How to replace broken left hinge in HP Pavilion dv9000

In the following guide I explain how to replace the left hinge in a HP Pavilion dv9000 laptop.
Broken left hinge is a known issue with HP Pavilion dv9000/dv9100/dv9200/dv9400 series laptops. A while ago HP was fixing this issue at no charge under the service enhancement program. This program has expired on May 31, 2009 and now you are on your own.

I believe this guide will work with some other HP Pavilion laptops even though replacement part numbers can be different. If it works for you, please mention the laptop model number in the comments below.

I will explain how to find correct parts for this repair at the end of the guide.

STEP 1.

Remove six screws located in the battery compartment. These screws secure the switch cover.

STEP 2.

Remove the switch cover and place it upside down on the keyboard. Be careful because the switch cover is attached to the motherboard via a flat ribbon cable.

For more detailed instructions for removing the switch cover please check out my previous guide about removing the keyboard.

STEP 3.

Remove five screws seals from the display bezel.
Remove all five screws found under these seals.

STEP 4.

Remove display bezel.

You’ll find more detailed instructions for removing the bezel in my previous post about removing and replacing the LCD screen.

When you remove the display bezel, you can take a closer look at the left hinge damage.

STEP 5.

Disconnect the screen backlight connector from the right side of the inverter board.
Remove six screws securing display hinges. Three screws from each hinge.

STEP 6.

Now you can separate the display cover from the LCD screen and access the video cable.
Remove sticky tape securing the connection and unplug the video cable from the LCD screen.

STEP 7.

Remove two screws from each side of the screen. These screws securing the LCD screen to the hinge brackets.

STEP 8.

Remove the LCD screen.

STEP 9.

Remove three screws securing the left hinge.

By the way, the display part number is located on a sticker glued to the video cable connector. Write down the display part number because you’ll need it later in order to find correct hinges for your laptop. In my laptop the display part number is 432949-001.

STEP 10.

Remove the left hinge assembly from the laptop.

STEP 11.

Separate the hinge cover from the hinge.

The broken left hinge is removed and ready to be replaced with a new one.

Unfortunately, in my laptop I found another damaged part, it’s the display cover.

All four screw anchors are missing and if I assemble the display panel like that, I will not be able to screw the left hinge to the display cover. The display cover has to be replaced too.

After you remove the LCD screen, it’s very easy to replace the display cover. Simply unglue the wireless card antenna cables, microphone cable, webcam cable (if you have any) from the cover and replace the cover with a new one.

How to find new hinges and display cover.

HP uses different LCD screens in Pavilion dv9000/dv9100/dv9200/dv9400 laptops. Some LCD screens come with single lamp, others come with dual lamp.

I found all LCDs listed in the service manual for HP Pavilion dv9000 and dv9200 on the page 151. By the way, for dv9100 and dv9400 HP links to the same manual and I assume you can use same part number for these models too.

Display Assembly Spare Part Number Information
For use with full-featured computer models (includes camera, camera cable, and microphones)
17.0-inch, SXGA+, TFT Single Lamp with BrightView – 432947-001
17.0-inch, WXGA+, TFT Single Lamp with BrightView – 432946-001
17.0-inch, WXGA+, TFT Dual Lamp with BrightView – 432948-001

For use with de-featured computer models (includes microphones)
17.0-inch, SXGA+, TFT Single Lamp with BrightView – 432950-001
17.0-inch, WXGA+, TFT Single Lamp with BrightView – 432949-001
17.0-inch, WXGA+, TFT Dual Lamp with BrightView – 432951-001

In the step 9 I found that I have 432949-001 screen installed in my laptop, so I have to use hinges and cover for screens with single lamp.

You’ll find part numbers for display hinges and display cover (enclosure) on the page 87 in the same manual.

Display Hinge Kit (includes left and right display hinges)
For use with Dual Lamp display panels – 432964-001
For use with Single Lamp display panels – 432963-001

Display enclosures
For use with Dual Lamp display panels – 432958-001
For use with Single Lamp display panel – 432957-001

I already ordered new hinges and display cover and install them soon.