Bad Surprise 3 Months Out of Warranty - Dell 5150 AC Power Problem

Question

March 11, 20058:30 A.M. Thanks for sharing your nightmares gentlemen. The bad new is I also woke up this morning to find my Dell 5150 laptop dead from an AC power loss as well. My warranty expired 3 months ago. Hints about an AC power problem began about 3 months ago when the battery icon began to show up intermittently in the desktop tray during an afternoon of important PowerPoint presentations. I didn’t even notice it until someone in the audience warned me that I was running on battery power. Last night the battery icon began appearing again while doing some video editing. I jiggled the AC connections to the laptop, the brick, and the wall outlet. That didn’t work. Learning from previous troubleshooting episodes, I removed the battery while the AC was connected to the laptop. That seemed to make the battery icon in the desktop tray disappear and the AC power kick in. Feeling relieved, I left the laptop on for the night without the batter to let my video project render. When I went to check on the project this morning, the laptop was stone cold after shutting down sometime overnight from a loss of AC power. To get the laptop to reboot I re-jiggled the connection to the back of my laptop several times while pressing the power button. Finally, after several failed and anxious attempts, I hit the right combination and the laptop booted and remained powered. I am now writing this reply with my fingers crossed and trying to figure out what to do next before the laptop fails to boot permanently. Do I spring for another power supply or send this thing in for repair? What gets me the most is that I rarely move this laptop. It sits on my home office as a desktop replacement with all the cables and peripherals in fixed positions. So I’m baffled as to how an AC problem could occur unless the 5150 laptop has a defective design. This laptop is a critical component of my daily business so any downtime affects the bottom line. Any ideas as to how to get this resolved ASAP would be greatly appreciated. By the way, this is the second failed component on this machine. I replaced the DVD-ROM at my own expense in August 2004 after spending four (4) fruitless hours with a Philipines-based tech support person who didn’t agree the drive failed. I eventually contacted another independent US-based Dell certified technician who agreed the drive had failed and needed to be replaced. Lee Balthazar, Ph.D.Bolingbrook, IL

gnuasu · Answer

Hey, sorry to hear about your Dell.  I'm having a very similar problem with my laptop (I8500).  The problem is a faulty connection b/t the power connector and the motherboard.  It really is bad and the only thing that you can do is get a new motherboard(which i have been told they only give you refurbished ones) and i don't even want to know how much that will cost.  Suspiciously it seems as if these things are failing only after warranties are up.  I'm really aggravated at Dell especially with their laptops.  What Dell needs to do is recognize this problem and do some type of recall or fix the dang problem.  It can easily be fixed, IMO.   Like you, my laptop is an integral part of my daily activities, i spend most of the day on my laptop doing work and i really don't have the money to buy a new one or replace a motherboard.   Someone needs to start a p*tition (my god you can't even say that, A-holes)  to get Dell to fix this OR maybe dell can have REAL Technicians address these forums and tell us what to do and i mean a solution to the problem.  Not some pipsqueak that continually tells us we need to buy this or that.  We gave them our hard earned money and we expect the support even after our warranties are.   Someone had an interesting point earlier about state insurance commissions.  If i had the time i'd look into it.     By the way, I will not ever buy another Dell device unless they address this problem soon and be upfront about it.

fenderguitarguy · Answer

The soldering has broken off of the motherboard for the power port. You might be able to fix it if you take it apart and re-solder the connections on the underside of the motherboard. You also might be able to send it in to a motherboard repair place to get it fixed.

Dell has new motherboards for around $700 USD and ebay has them for around half that.

leebalthazar · Answer

Right on. When this Dell 5150 works, it works well. But it seems things are dying one by one. As a previous Dell desktop owner, I decided to take and chance and buy Dell again except this time a high powered laptop. Wish now I had gone with a Japanese make (e.g. Toshiba). I feel like tossing this laptop from the top of a building. The most frustrating part of it all is Dell's 'off-shore' tech support which really hasn't helped me resolve anything. I hate having to spend another $2200 plus for another computer so soon.

leebalthazar · Answer

1. ALTERNATIVE TO DELL REPAIR:   Thanks FenderGuitarGuy for the advice. I saw your similar post in another related thread and appreciate the insight. I will act on your advice one way or another and get this thing resolved soon. Am looking up motherboard repair shops like the one below if I can't fix this myself.   URL: http://p068.ezboard.com/fi5150usersfrm2.showMessage?topicID=9.topic Joe Kabalan AQS Computer Services 2572 Sheridan Drive Tonawanda, NY 14150 Toll Free: 1-866-204-4677 Local: 716-832-2473 Email: aqs12@adelphia.net www.aqstech.com www.laptopbios.com     2. YOUR ASSESSMENT IS ON THE SPOT   There also appears to be agreement with your assessment and solution around the internet. Check out this forum about Dell 5150 AC power problems:   http://forums.thatcomputerguy.us/lofiversion/index.php/t5316.html   TechInsider Jan 19 2005, 12:01 AM QUOTE(Sparky @ Jan 18 2005, 09:48 PM) 'Looked at the motherboard PCC power connector--looks OK--no breaks in board or bad solder joints... ' Hi Sparky, Your test with the secondary power supply was perfect...well done! Even though you looked at the EXACT right spot, all the symptoms you described indicate a problem with either the spot where the ac connector attaches to the motherboard, or with the AC Inverter itself (which I thought was part of the same sub-part, but my memory my be fading on that point). I suppose it's also possible that Dell ordered a batch of 5150s with bad capacitors around the AC Inverter and one could have burned out, in which case, this is a motherboard issue, but I'd push for an inverter replacement (or whatever part attaches the ac power connectors to the motherboard), if you're still under warranty. A 5150 is valuable enough to take a chance and order an inverter yourself (get a techncian to give you a part/sku number, to simplify the process of ordering), and have it professionally installed (if you'd rather not do it yourself). If that doesn't fix it, you can always send it back, then brace yourself for the cost of a motherboard replacement. Hrmm....other thoughts: If the system can charge the battery, then we have some proof that inverter is working properly (the battery only charges via DC power, provided by the ac inverter), as is the power connection on the system (battery won't charge without all the adapter prongs making connections). If the system is only craping out under a pure AC power load, argh...Sparky, that sounds like a bad capacitor on the motherboard. =/ Well, I gave ya something to ruminate about, if nothing else.

