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 are service manuals for some known laptop brands. Here are more Toshiba guides. 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 brush 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 which 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 brush 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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September 16th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
[...] You’ll find more detailed instructing in this guide for fixing failed DC power jack in a laptop. [...]
September 15th, 2009 at 3:39 am
I checked the memory and it’s definitely not the cause (tested other slots and other mem. modules in both slots). When there is no picture on screen or external monitor, what could be the cause? Could I have damaged the motherboard or the video chip? I took it apart again and saw nothing wrong with it. Is there anything else I can try/test? What would you do? Thanks
September 13th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
pcmemoirs,
Check memory modules. Make sure memory is properly connected to the motherboard.
September 13th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
I followed your instructions and resoldered the DC jack. A friends who is experienced in electronics tested the motherboard and said it’s all good. After I reassembled the laptop and turned it on for the first time, the picture didn’t come up on the screen. I seem to have fixed the charging problem, but there is nothing on the screen. An external monitor shows nothing as well. What did I do wrong (assuming I didn’t damage the motherboard) and how can I find out? Thanks for any advice.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:00 am
Well done job. keep it up.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
My Dell showed the same problem, i.e. power plug making intermittent connection with the socket, but I found that it was because the pins (there are three) in the socket were not making contact with the connectors in the plug. I bent the pins a bit and it worked — for a few hours. Then failed again. I wish I could think of a fix short of replacing the power socket and/or the plug.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:04 pm
The information is invaluable, detailed, and well just right on.
Thanks
August 24th, 2009 at 11:47 am
If you need apply constant ‘side’ pressure to maintain a good connection, you can try using a rubber band and an ‘S’ hook. This worked for me on my Dell Inspiron 9300.
Basically, I tied the rubber band to the end of the cord and tied the other end to the S hook. Then I hooked it into the back vent. This put enough pressure on the cord to establish a constant conection.
It may look ghetto, but I didnt have to soulder … yet.
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Hi. Thanks for your detailed explanation. I have problem with my old Fujitsu Siemens Amilo d6820 model. May I ask you where can i buy a new jack? thanks in advance..
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:41 pm
thanks for the pic tutorial