Laptop AC Adapter Connection Problem

Hey, guys, I'm hoping some of you might be able to help me with a problem I've been having with my laptop.

I have an HP pavilion ze1230 it's about six months old. For about two months, now, the connection between the the power adapter and the computer has been increasingly loose. I am refering to the back of the laptop...when I push in on the connection I get the full connection (battery icon disappears, etc) but if I just plug it in and let it be it doesn't make enough of a connection and it goes to battery.

After looking in the hole where the adapter plugs in I can tell that the casing slot inside is really loose. My question is this: if I take off that back plate on my laptop can I just tighten that casing?? I know I could take the laptop in to be serviced but I don't have that much time. This *appears* to be something I could do myself.

Do any of you know or have any experience with this? If so, I'd appreciate any advice.

I've looked here and on google and haven't really found anything. The problem is getting worse and I'm at a loss.

Thanks in advance! :)

The jack itself is most likely loose at the soldered connection on the pc board itself, you could fix it easily if you know how to solder. I hope this helps...

Thanks, aeallison! The only info I had come across mentioned soldering. I think I can figure something out from there. :)

Oooh, that sounds like phun.

I had that happen to me... except for... it wasn't loose. The power adapter actaully cracked on the MOBO. I took it all apart and thats what I found. After a short time... it would start to smoke and then damn thing never recharged again. It was out of warranty... and would have cost like $600 for a new MOBO, so I said forget it. Sold it on Ebay for spare parts...

Getting to the power adapters on those things aren't fun. I don't know about HPs, but I know on the Compaq that I had... I had to take almost the whole guts out. The display, keyboard, cdrom, and a couple of other things out to get to it. Tiny tiny screws... and hard to put back together. Pretty cool to see the inside though.

Have phun! If it proves to be too much work... just send it in. Taking it apart yourself could void your warranty... so make sure it isn't.

Thanks for the nightmare material, phishphreek. ;) I hope it's not that bad!

Well, curiosity is getting the best of me. I think I'll have to take at least a peek! ;)

I just can't imagine sending it in to anyone -- then I'd be forced to sit at my desk! If I find anything worth reporting I'll be sure to let you guys know.

i don't think there's a good solution, but in all cases if you send the laptop for service since it's under warranty.
they would charge you for that, ( misuse ) :(

mathgirl, I don't know if this will help or not.

If it is loose connections to the pins themselves.. i.e. internal to your laptop, you'll
have to take it apart... but possibly you could get away with a "MacGyver " fix until
such time that you think you'll have time for a warrantee repair.

you could try putting a piece of duct tape on one side of your adapter plug, forcing
it to be pushed slightly to one side. also, if you can get a pair of needlenose pliers
onto the pins.. you might be able to slightly bend the pins giving a better contact.

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but possibly you could get away with a "MacGyver " fix

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sumdumguy, that is exactly what I was thinking of doing (duct tape and all) after I take a peek inside. I just want to know exactly what I'm working with first. Love the "MacGyver" fix...I say that all the time. :)

I turned my laptop off lastnight when I went to bed. I don't usually do this but I got a little worried about what phishphreek said in his post. Anyway, interestingly, this morning when I turned it on and tried the connection it wouldn't "connect" at all. After it had some time to heat up (I'm assuming this is the reason) I was at least able to get it to make the connection some of the time.

I'm going to open it this afternoon and see if anything can be done.

Thanks to all of you for your responses -- I knew I could count on you guys!

mathgirl32: I didn't mean to make you paranoid... just a word of caution... ;)

Those are the exact symptoms that I had. I guess it didn't help that I used it all the time in places where I was moving around... I'd play games in my chair and bed, and I guess from moving around all the time... it just worked loose and cracked the adapter piece. The MOBO was fine... but the adapter was soldered to the MOBO.

I went to virtually every electronics store around here and shopped some online too. The only answer I could get from people was. "Oh, you can't fix that. You have to get a new MOBO." Nobody could replace the adapter/converter peice. The problem with that was... everything was integrated. The processor was "stuck" on it and I couldn't get that off, memory was built in along with everything else. I think the only thing I could take off the board was the connections for the display, cdrom, floppy and expanded memory.

