Latitude Keyboard Non-Working 8 i k Keys Possible Fix

I've had similar problems - now on my 3rd CPxJ keyboard in 2 years, all replaced under warranty.  Reseating should have adequate cleaning effect due to wiping the contacts in the connector.

However, the last service engineer hinted that the cause is identified as dissimilar metals in the contact faces causing electrolytic corrosion in a moist atmosphere.  He also suggested a modified keyboard connector is now being used with an oil impregnated plug shell - although the technically correct solution would be to use compatible contact metals.

For users with CPx models afflicted the best solution is to make sure any flaky keyboards get changed just before warranty ends  

 

Thanks for the solution majicmike.

As a network manager I've suffered this with about 200 machines (out of total purchase of 450).

After reading the many different fixes that have been posted here, this seems to me the most believable fault diagnosis / solution.

I really think Dell should have provided a free fix for this - It is obviously a design fault.

It's a shame they have let themselves down so badly on this issue.

I cannot afford to risk going with them for future hardware prchases.

 

 

 

I would like to know why it is always the 8ik column of keys that stop working.

There are 25pins on that connector, and it is one particular pin (From memory 24) that does that column.

Why does that one always fail, and not one of the others?

I think that I have just figured out the root cause of this problem. I just took my CPx apart again to try an erasor on the connectors.

When I put it back together the 8ik, keys didn't work at all, straight away.

What I found was that if a push the connector gently to the left (towards the hard disk) then the keys work. If I push the connector to the right (towards the media bay) then the keys don't work.

Basically the screwing the keyboard down squashes the keyboard ribbon cable and makes it push that connector to the right.

I guess that oxidisation may play a part too.

Probably the ribbon cable applies enough force to the right that only a tiny bit of contact pressure is left on the pin that does 8ik,

I having yet found a reliable solution yet, but probably a carved bit of wood stuck between the connector and the media bay could hold it standing upright as the keyboard is screwed down.

I have a problem with the Shift and Control Keys - it takes several tries to get them to work. Is is the same issue?

1) how do i remove the key pad "cover" to reseat it withour breaking it?

2) how do i remove the entire keyboard?

thanks -cate

 

It is possible that some of the above solutions work, but the root cause is a short between the keys 8,i,k against the metal housing that lies underneath the right side of the keyboard. If you take the keyboard off, you do not need to undo the ribbon connecting the keyboard (although I would try cleaning the connectors AFTER this if we don't fix it this way). OK, here is what needs to be done. It is simple.

1) take out the screws labeled "k" on the underside of the notebook. this, btw, stands for keyboard screw

2) Get a wide rubber band. Cut it about it about 2 inches in length (trim it later to fit).

3) Place the rubber band over the metal ridge on the housing in the approximate location of the 8 i k keys.

4) Secure in place with a piece of scotch tape (I taped mine along the edge of the plastic housing to the far left, but careful as it is not heat resistant and don't put tape directly on the metal- is there a heat reisitant glue??). Alternatively, if there is a way to keep the rubber band there without tape or glue, do it. I found it flimsy though and wondered if it would misplace in subsequent intrusions into the machine. BTW, that little "ridge" is about 1/4 wide and runs the length of the metal housing on the LEFT side.

5) Reassemble the keyboard and tighten the screws.

OPINION. I think this is a design flaw with Dell Lattitude, but I don't know. I took my machine under warranty and the keyboard was replaced. It worked fine for about 3 months (of course out of warranty by that time). There is most likely a short between these keys and the housing. Easily fixed. Moving the cable around etc and cleaning the pins may be OK, but I don't think that is a long-term solution. This one is.

This is still going on???

Check out this page for how I fixed my Dell Laptop 8ik, keyboard problem:

http://www.geocities.com/shooter100k/index.htm

I didn't do any of the questionable Flipping this, Tightening that, and Cleaning the other stuff... take a look. 

 

shooter

 

Message Edited by shooter100 on 08-28-2003 07:02 PM

Am I the only one that is having this problem with the Shift and Control keys on the left side?

Is my problem something different?

All of these fixes are great ... because if they worked then that was the solution.

However, this problem is not exclusive to Dell (or even laptopsfor that matter). I've had many laptop and PC keyboards that have done this ... it used to cause me to just accept that it's lifespan had expired and to just go buy a new one.

But, my Latitude was rarely used untilI I got it from my friend and there was no way it was an "expired lifespan". Hence coming here for a possable solution.

It now makes sense to me that it is overall time/environment, and not use, that creates this issue.

I'll try each of these tips until it works.

 

Dave

 

 

 

 

So far my Latitude keyboarrd problemss seem to be limited to bouncing aand missed key presses. When this happens Ipop the offending keytop and wash the contacts with denatured aalcohol or methelated spirits. The e i t space shift and t keys are he greatesst  offenders. It makes you pleasedd toohave spelling checkers.

StanF

Thanks for the suggestions. I pushed lightly on the keyboard which restored all the functions although I suspect it's temporary. Any suggestions on how to remove the keyboard

Thanks,
Steve

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@scf wrote:
Thanks for the suggestions. I pushed lightly on the keyboard which restored all the functions although I suspect it's temporary. Any suggestions on how to remove the keyboard

Thanks,
Steve

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Steve,

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.

According to the service tag listed in your profile, your system uses the  same chasis as the Inspiron 3700.  There are keyboard removal instructions on the documentation page for this system.

It turns out that all I needed to do was push the ribbon contacts in a little tighter. There was no "bump" on my hard drive cage and I didn't even have to remove the ribbons from the contacts at all.

 

It works fine now ... and took about ten minutes.

Dave

 

I have a Latitude CPi Notebook that began having keyboard problems like so many others on the board. This was a most obnoxious problem as I couldn't log onto machine w/o the use of the delete key.

After removing the keyboard and cleaning the contacts and reinserting server times to no avail, I began digging deeper.

The root cause in my case was corrosion between the ribbon wire and the key board connections.

The ribbon wire is held on by a metal bar with a rubber presure plate secured by two small screws. After removing the 2 screws and bar, I cleaned both the ribbon and contact points on the keyboard with alcohol and several cue tip making sure to keep working with a clean tip.

Reasembly is just the oposite. I added one modification thinking that over time the rubber on the presure plate ay have shrunk. I wrapped the preasure bar with two layers of electrical tape to assure a tight fitting.

All is well for now. Good luck all.