Vaio VPC-Z11 hinge problem

^What are you talking about? Once you remove the keyboard/plate you can tighten the hinge screws. You don't need to do anything else.

 

Not true, you can only tighten the right side in that case, this wont solve your problem. You need to use loctite and tighten the left side as well. Therefore the rest needs to be done also.

 

I tighten the left side no problem without all the extra steps you went through.

 

A few days ago I tightened the screws on both the right and left side and the annoying hinge click has stopped. The screen also wobbles less now.

 

Wait another 3 months and you will have the same problem again if you didnt use loctite...

 

Yes, and it's still faster to redo it again in 6 months that to pull the whe panel apart

 

Seems like a discussion makes no sense...

 

Thanks for posting this.
I tightened mine about 2 months ago but it got loose pretty quickly, so I would like to fix it for good.
Next time I go in to tighten my hinge I may do a full Bommel. I may perform a Bommelectomy .

 

One last remark: http://forum.notebookreview.com/6317878-post5200.html

Dont forget the magnet next to the camera if it should fall out.

 

Sorry for reviving this thread but I felt I had to post something here because really I am amazed about the amount of people who are not really annoyed with Sony for having, yet again, given us their most premium laptop with a basic design flaw on the lid.

I purchased a previous gen Z (VGN-Z) and it's clear the lid was designed with far too much flex, it means many people ended up with scratched screens where the screen would touch the palmrest.

The current Z gen (VPC-Z) doesn't seem to have this flaw, the lid is much more solid and after 10 months I haven't experienced similar issues to the VGN-Z series.

The design flaw, best not say there isn't one here...., that we all seem to agree about is regarding the hinge design which just won't last, many of us have experienced "click" noises, often on the right hinge (for me it was on the left) and I have experienced other symptoms too such as :
- laptop coming on and off sleep mode when transported
- hinge feeling less and less secure
- more and more screen distortion when opening/closing the lid
- and more worrying, both connectors connecting the display to the hinge show signs of stress
I don't know what you guys think about this but we really have to put things into perspective.
The Z series is a premium laptop, its price is probably in the 95th percentile of laptop prices, which is sold both as being robust (remember those stress videos ?) and powerful.
Yes the Z series is indeed very powerful, considering the weight, but no it's neither robust and neither, when compared to the best, that well put together (I hear creaks on both Z series I owned) or hard wearing (palmrest fading within a few months and others).

I have now purchased 4 Sony laptops in the last 4 years, I probably spent over £6000 in total.
I sold my VGN-Z at a substantial loss as I got fed after Sony twice repaired the screen due to the screen being damaged (clouding showing in the middle of the screen) within the first year.
I then purchased the S series, only to find out the display is horrible, I just recently sold it with a 50% discount, too (I had it sitting somewhere unused for 6 months).
And now I am faced with yet another Sony laptop (VPC-Z) that cost me a lot of money (nearly £3000!) yet after 10 months the lid is already showing signs that it is failing, that this failure is responsible for electrical faults (open/close sensor) and that the lid to hinge connectors are already showing signs of stress that are not very reassuring for the mid term.

So I will ask all of you guys who, too, owned premium Sony laptops, what do YOU think when you pay a large amount of money to only find out that you might have to fix design/assembly flaws yourself because Sony tells you it's not their problem that their laptops cannot provide the basic features laptops are meant to provide.

You can guess I'm pretty angry about Sony, they've accused me to being responsible for my lid failing when I called them and it's with them now for repair with two copies of strongly worded letters, and as a customer I really feel extremely let down by the company and have been considering alternative options in the future.

 

Mine is in for repair again (see post #1 in this thread). Will try and talk to Sony's repair center directly and see whether there is a permanent fix for this problem. I have the palm rest discoloration as well, which is funny, since 60% of the time I use the laptop with an external keyboard...

Let's see what they say, will keep you posted with any new info

 

I wanted to make sure to reply to your post. Having dealt with Sony in a long and horrible repair history of my current Z11 notebook, I know what it's like to be ignored and maltreated by Sony's idea of "service."

