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In this tutorial I explain how to disassemble a Dell XPS 15 L502X laptop. My goal is removing and replacing broken DC jack.
I’ll go though the following major laptop disassembly steps:
STEP 1-4: Accessing laptop memory and wireless card. Removing the DVD drive.
STEP 5–9: Disconnecting and removing the palmrest assembly.
STEP 10-12: Removing laptop hard drive.
STEP 13-17: Disconnecting and removing the keyboard.
STEP 18-21: Removing laptop screen assembly.
STEP 22-27: Removing laptop bottom cover. Accessing the cooling fan.
STEP 28- 29: Disconnecting and removing DC jack cable.
STEP 1.
Before you start, make sure the laptop is turned off.
Remove the battery.
STEP 2.
Loosen/remove three screws securing the memory and wireless card cover.
Lift up and remove the cover.
STEP 3.
Under the cover you can access both memory modules and wireless card.
It’s not necessary to remove memory modules for the purpose of my tutorial. I’ll leave them connected to the motherboard.
We’ll disconnect wireless card antenna cables later (step 19) when we remove the display panel.
STEP 4.
Remove one screw securing the DVD optical drive.
Pull DVD drive from the laptop and remove it.
STEP 5.
Remove one screw securing the palmrest assembly. This screw located in the battery compartment.
Release two latches securing the palmrest assembly.
STEP 6.
Turn the laptop over and start lifting up the palmrest assembly from the laptop.
STEP 7.
I’m using the guitar pick to separate the palmrest assembly from the laptop base.
STEP 8.
Be careful while removing the palmrest assembly, it’s still connected to the motherboard.
STEP 9.
Turn the palmrest upside down so you can access the touch pad cable (left arrow) and power button cable (right arrow).
In the following two steps I explain how to unlock connectors and release cables.
Very carefully lift up the left side of the locking tab with your fingernail. The locking tab will open up at a 90 degree angle.
The locking tab must remain attached to the connector base.
On the following picture both connectors shown in the unlocked position.
Now you can pull cables.
STEP 10.
When the palmrest removed you can access the hard drive and CMOS battery.
STEP 11.
Remove four screws securing the hard drive mounting bracket to the laptop base.
Slide the hard drive assembly to the left to disconnect it from the motherboard.
STEP 12.
Lift up and remove the hard drive from the laptop.
STEP 13.
There are two small plastic tabs securing the keyboard on the top.
STEP 14.
Lift up the upper side of the keyboard and move towards the screen.
STEP 15.
Turn the keyboard upside down.
Now you can access the main keyboard cable connector (1) and keyboard backlight cable connector (2).
STEP 16.
Disconnect both cables as I explained in the step 9.
STEP 17.
Remove keyboard from the laptop.
If you need a new keyboard for your Dell XPS 15 L502X laptop, you can find it here.
STEP 18.
Remove two screws securing display hinges on the bottom of the laptop.
STEP 19.
Disconnect white and black antenna cables from the wireless card.
STEP 20.
Pull both wireless card antenna cables though the opening.
Remove four screws securing display hinges.
Disconnect video cable from the motherboard.
Here’s how to disconnect the video cable. Simply pull the connector by the black belt attached to it.
STEP 21.
Lift up and remove the display (LCD screen) assembly.
STEP 22.
Remove six screws from the bottom of the laptop.
Disconnect the subwoofer cable (left arrow) and cooling fan cable (right arrow).
STEP 23.
Remove three more screws located in the DVD drive bay.
Here’s how to unplug the subwoofer and fan cable from the motherboard.
It’s a regular male-female type connector.
STEP 24.
Remove all screws securing the top and bottom covers together.
STEP 25.
Start separating the top cover assembly from the bottom cover.
STEP 26.
In Dell XPS 15 L502X laptop the motherboard is attached to the top cover assembly.
STEP 27.
The cooling fan attached to the bottom cover.
Here’s the bottom side of the top cover assembly.
As I mentioned before, the motherboard is attached to the top cover.
STEP 28.
Remove one screw securing the DC jack to the laptop cover.
Disconnect DC jack cable from the motherboard.
