G73JH Subwoofer loose? Please help

I bought the G73JH-RBBX05 recertified from Newegg a couple weeks ago and everything seems to be working great except when I click on the left touchpad button and let go there is a clicking sound coming from the subwoofer area. The click also happens when I rest my left hand to the left of the touchpad lift it off.. It feels a bit empty right there. Like some sort of support is missing or a screw wasn't put back.
Since it's recertified and I had to wait a while before one was even available. I don't really want to take my chances sending it back for a replacement. I feel like I won the recertified lottery and the clicking sound is more of an anoyance than a deal breaker.
I watched a couple videos of people opening the laptop for different purposes and would like to checkout the inside for something loose (don't care for the warranty). Any ideas/advice?
Thanks in advance.

 

I've heard of a couple of instances where a screw in that area was either loose or dropped out. Probably just needs tightening.

 

Do you know if I can get to it by taking off the back plate only? It looks a bit sketchy taking off the keyboard.

 

No, you would need to disassemble the unit. It's attacked to the front plate.

 

Exactly the same problem I had with the first JH I was shipped. If I would have kept it I would have definitely opened her up to fix whatever it was. Annoying as heck isn't it?

 

Darn. I guess I'm going in. I'm going to be real careful. Thanks for the info Chastity.
This is annoying as heck.

 

I had this problem. I fixed it by removing the screws on the bottom front of laptop and pry it open a bit. There is a metal bar under the mouse button. Put a wedge of paper between the bar and bottom on the case and test. If still clicks, make the paper spacer bigger.

Or return it, your call

 

Wow! Thank you. That worked great.
Funny thing is I thought I'd fit an envelope in that space :/

 

Omg I have that same problem (the "something loose below the left part of the button of the touchpad").
Its driving me crazy and dunno what to do, and opening it to check seems to be very risky (watching disasembly video, its pretty much opening completely the notebook).

Any chance you could put up a picture of what you did?
I tried the 3 screws below in the front, and I could open a bit the front part of the notebook, but got a bit scared of being able to "pop" something... so I just let it be for now.

Appreciated in advance!

 

It's really easy but I can understand your concern. It took me a while to really understand what I was about to do once I had those three screws open.
I'll work on a video for you tomorrow or maybe pictures idk.

 

Thank you mate, will be checking often this thread (have it bookmarked already )

 

I have this exact same problem (appeared only after I opened up the rear panel that stores the HD, etc.) and it's quite annoying. Just posted about it on the general Asus laptop page one "directory" above this one.

Guess I'll try one of these fixes.

Seriously, though. What kind of build quality is this for a $1500 laptop? Definitely has nothing to do with a screw being loose if the problem emerged after opening up the back panel and then replacing it and tightening all the screws.

An update: just did what was recommended, and it worked. Thanks a lot for the tip.

I pried one edge open with a plastic knife, but it didn't seem like the rest wanted to pop off at all. The best thing to do seemed to be leave the thicker edge of the knife wedged in there while using another plastic knife to slide over and try to pop off more hinges. Probably there's a better tool for this, and I wouldn't stick the knife in there too far and twist it (just at the edge, where you're trying to pry the hinge) since the motherboard is right there.

Once I got enough popped off to see the metal base underneath the keypad, I began experimenting with different sizes and thicknesses of wedges. I ended up using two segments - one for the left side of the pad (which stopped the clicking), and a smaller one for the right side of the pad (which balanced out the change made to the left). The paper I used was the thickness of a piece of paper that is folder three times over, I think.

 

Here's a quick video I made. It's kind of rough but you should get the idea. I only had less than a minute to do it cause my kids were starting to go nuts :/
matrices explained it pretty well.
It just occurred to me that this thread would help people with this problem but the title is misleading. Would be nice if the title could be changed lol.

http://rapidshare.com/files/428428057/Fix_G73JH_Clicking_Sound.avi

 

Thank u for the video. I just started having this problem a few days ago. Hmm I never had a problem with my less expensive gateway 7811fx

 

Omg mate! That video is brilliant, I had no idea I could lift that part, I was so scared of cracking something and not being able to put it back in place!
Thank you so much!

 

My left touchpad button just started doing this too, for no apparent reason. It sounds like the case flexing and plastic clacking. The touchpad button was silent before.

I used an earplug; a wad of paper would also work. Here's detailed instructions, but do this at your own risk:

1.) Remove the 3 screws from the bottom front of the case.
2.) Insert a guitar pick between the palmrest and case, about two inches to the left of the LED indicators (pic 1 below) or near the left corner. The pick should slide between the surfaces relatively easily -- if not, move to either side by a half inch and try again, since it may be near a tab which will block it (and probably damage the tab if you try to pry it).
3.) Gently push down on an angle (as in pic 1 below) and then lift upwards until one of the tabs pops out. Be careful not to harm the edge of the palmrest.
4.) Slide the guitar pick sideways, use it to find the next tab; stop there and pry up.
5.) Continue to pry enough so that you have the left half lifted. You don't need to lift the entire palmrest, but you can (just be careful with the middle part that has the LEDs).
6.) Place something soft, like a wad of paper or an earplug directly under the left touchpad button (pic 2 below).
7.) Push the palmrest back in near the touchpad button and make sure the sound is gone. If not, gently pry it back up and reposition the earplug/paper.
8.) Push down the rest of the palmrest and make sure all parts are clicked back into the tabs.
9.) Put 3 screws back in. For the two on each end, clamp down the corners with your fingers while putting the screw back in to make sure it's tight.

 

PERFECT fix. Thanks a million! That would've bugged me to no end. Good thing I've got a guitar too eh? The foam ear bud is probably the best thing I can think of. No need to take apart the whole computer now.