I personally am very torn about what to do when it's time to replace this computer. I truly believe that the engineers at Sony who designed the Z are completely in a class unto themselves. Left to their own devices and allowed to do what they do best, they work magic and near-miracles with hardware design. The Z11 came out over a year ago and it still has no rivals for speed combined with the plethora of features and capabilities they managed to cram into a 13 inch notebook computer. Truly amazing.

Then Sony's Service team steps out onto the field and the crowd that had been cheering at the hardware and its design, suddenly becomes deathly silent. It really speaks volumes about Sony U.S.'s Support/Service when they manage to so counter the hardware engineering as to persuade an avid fan of the machine like yourself & I into settling for less...just to avoid the frustration and daymares.

 

Hi, guys. I misunderstood for that remove a bezel from a display for fix screws with LOCTITE? Is not enough unscrew only hinges with the display? Thanks

 

I just completed this. instructions were helpful, thanks. took me 3 hours. ( i had damaged my keyboard ribbon cable in a previous tear down so i took my time). wish someone had uploaded pics. i took some, here they are:

ImageShack Album - 9 images




I did not disconnect any of the cables.

i hope it works permanently. it was a b!tch to complete the job.

regards

 

as per other users on the forum, if you tighten without the locktite then it will probably come loose in a few months.

 

Interestingly, my hinges (still stock) didn't come loose for 9 months now. I did not need to retighten them yet. I think this is probably due to the black foam sheets that cover those two screws that hold the bezel to the hinges and prevent the screws from turning and untighting.

 

i think i recall finding the tiny black foam sheet on my desk one day. i did not know what it was. it must have been what you are talking about. no wonder mine came loose. it is fine now though.

 

So my instructions were not useless, thats great to hear! Hopefully you did not forget to put the magnet back in position (if it fell out). By the way: great pictures!

 

hey, yes thanks for that. glad you like the pics. regarding the magnet, where should it be? i did not notice it (and i did not notice anything falling out either)

http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...7-official-owners-thread-520.html#post6317878

i cant see where it is? just to make sure it is there, i could just close and open the lcd lid and see if it realizes it has been closed. right?

 

Yes its about checking if the laptop is closed. Take a look at that link.

 

lol, i did not notice that he wrote a description of what the magnet looks like.

BTW, after putting my lcd back together, i noticed that the bottom middle part of the LCD case does not clip on to the monitor (where the SONY logo is). are there any clips there? I kept pressing but nothing latched (apart from the sides).

 

I am not sure how it worked. I think the bottom is hooked up as a whole. (or was it the top?)

Nevermind, it is fine as it is.

 

For for my 2 cents worth. (or pence as I am in UK).

I have a Viao Z11 and would like to add my name to the list of the many people suffering from loose hinges. I too have contacted Sony and been told that this is my fault.

Sony will accept the machine for warranty repair but say that if they find that they think the damage is due to misuse then they will charge. I have read elsewhere that people have done this and been charged when clearly the damage is normal use only.

If like me you keep your laptop pristine and normally plug in an external monitor and use external bluetooth keyboard and mouse (purchasing this compo for its speed and small transportation size), then youre probably pretty upset too with Sony's attitude. Doubtless youre even considering gettign a Samsung, I am.

I think the hinge that gets the most wear is probably more to do with which hand you pick up your machine with from its laptop bag rather than how you open it but the machine should still be able to handle this. My machine is 8 months old and just showing signs of this issue so I feel quite lucky. My wifes HP and my previous HP are both 5 years old and going strong in the hinges. (though HP are also terrible for support - wifi and battery issues).

My other Samsung computer suffered a hard drive failure during warrantly and Samsung took it no questions asked and returned it the next day. They arranged pickup and paid all postage costs and never threatened me with stories of misuse.

Samsung Ultra thin 9 Series is looking more tempting by the day.

Does anyone have any hands-on knowledge of this device and its durability?

