XPS 1330 creaks when lid opens

Hi,

I'm overall pretty happy with my XPS 1330. Had it a month, but the lid creaks whenever I open it. Like this other person:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=oDb_dW_H8E4&feature=related

Anyway, it's been like that since Day 1, but not worth replacing. I figured it would get better over time, but not luck. Anyone have any idea how to stop it from creaking?

Thanks!
Ash

 

WD-40? No, jk. Im not sure. I wouldnt suggest WD40, but maybe- wait for more replies

 

i put vaseline on mine and it works fine. i applied a very small amount with a cue tip into the hinge and just wiped the excess away

 

Maybe try graphite powder lubricant on the hinges? Graphite is an insulating material so it shouldn't harm anything electronic, but I would apply it very carefully and slowly to the hinges...less is more Local hardware store or hobby shop should have some in small tubes, only a few dollars.

Disclaimer: you perform the above at your own risk.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I may try and track down some graphite powder. But where exactly should these be applied? For the life of me I can't figure out where the sound is coming from. And despite my limited posts here, I'm no newbie!

At first I thought it was plastic on plastic, but I can insert a postcard between the bezel and the chasis and move it back and forth the entire time the screen is opening. Could is just be a screw that has been overtightened perhaps?

Thanks again...

 

The hinges themselves are probably too tight. So a lube could fix it.

Personally i actually laughed when i heard the creek in the video.

 

I laughed the first time too...it sounds like an old treasure chest and not a state-of-the-art computer. Unfortunately the laughter has long worn out...

 

If you go the graphite powder route I would sprinkle some into the barrel hinges at the bottom of the screen.

Here:


As scene in this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=208643

Hopefully, your gap isn't as big as the pic

 

Another possibility might be silicone spray. We use it in the hospital to lubricate plastic and rubber parts. There seems to be no negative effect on any thing, but it wouldn`t hurt to research it a bit. Hope this is of some help. That creaky hinge would probably drive me crazy.

 

Were can you buy silicone spray at?

 

Here ya go: http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Silicone-Spray-Lubricant-Aerosol/dp/B000ABE98I

 

I have a 1520 that made a similar noise. Not quite as creaky, but the same idea. Did it from the very first opening. Quite annoying. I don't know if it would apply to the 1330, but it might be worth a shot.

I downloaded the service manual from Dell, and looked at the section on how to remove/replace the screen. I followed the procedure until I got to the point of actually removing the screen, but then just gently lifted then re-seated the hinges in the laptop chassis, making sure to keep things even and secure. I then just put it all back together being really careful to firmly tighten the screws that secure the hinges to the chassis. I wanted them tight but had to be really careful not to strip them. They're crummy screws and extremely easy to strip.

Happily, no more treasure chest. Opens without a peep now, and feels much more solid. Just as it should have from the beginning. Took me all of 10 minutes to do.

 

Well, I read through the service manual for the 1330, and it has pretty recessed hinges. The whole process seems a lot more involved. Any idea if doing this would void the warranty? Otherwise I think the silicon spray may be the way to go...if it can reach the hinge, that it.
Thanks!

 

IMHO, spraying any sort of spray (silicone, graphite, etc) inside the computer case has far more potential to damage something than removing and re-tightening some screws. And in my case, lubrication wasn't the problem and would not have solved anything. The hinge itself was shifting in place because it wasn't securely attached to the notebook chassis. Again, I have no idea if this applies to a 1330, so YMMV.

As far as I know, opening it up to tighten some screws should not void your warranty. There isn't any sort of protective 'Warranty Void if removed!' sticker that you must break through ( at least on mine there wasn't!), so by opening it up you are not causing any sort of tracable damage. Just be careful and use common PC-building safeties such as being careful of static, have clean hands (put down the Cheetos, please), use a clean space, etc.

 

Looking at the service manual for the 1330...
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsM1330/en/sm/display.htm#wp1179909

While the design is different than the 1520, the idea appears similar. Take a look at the screws noted in steps 5,7, and 10/1. These were the screws (ok, their counterparts on the 1520) that I removed & carefully reinstalled that made a difference.

You also may not have to remove the keyboard and disconnect quite so much. The 1520 manual also recommends disconnecting several cables and removing the keyboard. I didn't have to do any of it since I wasn't completely removing the display. Just enough to gain access to those screws.

 

Thanks all for the help and advice. I'll be following Zigby's suggestions in the next day or two, and I'll let you know how it goes.
-Ash

 

Just an update:
I was all set to go ahead with the hinge re-seating procedure this past weekend when I noticed something: the squeak had gone. So...if anyone else is bothered by a squeak-like sound, give it a few days and it may go away on its own. But thanks to all involved in the thread...rep'd.