A/C Connector Problems with HP DV6000, any input?

So I just finished a business trip with my laptop. I stopped over at my girlfriend's after my flight and my laptop was working fine for about 3-4 hours. I simply put the laptop in sleep, placed it in my backseat and drove home. When I set it up, I've notice that now I can't keep AC flowing to my laptop if I move it much.

The connector slides in firmly, with a palpable click. There is the travel in a clockwise and counter-clockwise fashion, as there always has been; however, now, depending on what degree of travel there is, the laptop may or may not receive AC juice.

I'm still in school and fairly broke, so I forewent any extended insurance. I purchased the laptop in august of 2007, figuring I only needed it to last two years. I didn't count on this problem cropping up in a mere 8 months.

To my eyes, nothing appears to be deformed or bent/broken. Has anyone had any similar problem or an educated guess? Do you suppose it is a problem internal to the laptop or to the ac/wiring? Is it worth having an electrical engineer I know pop it open and take a look, at risk of invalidating my short warranty, or should I bite the bullet, using this spotty connection through May (finals) before shipping it off?

I'm just trying to find a starting point, any info is appreciated.

 

Usually it's the little piece on the mobo that's loose. Either solder it back on, or ship it out under warranty.

 

Hmmm... I've been running Folding@Home for the past week or two. It usually has my computer running fairly warmly; could heat have played a hand in a loosened solder or connection?

 

It is either as Lithus said, or the ac adapter itself is going. I had a similar experience with my v5000, and the cord ended up being bad instead.......