Dave

 

It's a shame that they don't admit the fault. I used to have a Z11 (which had the hinge problem). I now have a Z13 and not had any problems. If it is a problem specifically with the Z11, then internally they've obviously noticed the problem, and fixed it for later models.

However, in my opinion, even with the hinge problem (and the pretty appalling customer service), I would still keep the Sony, as there isn't anything else (even the Samsung) on the market that can compete. For me, the lack of VGA out, and its low resolution screen, mean that I wouldn't consider it.

 

Just fix the hinge on your own, its like 30minutes work - use some loctite and you'll never see your hinges get loose. Though I must note here that not every Z owner does suffer from this (although common) issue. I am using my Z every day since its purchase back in summer 2010 and my hinges are in perfect tight condition just like on the first day.

 

Just fixed my 2010/03 Sony Z11 CTO with all the helpful info in this thread.

The right hinge had started creaking and wiggling a little.

Took me 4 hours to do the disassembly and back. Hardest part was actually getting the bezel off the screen without breaking something (for a first tear-down of this machine). Did avoid disconnecting any connectors so didn't mess with the keyboard connector. Got some dusting and cleaning in too.

So this hinge thing, it does happen, it's a design defect (or poor QC where the hinge-screws are not loctited), and it's poor show on Sony to blame it on us.

 

I don't think you should loctite the hinge screws. Its difficult to say with mine because I bought it second hand and it was pretty banged up (but the price was decent so I was good with it). It had a wobbly hinge from day 1. When I tore it down, I noticed the bezel screws had alot of turn in them both ways and that it was possible for me to tighten them so much that the lid would get stuck on the barrel hinge and scratch it when it was reassembled.

Now maybe my Z was an exception because the left side of the chassis was bent quite significantly. But I note that the lid was also catching on the right side of the chasis which was uniform and straight. It took me a fair amount of trial and error to stop the lid from catching on the hinge.

 

If you look at the tips of the screws, you'll see some rust colored area. I'm guessing this is some type of seizing compound.

I don't recommend using anything aftermarket. If the screws loosen, tighten them.

The LCD assembly is indeed tricky to work with as NuShrike mentioned. I was able to remove the main screen bezel without breaking anything, but it was tough. You need the right tools; i.e. soft-plastic spudgers, precision screw driver set. This kit is great. I'd also recommend a precision pliers set for bending a cockeyed hinge.

I'd say that 99% of hinge issues are on the mount points on the main chassis. Avoid opening the LCD panel if at all possible. If you do, take copious amounts of pictures so you don't forget where the stuff goes. Pay special attention to the wiring layout. It's very easy to crimp or cut the VGA wires.

Last point, don't lose the small magnet at the top of the LCD panel. It is part of the sensor assembly that tells the machine to sleep/wake when opening/closing the lid. It falls out pretty easily. The magnetic pole direction is also important. Put it in wrong, and it won't work.

 

I simply asked my service technician (authorised Sony service centre) to add loctite to the screws when he had to replace the entire LCD screen due to a vertical row of dead pixels.

I am quite satisfied with customer service in Australia with regards to support for the Sony VAIO (so far). The small business that runs Sony repairs in my city have been there for quite some time.

 

I just got the same message myself.

My Vaio Z is 15 months old and first started showing symptoms of a loose hinge about 6 to 10 months after I got it; it wasn't too bad at first so I ignored it, but today I was using my laptop in my garden under windy conditions and the screen kept flipping up and down (there's about 3-4cm of give in the screen's movement on the far side). I figured I should get it fixed now rather than later, before the flexing does any damage to the laptop by weakening already loose screws.

I got the "+2" warranty extension on my laptop; it just extends the standard warranty and isn't the considerably more expensive "accidental damage" coverage, but this isn't accidental damage anyway, this is clearly a defect in the Vaio Z11's design that causes loose hinges after half a year's normal usage.

I play around a lot with IBM/Lenovo ThinkPads going back to 2005, and even those ones that are 6 years old still have rock-solid stable screen hinges. Something is definitely wrong in Sony's design (but I know the Z doesn't have a 'tough' reputation, but this is just bad design).

