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Today I explain how to repair a damaged power connector also known as power jack in Toshiba Satellite L305 and L355 laptops. I started covering this problem in one of the previous posts.
Also this power jack modification should work for the following models: Toshiba Satellite L300, L305D, L355D, P305, P305D, Toshiba Satellite Pro L300, L350 and probably some other Toshiba laptops.
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION. The power jack gets pushed into the laptop base so it feels loose.
I will replace the original plastic jack with a generic metal jack purchased at RadioShack for about $3.
The RadioShack part number is 274-1576. This jack is designed for tip size 5.5mm O.D.x2.5mm I.D. You can order this jack online or pick it up in a local store.
Proceed on your own risk! If you do something wrong, you can damage the laptop.
In order to access and repair the power jack it’s necessary to disassemble the laptop and remove the top cover assembly (palm rest). Here’s an example of removing the top cover assembly from a Toshiba Satellite L355D, you’ll have to follow steps 1-14.
Disassembly steps for all above mentioned models will be very similar.
OK, let’s say the top cover is removed and we are inside the laptop. By the way, I’m fixing a Satellite L305D laptop.
Why the power jack feels loose? You see the answer on the picture below.
In my case both, the power jack and mounting brackets on the base assembly got broken. Even if you replace the broken jack with a new one, it will not stay attached to the base. If you send a laptop with a damage like that to a repair shop, they will recommend replacing the power jack harness and laptop base. This repair will easily cost over $200 but I have a better idea how to fix it for $3 without replacing the base assembly.
Here’s my new replacement panel-mount jack which should last for a long time unlike the original Toshiba jack.
All laptops mentioned above come with one of the following AC adapter: 19v-3.42A, 19V-3.95A, 19V-4.74A or 19V-6.3A.
All these power adapter will fit perfectly into the jack from RadioShack.
LET’S START THE REPAIR.
STEP 1.
Using a pocket knife remove plastic supports from the internal side of the base assembly, so the side where the new jack will be mounted is flat.
On the picture below you see plastic supports removed.
STEP 2.
Again, using the pocket knife remove the plastic wall surrounding the mounting hole. Make the hole larger, so then new jack fits in.
STEP 3.
The new jack is too long and if you install it as is the laptop cover will not sit properly on the base. It happens because one of the speakers (in Satellite L305D) is located very close to the power jack.
It will work if you make the jack shorter. You can cut off part of the long “-” lead or simply bent it as I did. After it’s done coat both leads with generous amount of solder.
STEP 4.
Now remove the damaged power jack from the laptop and cut off wires somewhere close to the jack base.
Remove isolation, twist wires and coat them with solder.
The red “+” wire will connect to the lead in the center of the new jack.
The black “-” wire will connect to the lead on the side – the one you made shorter.
In some laptops Toshiba uses green wires instead or red wires. They also should be soldered to the “+” lead in the center of your new jack.
WARNING! Check the polarity before you apply power to the laptop.
STEP 5.
Now mount the new power jack on the base.
STEP 6.
Solder wires to the new jack. Again, the red wire is soldered to the lead in the center and the black on to the lead on the side.
As you see, I soldered wires at a 90 degree angle to the jack so the top cover (and the right speaker) fits in.
I covered both leads with electrical tape.
The new (modified) power harness has been installed into the laptop base. Now you can tighten the nut on the power jack and secure it on the base.
STEP 7.
You’ll have to modify the top cover assembly a little bit so it fits on the laptop.
Remove plastic reinforcement walls so they do not touch the power jack when the cover is installed. If you leave these walls, there will be a gap between the cover and base.
The plastic walls have been removed.
STEP 8.
Assemble the laptop. You are done!
I think the new power jack is way more robust then the original one and should last for a long time.
And it looks great too.
Here’s an example of damaged power jack in a Satellite L355D laptop. This base is bigger than in Satellite L305 and you’ll have plenty of space for your modification.
Here’s another example of damaged base assembly in a Satellite P305D laptop. Again, there is plenty of space for the jack modification.
By the way, if your laptop is still under warranty, Toshiba might fix this problem at no charge. Call them first or take the laptop to the authorized repair center.
If this modification works for you, please mention the laptop model in the comments. You are welcome to post any suggestions and improvements.
If this fix works for any other Toshiba laptop, please mention the model number in the comments below.
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!
August 29th, 2010 at 11:11 am
luke,
This is a very common mistake during laptop re-assembly.
If your laptop has no video after re-assembly, always check RAM modules first.
August 28th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Thanks for this great how to website. I did the repair in a few hours. My screen would not come on, so I read the other postings and re-inserted the memory modules and it worked! Thanks.
