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    New DC Jack, upon reassembly laptop won't turn on

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by jerryt5000, Mar 1, 2012.

  1. jerryt5000

    jerryt5000 Newbie

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    I am writing about a problem I have with my dell inspirion 1545 laptop. I was having problems with the connection of the power cord to the laptop. I would always have to wiggle the power cord so it would make a connection with the laptop.

    After some research, I found out this is common for Dell laptops, for the dc jacks to break. So I disassembled my laptop and I could see the dc jack was cracked. I bought a new dc jack board and put it in as well as reassembling the laptop.

    After reassembling the laptop, I can't get it to power back on. No lights, nothing. I tried reseting by taking the battery out and holding the power button for 30 seconds to reset. And still nothing. The laptop was working before so I am hoping its not the motherboard.

    Am I missing something on the reassembly? What could have I done? Any suggestions?
     
    jerryt5000, Mar 1, 2012
    #1
  2. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    If you just replaced the DC jack board and still not powering on, could be a bad motherboard. Have you tried a known good Dell 90 watt AC adapter?
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Mar 1, 2012
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  3. jerryt5000

    jerryt5000 Newbie

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    Not yet, but that is my next step..
     
    jerryt5000, Mar 2, 2012
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  4. dg1261

    dg1261 Notebook Geek

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    Coincidentally, I just replaced the DC power jack on a N5110. Looking at the online manual, it looks like the 1545 uses a similar construction technique.

    The power jack is on a small daughterboard that connects to the motherboard. However, unlike many other connections that are made with cables plugging into ZIF connectors, this connection is made with the connectors soldered on the two boards mating directly into each other, not with a cable running between the boards. Imagine a child's Lego blocks here, or snaps on a jacket. The edge of the motherboard extends over and just above the power jack board, and the two connectors need to be snapped together.

    The connector needs to be unsnapped and the motherboard removed in order to change the power jack board, so I'm guessing upon reassembly you didn't get the connectors fully snapped back together. Just putting the pieces back in place and tightening the screws (there are two, one on each side of the connector) may not fully seat the connector. In my case, I had to reach in with my fingers and squeeze the two boards to get the connector to snap together before securely anchoring the boards assembly back in the case.
     
    dg1261, Mar 7, 2012
    #4