It sucked. :(

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I didn't mean to make you paranoid

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phishphreek, that's ok, I think it's important to know and be aware of "worst case". Don't worry about paranoid.....I've been there for years. ;)

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It sucked.

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Yes, it does. I have way too much going on for my laptop to fail me in any way!! Perhaps I need two laptops...??

I have been into hardware since the '70s if you want to fix it bad enough, you will, have a little faith in yourself, remove the screws, carefully examine it visually, have a cup of your favorite beverage, lock the doors, shut the windows, unplug the phones, and fix it...easy as 123.... :D

I would also try to hold off on the MacGyver fix as a last resort, and pliers in the jack?...that makes my skin crawl kinda like fingernails scratching a chalkboard.....eeewwwwww!!

I opened it up....but unfortunately it's it's as you indicated, aeallison. The adapter casing is loose where it connects to the mobo. When I pressed in on it I could see a small spark when it would connect. I actually got a few things out to "rig" it, then after trying to insert the bubble gum and paper clip (just kidding, it was electrical tape and toothpicks) I decided against it. So if I have to I'll just fix it on the outside for now. Ultimately, this is not the best idea, either....I think the constant "forcing" is only going to worsen things.

Working on this laptop sure makes me appreciate my desktop box! Laptops are like foreign cars -- everything is closed off, covered up, hard to get to, and expensive to repair. A tower -- it's just like a big Chevy.

"like foreign cars -- everything is closed off, covered up, hard to get to, and expensive to repair."

like MACS :) (Sowly dont get offended i had to crack at least one joke :) )

well then it does sound like you should go through HP's support folks.. unless you think
you can re-solder the connections.. as it's new.. and because you probably don't want
to void the warranty..

as for the time you think it'll take to get it repaired.. it may not be as bad as you think.
I had a dell lattitude that went thru 4 mobos.. the service rep ordered the part and
when it came in (the next day) he came over to my house and replaced it on the spot..

Don't you hav a soldering tool mathgirl? while its apart where you can see a spark is the time to fix it, I have a Compaq and have had to do this twice now. If not maybe a friend at your schools electronics lab or one of the lab professors could solder it for you, it should only take a couple of seconds to solder it once it is exposed.

Nope! Not a soldering tool to my name. ;) I was thinking I would just take it to a local place here that someone recommended, but I like your idea, too. I never even considered the school. Thanks, aeallison!

Hi Mathgirl.Well all I can say it is sometimes the only way to learn and you will definitely benefit from the whole experience.I think a lot of us started to learn how to fix computers that way because you just did not have the money to get experienced people to teach you what to do and how.I personally have started that way and Imust admit that I have had trouble along the way but the learning experience was what kept me going.Today I am greatfull because I am now able to teach others less fortunate than me which makes it worthwhile.Oh and we are lucky here at AO we can just ask around and help is almost 24hrs a day available.Thanks to everybody.Go ahead you will ejoy the experience and Imust admit that you will be frustrated by putting it back together, but still.Loose connections always turn to cause hot connections so yeah putting it off was indeed a good idea.

regards
vanman:)

My Baby is Back!!!

....and good as new!

I read a post not too long ago indicating that we should let everyone know when we get something fixed/figured out, etc. after posting for advice. So anyway, I got my laptop back today. It's better than new and It took only 24 hours! So...thanks to all of you for your help and advice -- I really appreciated it. :)

Did it cost you? Just curious if you took it to the schools electronics lab I suppose. I really wish I could see my old high school electronics teacher one last time before I move on to another existance. He really imbedded a lot of solid morals into me. I think he would be proud to know I have lived my life on his teachings... :cool:

aeallison, that's really cool about your teacher - I've got one like that, too. :)

I didn't take it to the school's electronics lab only because "time" was the most important factor to me. But I think that is an excellent idea. I called about 20 places with prices ranging from a $50 flat fee (though he worried me a little) to around $200. Some treated me with respect others did not, and some were complete morons. I went with (what I think is) an excellent place -- awesome rates, the owner was the one working on my laptop, quick turn around time, just great in every area...I rarely find this kind of service! They also build machines and sell parts wholesale, so they may turn into an all-round good contact.

That satisfies me Mathgirl32. Keep up with the good posts.