Here's the message I got in response to my initial repair request:

My response to that was disbelief as my laptop is in otherwise excellent condition. I pointed out that this is a common issue (as evidenced by simple google searches) and that many people have had the issue repaired under warranty. They haven't yet responded to my request that they re-consider given this is a common issue, but if push comes to shove I'm prepared to go all the way to small-claims action if necessary. I haven't used the S-word just yet, I want them to think I'm a reasonable person

 

I don't understand why, if they say it was "physical damage" and "individual mishandling," and you have a warranty covering " Accidental Damage from Handling, then how can it not be covered by the ADH provisions? Do they claim that your hinge damage is from intentional (mis)handling as opposed to "accidental?"

Every time I hear one of these stories it just makes my sense of injustice do cartwheels and I want to represent you in a lawsuit! You are definitely right to keep the language mellow at first. It would be a good idea to keep as much of this in writing as possible. Even if you speak to an agent by phone, try to email them back confirming what was said in the conversation. And I would suggest you make it clear that you are unquestionably covered for repairs to the hinges under the ADH wtty if they persist in denying that there is a defect in the Z11. I'd check the language in the ADH wtty to see if there are any "exclusions" they can duck under in this situation. I know there always are ADH wtty exclusions for "intentional" damage or "abuse" of the product, but that can't possibly be alleged (in any fair review) given the overall condition of your Z.

Below is a kind of a "how-to" for doing everything in your power to get Sony to honor its obligations short of doing the things I suggest you warn Sony you will do if they do not reverse course quickly. It's something I have done, or have advised others to do with largely great success, though the key is finding the right person/people inside the company to reach with your message, a thinly and professionally veiled threat. I am not an attorney and this is not legal advice, but I have business and legal credentials and experience that got me the knowledge to make the recommendations I am making. Aside from having high level contacts in the company - and if you did, you would already have used them - this is pretty much the only approach that may enable you to get action in the face of a corporate bureaucratic stonewalling. Use it all, use part, use none; it's just a more efficient and effective way to try to get satisfaction.

If you don't get a more supportive response from you most recent contact with Sony, I would then suggest you develop a mailing list of all email/snail mail addresses you can discover to which one might send a serious customer service complaint by using every published email address in the company with even an indirect interest, including ANY executive that publishes an "public" email address and prepare to add any additional people you may discover in the course of phone calls, google searches, etc. This is the most important step; you can write a great letter to the wrong people and get nowhere, and you can write a barely passable letter to the right peopel (and you make the list long, because you never know who inside the company will forward it to someone else inside who will take action).

Then, draft your complaint/warning letter: succinct and firm, but not at all incendiary, attaching all the idiotic and insulting responses from Sony like the one you cited here, state precisely what remedy you seek and highlight it visually in the message and say in the letter that this is a final "warning" to them, and that if they don't offer you full support at no expense to you within, say, 10 days, you will:

1) file a lawsuit in the General District Court, Small Claims Division of [name the county you live in],

2) file a complaints with the State Attorney General's office of [your state of residence] alleging deceptive trade practices with respect to their warranties,

3) file the same claim with the Federal Trade Commission alleging that this is not just a specific case, but a "pattern of practice" by Sony of escaping their warranty obligations by blaming the customer and,

4) post all or parts of this letter in appropriate customer forums, web sites, blogs and all places where customer complaints are solicited, reviewed and published (no need to mention names, but the implied reference is to both sites like cnet and ones like Yelp, etc).

The key to success here is:

1. Get the longest mailing list of names of people inside any part of Sony's consumer products business, not even just Vaio, as well as any CEO or Board of Directors email addresses - they pay people or hire interns to read these and direct them to the right people for action. If there is someone inside [the given] company who actually wants to correct this kind of tactic, the chance that they will see your complaint increases virally, just like any other form of communication today.

