Faulty LED light

Hi all

My M18x R2 has had a faulty LED light on the left hand side since I bought it.

I mean one of these ones:


I am trying to source just the LED itself rather than buy the entire palmrest which contains both, and have found the M18xr2 parts list here on NBR but cant work out with 100% the correct part number.

Judging by the part name it should be either 98X52 or K26CW but only the latter looks anything like what's on the inside of the palmrest, which looks like:


This:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/274043807522

...looks like the right thing, but I am not sure, the part of the LED light that glows looks to be more underneath the white paper part on the photo than where the diode is...unless the paper lookalike just diffuses the light from the diode?

Or should I just reflow the old part?

Any feedback would be welcome, whilst not a dealbreaker I would rather have a working LED light than not.

Cheers

 

I'd say go for it. Make an offer if you need to, looks like it should be the correct part.

 

I have just tried to reflow it, still no luck. Looks like I'll be buying the one from ebay.

Whilst it was disassembled I noticed the two clickers below the touch pad aren't aligned correctly, so I will probably need to replace them as well...

Will let you know how I get on.

 

I have just replaced the K26CW part, card controller assembly or w/e it's called but unfortunately the LED is still off...do you guys know what else this might be?
@DaMafiaGamer @Rengsey R. H. Jr. @TheReciever @Maxware79 @Raidriar
Thanks in advance

 

It could be a motherboard issue then, the controller may not be getting power.

 

One of the LEDs works...the one on the right, the left one doesnt... could power reach one but not the other?

Does anyone have the mobo schematics? @Khenglish

 

Yes it is very much possible, as both leds need their own power circuitry, if they didn’t and one led fused the other one would go out too, that’s that just cutting corners, something dell NEVER used to do when it came to Alienware...


One thing you could do is directly wire the working leds pins to the one that doesn’t, sure both leds will be slightly dimmer due to 2x the consumption of power on that rail but it’s better than nothing...

 

Thanks bro

Right, I do hope it is not the mobo...dont feel like shelling out that kind of money...good shout with the sharing of power, I might try that, will inspect the connector pins on the mobo first though...perhaps there is a cold solder joint there...

Schematics would come in handy though, I used to do basic BGA repairs (hot air station or heatgun, not on a proper machine) so would rather replace a faulty IC myself, if that's what is faulty...

 

Could be possible, but knowing that motherboard is solid I’m leaning towards a failed capacitor somewhere.

It’s interesting isn’t it, the Alienware 18 motherboard is trash compared to the m18x with under spec vrms and not enough cooling, it’s like dell wanted to ruin their rep...

Let’s see if @Khenglish knows of any schematics

 

Would there be a way of wiring the left LED up to the right one and run it off the same circuitry? It may not look pretty on the inside if you have to run an extra wire. It is only running an LED so I couldn't imagine the power draw would be excessive.
I can't take a look inside mine right now so it may not even be possible.

 

@Khenglish would you be able to help please?

 

Something I should have done sooner I guess, but never thought schematics are so openly available - so I have googled it and voila, first link...lol.

Attached for posterity!

One question though, is there a way of checking the motherboard revision without disassembly? As I am not 100% sure I have got the right schematic...it seems the LED board is on page 38. View attachment Dell Alienware M18x R2 LA-8321P Rev 1.0 Schematics.pdf