Here’s how to unplug the DC jack cable connector from the motherboard.
STEP 29.
Finally lift up and remove the DC jack cable. It’s ready for the replacement.
March 18th, 2013 at 11:06 pm
bloody useful i was able to replace the ac power input with ease thank you very much you saved me $200
March 3rd, 2013 at 3:48 pm
Can you replace the Black and White Antenna cables connected to the Wireless Card in a Dell XPS 15 (L502x)? I have been looking everywhere. When I was putting it back together, cause I had to replace the LED Display, I accidentally broke off the White Cable Connector that Connects to the Wireless Card. I need only to Replace the Antenna Cables, not wireless card, nor another display, It looks as if they run up around the Display to a small 2″ rectangle board, which looks like it can be replaced, but I can’t seem to find this anywhere?
I hope the person who did this dissembly of this laptop will answer me.
February 25th, 2013 at 6:05 pm
I just wanted to say thank you for your detail in the disassembly. It saved my ass in replacing the DC Charging jack.
February 25th, 2013 at 5:38 pm
Just wondering if you can help out as im at my wits end with deli support. i upgraded the hdd on the XPS 15 (L502x) h2vzzp1 and forgot there was a supervisor password. i typed it wrong too many times now im being faced with password / unlock key screen and it wont go no further than that. deli support couldnt get this and im now stuck with a brick. iv tried all the password gens and stuff but still nothing is working.
do you know if there is any way to wipe the security rom or bios completely? iv tried removing the cmos battery too for over 24hours still nothing.
id totally be making a decent donation if you can help us out.
regards
alex
December 4th, 2012 at 11:15 pm
I’ll donate 5 bucks if you make one on how to put it back
December 2nd, 2012 at 10:01 am
i will make a donation if u can help
igot my 135KG body out of bed and because of arthritis in my knee which was stiff i put my hand and weight on the lid of my Dell XPS15 L502x and left a small dent about the size of a dime or 10p piece if you are US.
Is there any way i can fix this and put a new Ali lid on or is it i a big job, it is tiny and has not caused any probs workwise but i am a perfectionist and it has really bugged me.
anything i can do?i have only had it 5 months from brand new
cheers
Allan
london UK
November 22nd, 2012 at 6:13 am
hello there! really nice guide, good job.
I want to remove only the keyboard (and perhaps switch for a new one). I’m not familiar with fixing notebooks, even though I used to do a lot of things on my old desktop. Anyway, I’d like to know how difficult it is to remove/switch ONLY the keyboard, e.g is there anything that requires special manual abilities?
Also, what’s the easiest way to do that without screwing things around too much? Looking at the pics maybe it’s doing steps 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, but could you confirm that for me? If I manage to do this I’m sending you a good donation, since Dell support for this is waaay too much expensive.
Thanks, and good job again
November 19th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Hello,
First, thanks for the guide. I wanted to know the following:
What is the easiest way to access and clean the cooling system on the l502x? My processor is running on 50°- 60° celsius just browsing the web, with one or a few tabs open. It heats up to 90° – 95° celsius with plain old world of warcraft. The fan is almost always blowing hot air, sometimes less and sometimes more but it’s never off for more than a few seconds.
I’m asking because I don’t really know what components you removed to show us and which ones were necessary to remove, from example I don’t dare to remove my screen, and even the palmrest is making me uneasy. I’ve opened and cleaned other notebooks but all I had to do was unscrew the bottom.
Thanks.
November 18th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
Hello I am having some trouble with my webcam (its connected to the system by USB internally). Do you have any pictures of the inside of the screen assembly? Is this on a system with the FHD screen option?
The issue I have is that there might be some kind of bad connection between the webcam and the motherboard, I don’t see anywhere in your photos where you disconnect the webcam so I am going to guess that is connected to the motherboard through the video cable? (Its pretty funny, if I barely adjust the angle of the screen the system registers a connection with an USB device and plays the notification sound…)
November 18th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Hey man.My xps l502x is only charging when it is turned off.when i turn it on the led on power adapter goes off. has my dc jack gone kaput? or is it the power adapter?