2. Write a great letter, short as possible but making your case - which we all know is "air tight" - in such a way that it could be sent pretty much as is to the authorities you say you will file actions with if they don't change their behavior, quickly. You don't want to sound like a crazy or like you plan to get $1 million dollars in damages; just that you will take the relatively easy but very effective steps to force them to be held accountable.

Before I go to this much trouble - if done right, it doesn't have to take you too terribly long, but we're still talking a few hours - I evaluate:

1) Is there another more direct approach I haven't tried?
2) Is there enough money at stake to be worth the effort?

Well, sorry for the long post, but without it I would only have been helping you get half-pregnant, lol! Perhaps I'll put it in a sticky later.

Good luck in any case; keep us posted!

 

I don't have the ADH warranty, I just have the "+2" extended warranty which gives me three years' coverage, but that's irrelevant as this this isn't "accidental damage" anyway.

Unfortunately Sony uses different reps for phone and email conversations. After I phoned Sony Vaio for an escalation or for details of their legal department I was told that I could have the incident promoted to the rep's manager; this was done and I received an anonymous email from Sony about an hour later instructing me to contact Sony's UK complaints department. The email address isn't anywhere on the web (fancy that!) but if anyone else wants it, it's: [email protected]

I put off sending an email to that address until today (Thursday evening) because I was waiting for an update on my still-open support ticket. I received it today and for the third time the agent was still unhelpful:

(the name of my representative has been removed to protect the guilty).

I find it interesting how the phone guys got my an escalation, but the email guys say "lol, no". I note his interesting and unprofessional use of "ain't" in his email.

I'm intrigued by this "policy" he speaks of about hinges. This was never mentioned in earlier messages. Does this mean that Sony does actually acknowledge weak hinges in Vaio Z11 units and is actively suppressing attempts to have them repaired?

I shot back a reply, asking why he couldn't (wouldn't?) escalate my incident, and also to see this "policy" of theirs. I also added a note about how I have sent an important email to their complaints department and that I expect a response within a reasonable time frame.

I have done. I have the warranty agreement here on my desk with me. It clearly states that damage caused by improper use will not be covered, and I have never used my laptop improperly (unless you count the few times I used it whilst sitting on the toilet ). There is nothing in the warranty to suggest parts failing (like a hinge) would not be covered.

I do have the email address of Sony UK's CEO, but I really can't think of anything to say to him just yet. I guess I'll email the C-level employees when I hear the latest excuse from the email support representative or if I don't hear any response to my email to CRO.UK.

In my email to CRO.UK I said I expected a response within 7 days (I actually gave them until midday on Monday the 17th October) then I will start small-claims action. I did explain what I want, but I didn't say I expected my laptop to be repaired within the week because I don't believe that would be considered "reasonable" by the court if it does go to SCC. I need to set myself up as the "innocent, hapless victim of a big miserly faceless multinational corporation", not as a "greedy opportunist exploiting some people trying to make a buck".

Will do. I often find it amusing to read other forum threads where individual consumers are able to make a big company squirm, I'm glad to be given the opportunity myself now.

 

Check this out - it was in a PM to me, so I can't identify the writer, but I frankly think he'd be more than happy to help if he has, say, the names and contact info on Sony people who finally got it done for him:

"Long story short, I sent in my Z13 to repair some dead pixels and it came back with more problems... I didn't have a fully functioning computer for almost 2 months due to the constant repairs to their service depot. I complained my [expletive deleted] off to corporate with phone calls and emails .. eventually talked with a store manager in a Sonystyle store and a supervisor from the extended warranty service and they agreed to replace my Z13 with a Signature Series Z2. Overall, I'm pleased with the outcome, it was just a shame that it took so much effort to get a laptop that actually worked."

Do keep us posted, and good luck!

 

You'd be surprised. If it actually goes to SCC, it is the company that has lost, not the plaintiff individual: SCC action costs the company a lots of money because they need to pay their legal department to look over the issue and physically be there in person to defend it. This is a simple warranty claim that would cost about £150 for Sony to fix if I let them charge me for it.

