IBM Thinkpad T43 DC in port

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 2:20 pm

Our IBM Thinkpad, T43 has a new power lead/battery charger. The last one was kinked and the end broke off. We can't get power up or the battery to charge, could it be the DC in port that is at fault? Is that a diy job or pro job? Is it hard to do?

lamntile · Post by **lamntile** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 2:28 pm

If it is the dc port on the pc, unless your handy with a soldering iron and also able to strip down the lappy to its motherboard dont attempt it, take it to your local pc repair shop for them to determin the exact fault and solution. Its not an uncommon fault on a lot of lappys.

One other thing the new adaptor you got is it for that specific model or a multi adaptor ?

scot-canuck · Post by **scot-canuck** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:40 pm

check the fuse in the plug, sounds simple, but might be that

also, if theres a detachable main lead from the wall to the brick, then it could be a bad mains lead, swap it for another

also could be a faulty power transformer aka dead on arrival

My last resort would be to check the DC in port...why?? local PC shops charge as much PCWURLD

and snoop just as much while making just as kack handed..
I know as I've dealt with a few before I taught myself how to repair stuff and 99% of them are incompetent.
None of them will solder, at best they will charge the earth and replace the motherboard (and hopefully not break something in the process) at worst they will say something like "*suck breath* not really viable to repair, probably £900 if i could get a motherboard"

Sounds harsh but sadly all too common

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:40 pm

lamntile,

Thought so, thanks for that advice! Is there a way to charge the battery minus the laptop?

mikew1972 · Post by **mikew1972** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:49 pm

Not worth the risk unless you have another identical laptop to charge it in. It'll almost certainly be a Lithium ion battery. If they are not charged with the correct charger and all the associated electronics between the charger and battery the battery can catch fire and even explode in a ball of flame.
Check out the videos on you tube to see this happening.

lamntile · Post by **lamntile** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:52 pm

You might be lucky to find a charger for your battery but just doing a quick check one site discontinued a charger in 2007

change that lol found one but its in the usa so they do still exist

http://www.powerridge.us/External-Batte ... DT3S3I.htm

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:27 pm

The transformer lead is brand new, arrived this morning because the last one had the end break off when we were on holiday. We push the charger into the socket, press the "on" button IBM screen appears then get critical battery message then it dies. The battery flashes for a few seconds is not constantly lit.

It is a 16v 4.5 amp charger as far as I remember. Getting really fed up now with this bl**dy laptop, had nothing but grief for last 3 weeks all due to power issues!

I know we don't have anything dodgy on the hard drive but there is personal stuff that I'd rather not have pc World snoop in! Think I will try a local computer repair company. Getting frustrated now!

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:38 pm

have you tried leaving it plugged in without the laptop turned on? it is possible the laptop battery is so dead it cannot charge at all?
see what happens leaving it plugged in and off for 2 hours.

scot-canuck · Post by **scot-canuck** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:39 pm

locals are just as bad....I know...as one of my mates works for one and the first thing most of his colleagues do is.....snoop for private stuff, bank cards etc.

I'd say get onto where you got the transformer from and tell them it doesnt seem to work.

Is the connector pushed fully home? might even just be slightly loose?

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:45 pm

scot-canuck wrote:locals are just as bad....I know...as one of my mates works for one and the first thing most of his colleagues do is.....snoop for private stuff, bank cards etc.

I'd say get onto where you got the transformer from and tell them it doesnt seem to work.

Is the connector pushed fully home? might even just be slightly loose?

re the drive - with the IBM THinkpads, the drives can be removed by the user - they are in a caddy and locked into place by a small torx (star) screw so if you do take it into a shop, just remove the drive and keep it in your pocket - if they say they want to check with the drive in place, let them try it in front of you only!

scot-canuck · Post by **scot-canuck** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:47 pm

could also be a faulty battery
try taking the battery out and trying the laptop

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:41 pm

Can I remove the battery and still put the charger in? Sorry, this is our first laptop, didn't know you could do that!
Dead with no battery, not a flicker, battery in, lights up says battery error then dead! Buggeration!

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 6:33 pm

You are plugging the AC adapter into the laptop.

If you are it sounds like the adapter isn't working, have you checked the fuse.

Is there a light on the computer when you plug the adapter in.

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 6:43 pm

We trierd several charger cables into the laptop from PC World and Currys. The leads were all new, none worked to charge the battery in the laptop.
The laptop gets plugged into the charger, I press the button, the little icon lights flash up then the start screen shows then it says there is a low battery error and it dies! The battery should be constant it flashes a few seconds then all is dead! There is slight play in the yellow DC Jack plug socket.

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:41 pm

not sure if it is a problem with the thinkpads (they are usually very robust) but when the power connector in the laptop is surface mounted on a PCB, quite often it is secured by a couple of lugs that go through the PCB and are soldered - this also acts as the ground with the the centre part being the power.

This kind of design can fail if the soldering is not done well and is stressed through the plug being plugged in and out often and develops a cracked joint that means the ground is either intermittant or unconnected.

if this is the fault, then the fix is very easy - open up the laptop, resolder the connector and away you go. should be very cheap fix for any decent repair place.

alternative solution if the problem is the phyisical connector and not the circuitry - get a docking station/port replicator - costs about £20 and the power lead goes into the dock/replicator and is sent to the laptop NOT via the laptop poower connector but the dock connector on the underside of the PC