . .good luck
Otherwise, its technique that you need help with. Make sure that your soldering irons tip is very clean. Otherwise the solder will run away, or worse, run up the tip. Make sure your motherboard is clean. Add solder to the top of the existing pins, place the solder sucker adjacent to the pin with the soldering iron touching the top of the new solder. Give it a moment to melt the solder and then click the sucker. Try moving the pin around when the solder is melted, for example moving it to one side might help. That way you only have to suck solder from one side so that when you move it back there will be nothing on one side holding it in and very little on the other side. It sounds archaic but wiggle it. Sometimes it helps.
I hope this helps, im very tired so my writing sucks right now. . .Have a good night, and good luck