If Sony cares, they'll respond to my request for a warranty repair (likely costing them very little, they make a profit on out-of-warranty servicing) and it won't go to SCC, but if does go to SCC it's possible (and looking likely) that Sony will not send a representative because they know they're likely to lose the case and the cost of sending a lawyer to my local county court is probably more than what the judgement will be for anyway, so in that situation it becomes viable to claim for the maximum amount allowed (which is often a "reasonable" figure) - in cases like these a court may agree that it would be "reasonable" for Sony to compensate me with a brand new laptop or a cash value equivalent - if the court thinks that is excessive then they would probably let me claim for the amount of money it would cost to have Sony repair it as well as money to pay for an "Accidental Damage" protection plan so if (or when) it happens again I won't have to jump through the same hoops again (assuming the Accidental Damage plan would cover loose hinge screws).

 

Well, depending upon how much more of your time it takes, could be you both lose, if all we're talking about is an L150 repair. I'd do the letter writing and if it yields nothing, take it as far as filing a SCC complaint; if Sony has any sense, that will get them to settle. If they do send a lawyer and you don't have one, well, in US courts, even a solid claim by a consumer can fall victim to a sharpy atty. It would be insane for them to take it that far though. Do keep us posted, and good luck.

 

My customer service rep got back to me today, responding to my earlier email (and completely avoiding the topic-at-hand):

So from unapologetic "we will not escalate your case because we say so" to "we apologize" in less than 24 hours.

I just shot back a simple response, asking why my case was escalated when he earlier asserted that it wouldn't be. Let's see.

So now there's actually two things going on with Sony now:

1. My original warranty support incident which was rejected, but for some reason has now been promoted to "the manager dealing with your case".
2. My later email to [email protected] - I have not heard anything yet.

 

I've got an update.

The case was elevated to another person (I assume my original contact's manager), and I received this email on Sunday:

I then received this email this morning:

Just now I received a phone call from the person who sent this email and I explained how the screws had become loose "probably because they weren't properly tightened during manufacturing" and said "the evidence suggests a small number of Vaio Z models have this fault" - he responded saying this is not a known issue with the model, but that they would have it looked at anyway. He asked me to describe exactly what was wrong and to send some photographs. After I described it, and asserted that the laptop had never actually been damaged (by a fall, drop, or kick) he then said "this is not a case of physical damage and it will be covered by your warranty then". Success?

I'll be sending them the photos shortly, but why did my case need to be escalated to a manager and an unprompted phone-call for them to accept that a hinge can become loose without the laptop being thrown off a cliff?

Foresight: with any luck they'll collect my laptop sometime this week and return it to me by next week. In the event that they still think this is "physical damage" then I'll continue to SCC.

Sidenote: before, whenever I sent my other laptops in for repairs, I always removed the HDD first (I hate having to reinstall Windows every time), but because now you can't access the HDD without removing the entire back cover and because I don't want to risk of being accused of tampering with my laptop (and thus voiding the warranty) I'll have to DBAN the HDD. I wish they'd make the internal components more accessible, oh well.

 

Congratulations on getting this far! I think you have the "bull by the horns" now, though you are appropriately wary of what may happen to your baby in the repair center. I don't understand why they need photos if they are going to have you send it anyway. Will photos show evidence of your hinge problem? One other thing, this may not be available in the UK, but if they provide in-home warranty service in your area, you can ask them to send a technician to you rather than you having to send your Z out and wait a week or more to get it back. Just a thoght.

I would suggest less in the way of pointing the finger at them for the workmanship defects and for their previous denials of service, and sound more appreciative of the attention you are now getting. It can be painful to do that when you're dealing with morons, who are relatively clueless, but they tend to shut down and fold their hands if you lob too much criticism at them. The time for harsher words if they go back to denying you warranty coverage, but let's hope that doesn't happen.

 

It took me a while to get 'round to photographing my laptop and emailing them back to my my new contact at Sony. I should hear from him by Monday, which co-incidentally is my original deadline, but they did contact me originally on Monday the 10th, so they're in the clear, for now

Anyway, with any luck they'll review the photographs and agree there is no actual physical damage to the laptop and they'll come and collect it by Tuesday or Wednesday. Here's to hoping.