leebalthazar · Answer

From : Lee B. Balthazar Sent : Friday, March 11, 2005 3:03 PM

To : aqs12@adelphia.net

CC: LeeBalthazar@hotmail.com

Subject : RE: DELL INSPIRON 5150 AC POWER PROBLEM

Thanks Joe:

Let me figure out a convenient time when I can part with this computer. My bottom line is tied to having this thing around. Will post your descriptive fix at Dell User Forum in the meantime. Thanks so much for getting back to me in record time.

Lee Balthazar
Bolingbrook, IL 60440

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From: "Joe Kabalan @ AQS" < aqs12@adelphia.net>
Reply-To: < aqs12@adelphia.net>
To: "'Lee B. Balthazar'" < leebalthazar@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: DELL INSPIRON 5150 AC POWER PROBLEM
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 15:55:18 -0500

Hello Lee,

We repair on average 5 - 8 5150 DC Jack related issues per week. We're
seeing an increasing amount of DC Jack repairs as weeks go on. I believe
this DC Jack problem may be just as wide spread as pressure shutdown
problem.

The whole design is poor to begin with. We re-enforce the DC Jack and modify
it to produce additional and better contact with the plug. Also, the
surrounding components and circuits are re-enforced as well to handle the
excessive board flex due to the very rigid DC plug end.

The repair charge usually falls between $159 - $179 + shipping. We offer a
limited 90 day warranty with this repair due to the poor design from DELL.

Let me know if you would like further details on sending this in for repair.

Thank you,

Joe Kabalan
AQS Computer Services
2572 Sheridan Drive
Tonawanda, NY 14150

Toll Free: 1-866-204-4677
Local: 716-832-2473
Email: aqs12@adelphia.net

http://www.aqstech.com
http://www.laptopbios.com

NemesisDB · Answer

it's a lot cheaper than a new motherboard -- and if something else fails later (pressure problem for instance) they tend to give discounts

gnuasu · Answer

An alternate solution to having to fool around with the motherboard is:   APR (Advance Port Replicator) yes that is right, it is very simple and somewhere cost efficient if you go to a local dell refurbished store.  I did that today with my 8500 and it works brilliantly and it was really my last inexpensive option.  The only thing is that you might need a new ac adapter for the APR because i think it needs a higher output.     anyhow i do recommend it and i might actually go get a 2nd one for my office so that way i'm only transporting the laptop and not the bulky APR.     Try it and tell me what you think

NemesisDB · Answer

I don't think that there is a port rep that will supply power to the 5150 -- could be wrong though

salinsp · Answer

Suggest you consider this may be yet one more version of the fan/heatsink/overheating problem that can finally fry the motherboard. Suggeest you use search box at bottom of this page to look for DESIGN FLAW, then use words from those posts to find others - there are probably dozens. (Some folks who post to these threads seem to be trying to minimize the problem, saying all you need is a can of air, & write as if they are Dell employees.) I got mine fixed free out of warranty - see DESIGN FLAW. (In retrospect, my first clue was unexpected battery issues, too.)

NemesisDB · Answer

eh, a can of air will fix the heatsink and CPU temp problems -- it works for the 1100, 5100, and 1150 as well.  the fact the the 5150 is the only one of these models to have so many other problems though does suggest that something more is going on besides dust related heat.

ccook129 · Answer

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP I also left a comment on their websight,also hope for action.It would be so easy for Dell to repair these computers,and make things right,that way you only lose a few customers not a bunch.I will probably send mine out to have the board repaired,too much important info to lose.The problem is the power plug,an easy fix for a motherboard repairman,I think its less than $100.00 bucks,some where in NY.I think I saw the adress somewhere in the posts.

NemesisDB · Answer

ccook, if you're concerned about losing information, you shouldn't be. unless you enabled a bios level password on the drive, you can remove it and attach it to any other computer. the easiest way would be to buy a 2.5" USB2 enclosure (they sell for around $15 on sale) and put your drive in it. you'd then connect the enclosure to any computer with USB2 and could transfer your data off.

also, if you really do have important info on there, please back it up. drives fail all the time, and it's terrible when you lose important stuff.

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