DC power jack repair guide. Do-it-yourself instructions.
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 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. 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.
Entry Filed under: Laptop Tips and Tricks
125 Responses to “DC power jack repair guide. Do-it-yourself instructions.”
Pages: « 13 … 11 10 9 8 7 6 [5] 4 3 2 1 » Show All
Pages: « 13 … 11 10 9 8 7 6 [5] 4 3 2 1 » Show All
March 7th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
When I plug my power adapter in, the light on the front of the laptop comes on for a second then shuts off. It will keep doing that if I pull it in then out. Is that most likely a bad connection with the power jack? or something else? Thanks a lot.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
[…] and replacing the power jack. By the way, if the power jack is loose you can use this tutorial for resoldering the jack yourself. The second source offers basically the same laptop disassembly guide but with better […]
February 29th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Just can’t thank you enough for the beautifully lain out guide. I actually received a Toshiba Sattelite as a “hey if you can fix it it’s yours” type deal. Lucky for me I found your guide first!
Thanks again,
C Tobin (USA)
February 26th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
o dear pitty thank you its actually functining now (although i may have killed my internet card in the process….) thanks though !
February 25th, 2008 at 5:23 am
Do you have to go through all 25 step of disassembly to perform the power plug replacement? Thanks in advance for your help.
K
February 25th, 2008 at 12:24 am
I’ve got a Toshiba Satellite A35 series laptop that needs a new USB port (one of the two ports broke). Do you have soldering and replacement instructions for this component? Thanks.
February 23rd, 2008 at 8:24 am
hi,
thnaks for this guide
but i’m having a serious problem after adding some solder to dc jack contacts . in facts i fixed power problem (battery charges normally but laptop in no longer booting
we could hear fans but nothing after black screen.
surely is not screen problem i noticed it’s ok when i increase brightness.
i’ve tried also by removing one of memories but nothing.
i’m sure that i’ve damaged Nothing in the mother…
could you nhelp me please.
ps: my pc is toshiba satellite p20 s103
February 16th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Thankyou so much …You made it so easy… I saved $$ ….really appreciate it… keep up the good work… now my laptop is up n running better then ever. Thanks Again.
February 14th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
[…] with the power connector on your laptop and want to know how to fix it yourself? This step-by-step power connector replacement guide will be very helpful for you. The guide will explain how to resolder a loose power connector or […]
February 12th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Hi,
I had the dreaded intermittent DC connection with an old Tosh Tecra 8100. Seemed a lot of hassle to strip it down completely so I very very carefully “dremeled” or milled a 1/4 inch rectangle of fthe bottom of the case where I reckoned the positive pin solder point to the PCB would be. Sure enough, exercising the connector had caused the usual, the soldered joint had failed. Remade joint thru the created hole. Then covered up hole with tape. I could glue something more substantial on but it is fine as it is. All working now for bout 10 minutes effort
cheers
Peter (UK)