Of note: I did remove all the stickers from the underside of my Vaio (with the exception of the Microsoft COA) because they were starting to peel away - I don't know why Apple seems to have exclusivity on "laptop undersides that look good" - I assume the lack of a serial number sticker won't void my warranty considering that the serial number is burned into the BIOS.

 

Two weeks later and I haven't heard anything from Sony support after they stopped trying to contact me with details of when they could collect my laptop.

I'm going to send a strongly-worded letter to the CRO address again, expecting a response by Wednesday 9th November. If I hear nothing, it's small-claims action for sure.

 

Instead of having to DBAN your drive, you could encrypt the entire contents using something like Truecrypt.

 

I have a Z11 refurb that I purchased from Sony 9 months ago and the hinges have never "creaked" but the screen has always been slightly wobbly, though not so much that I notice it even on a train ride with some jostling. Still, when I raise the lid and adjust it there is the equivalent of a 2-3 degrees worth of free play. Is this the early warning sign of hinges about to need a serious tightening or is this ok if it doesn't get worse. Again, this condition has not changed in 9 months. I'm getting tired of opening this thing up and too lucky for too long as to not breaking a cable, so I'm due.

Thus, the threshold question: what would I notice when the problem is becoming bad enough that if I don't tighten the hinge screws, something may soon break beyond repair?

 

Pardon my impatience, but I am bumping my last post because it did not elicit a responses and I really want to know whether, based on what I posted below, I need to tighten my hinges asap less risk a more permanent breakage in the mechanism. I would just do it, but I am not the most dextrous person and think there is at least a 50% chance every time I take my Z apart that I will break a cable or some equivalent calamity.

From what I write below, do I need to tighten an locktite my hinge screws asap, or, if I am very gentle opening and closing, am I safe to wait for a worsening or any noises to go along with the slight free play (some call it "wobble") in my screen, which has not changed in 9 months? Also, could someone confirm whether you do need to dissemble the screen bezel as well? Beaups says no, and that' usually good enough for me, but many of you say you can't get to the screws on the left without removing the LCD bezel - something I am loathe to do.

Thanks for tolerating my persistence.

 

Do you get a *crack* sound when you lift up the lid from closed?

For just tightening you don't really need to remove the bezel (I think I can see some damage on my bezel due to using relatively large screw drivers...), but if you want to remove the screws which I believe you would have to to locktite, you would probably need to at least partially remove the bezel (if you can without cracking it - personally I have not tried) as the top part of it is covering the screws.

 

If it hasn't worsened, in 9 months, I wouldn't touch it. About how long do you have left in your warranty?

 

Have over a year left on ST wtty, but no Sony wtty. Not sure if ST considers hinge problems "user handling" as Sony does. Think I'll call it in and see what they do. My guess: they'll send a tech out and he/she will conclude that everything is "normal," because they won't know that the screen shouldn't wobble at all.

 

Sony finally arranged to collect my laptop this coming Monday. They said the repair would take 5 days to complete - I hope I get it by Friday as I'm due to go away for a while and being without a laptop would be a pain.

 

I now have three lines running down my screen. I guess this is a result of the loose right hand hinge kinking the screen lead.

Has anyone had to replace their lead yet? Does any one know what the part number is? Is the lead salvageable?

I realise that I am going to have to take the unit apart but I rather only do it once.

I did email Sony, but that was a week ago and I guess if you only pay £2300 for a laptop then you shouldn't automatically expect them to deign to respond.

Great hardware- crap customer services.

 

My Z12 is 1.5 years old. The left hinge had this cracking noise when closing/opening the lid. This thread made me worrying about my screen (broken cables). So I handed it in for repairs last Friday at my local Sony reseller. He immediately acknowledged that this would of course be covered by the 2-year warranty.

Up until now I'm very happy with Sony's support, although this may be caused by the fact that my reseller is just great.