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.
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!
February 10th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
@ Sam,
I don’t think this is fuse problem.
Most likely it’s either bad DC jack (most likely) or AC adapter cord (less likely).
I would test the AC adapter first. Use a voltmeter. If power cuts off when you move the cable, probably there is a short inside. Replace the adapter.
On the other hand, if AC adapter works properly, this is DC jack related failure. Try replacing the jack.
February 7th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Hi. I noticed that my laptop (Compaq Evo N800c) occasionally does not get power when I plug it in. The AC power pack is lit up, but the computer says there is no power. At best, if I plug it in, I get a few minutes of power and then it cuts out. Wiggling the power cord in the jack or taking it in and out does not seem to help. Is it the jack, or a fuse somewhere, or is it just the cord? What do you think.
Thanks,
-Sam
January 13th, 2012 at 3:55 pm
@ Valentin,
Probably yes, but I would suggest using original parts. They are not expensive.
You can find a new original Lenovo AC adapter on eBay for about $20.
New DC jack is about $5.
January 13th, 2012 at 9:35 am
I have an Asus F3U laptop. I have found a Lenovo Z60t without power adapter and with the dc power jack broken.
Can I repleace the broken power jack of Lenovo with a new power jack wich will fit the power adapter of my ASUS? ( the power adapter of my asus fits the parameters for lenovo )
The Lenovo’s power jack connect to motherboar through 5 wires and a plug. How can I know in which order to sold the wires to the new dc power jack that will fit my Asus power adapter?
Thanks
December 23rd, 2011 at 6:56 pm
I recently fixed my freezer (thanksgiving weekend) using internet directions when my laptop went out. Geekquad said I will need to replace my entire motherboard. I’m so glad I took a few minutes to search the net again. Thank you for these instructions. I will begin gathering my tools and hopefully my laptop will be up & running soon.
Merry Xmas everyone and a prosperous new year to all
December 16th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
Thanks for the awesome guide! Just repaired my Alienware Sentia m3450 with this exact problem. Now it’s charging like a dream. I’ll donate as soon as I can, I’ve got this bookmarked for good.
November 29th, 2011 at 7:25 am
Hi my HP dv4 series laptop stopped working all of a sudden while I was watching a movie yesterday.Now it doesn’t switch on at all.I tried hard resetting but didn’t work. It switched on once when i tried to turn it on with the laptop upside down, the screen was blank and all the lights and the fan turned on but none of the buttons or the power on switch was responding. Well the screen flickers some times(when only with the battery attached and with no power cord on ) and sometimes the screen appears white even when there’s no power light. Can anyone help me pleeaseeee.
Thanks
November 24th, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Shwan,
It look like the DC jack attached to the power cable which can be unplugged from the motherboard.
Instead of buying just the jack and soldering it to the cable, I would suggest buying the DC jack harness (DC jack with the cable). In this case you’ll be able to replace the harness without soldering.
I think this DC jack harness fits your laptop.
November 23rd, 2011 at 1:13 pm
I have a Compaq Presario C712NR and my battery has stopped charging and the connection with the AC adapter is loose (blue light goes on and off). I was hoping you could help me if you knew if this kind of Jack installation requires soldering anywhere (I did not see anything but wires attached to the DC jack when i Had the laptop apart)and if it has wires attached do they need to be soldered or just plugged onto the back of the new jack? Thanks for your help and thank you for the forum and sorry for my bad english.
November 21st, 2011 at 3:14 pm
@ EMIRATES,
In IBM ThinkPad T43 the DC jack is not soldered to the motherboard. It’s attached to the power cable.
If the jack failed, it’s necessary to disassemble the laptop, disconnect the DC jack harness and replace it with a new one.
You can search for a new DC jack on eBay. Just search for “ThinkPad T43 jack” and you’ll find it.
Here are two different service manuals for ThinkPad T43. Choose one depending on the laptop model number.
ThinkPad T43 (1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876)
and
ThinkPad T43, T43p (2668, 2669, 2686, 2687)
The service manual has laptop disassembly instructions.