August 15th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Thanks for the information.. Very well done.. One thing that I might add is how to release the ribbon cables for the Keyboard, the Touch pad so that people aren’t just yanking them out. This worked great for me although frustrating because I also had a bad power adapter, so when I went to test my work nothing powered up.. I voltage metered it and found the culprit. Thanks again for the great tutorial.
Kenn
Fuquay Varina, NC
August 14th, 2010 at 10:36 am
juan martinez,
Any sparking is not normal.
The laptop still gets power, that’s good.
1. Did you remove memory modules? Make sure both memory modules seated correctly. Try reconnecting them.
2. Test your laptop with an external monitor. Can you get video on the external monitor? If yes, check connection between the video cable and motherboard. It’s possible the video cable is not seated correctly.
August 14th, 2010 at 10:07 am
nasim,
You are welcome! Satellite L305 is a very easy model to take apart. If you are careful, there shouldn’t be any surprises.
August 13th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! I had a friend do all the soldering for me and it works perfectly!
August 13th, 2010 at 1:31 am
Wanted to say a big thank you to the author, you saved me so much money. This was a great modification, and works beautifully with my l305. Everything I did was my first time and was very easy. The only thing which I highly recommend is that I watched a couple YouTube videos on how to solder. But Just have patience, don’t rush, and think twice before each step to get it right. thanks again
August 11th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
OK i need your help please, when i got done soldering the two wires i plugged the power plug to the power jack and there was a spark in the area were the the i solder the middle wire, i thought it was common so i went and put my lap top back together but now when i press the power button the screen doesn’t come on, i can see the light indicator for the power and the disk drive open but the screen stays black. did i do something wrong? is my computer completely f*ed? please help!
August 10th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
i just have one question my soldering experience is very limited any advice you can give me ? and also the advice you gave no.226 to delip about the 305 model what step do you stop on ?
August 5th, 2010 at 5:54 am
Great mod
the only thing is that i can’t find the in the UK…..i have the same power jack in size M….Do you know where i can get a size N in UK or will the size M fit ? can someone please help me on this 
Thnx for a great mod
August 3rd, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Dude, thank you so much for this idea! I can’t believe so many people are having this problem. Cheap plastic parts!
July 24th, 2010 at 9:01 am
This worked for my Toshiba A-505D.
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:20 am
Delip,
All instructions are posted at http://www.irisvista.com/tech/
Here’s the link to Satellite L300/L305 disassembly: http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba-Satellite-L305-L305D/remove-screen-replace-video-cable-1.htm
July 23rd, 2010 at 9:51 am
I am having trouble removing the top cover assembly any tips, by the way which disassembly guide should i use there r so many people say you can use i have a Satellite L305
July 18th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
I have a Toshiba Satellite L355D. Mine is almost a year old. I bought it at Best Buy;it was one of the closeout models they were not carrying anymore. Today a friend who knows how to fix this type of problem, opened it up and sure enough the plastic square jack piece had broken/melted in two places just like in this guide. He had never replaced a jack with a different part but we got the piece installed and everything works great. Great job on the guide; it has saved from the overpriced work that many places charge.
July 13th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Hi, my laptop has been out of warranty for a year and I have the same problem. I’m not very good at computers and so I contacted a repair center and they wanted to charge me $100 for the fix. I can’t afford to spend $100, but I’m too afraid to try fixing this myself.
Will leaving the dc jack as is (pushed in) affect my laptop? I have not had any problems other than the jack being off center and pushed in.
July 10th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
latoya,
Take a look at this disassembly guide for Toshiba Satellite P205: http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/toshiba-satellite-p205/removing-motherboard-1.htm
July 6th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
how would i do this for a toshiba satellite p205d-s7454 thanks
July 5th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Thank you. Absolutely perfect jack. It’s rock sold. Best to you.
July 3rd, 2010 at 9:34 am
Excellent!
I just did this with a friend’s Toshiba Satellite L350-170, and it looks like a complete success!
The part I used was a RadioShack Panel-mount Coaxial Power Jack Size N, looks a little different to the one you used (this one http://pan5.fotovista.com/dev/5/6/00563565/l_00563565.jpg ) but works possibly even better- I didn’t have to cut the hole any larger and there was sufficient space to thread the nut on nice n tight with a washer.
Thank you for your guide
June 29th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Hello!
Im an 15 year old owner of a Toshiba L300 labtop, which also got this problem after nearly 2 perfect-working years.
I still got a month or something of my waranty, do you think it will cover it? It´s just getting worse at the moment.
If not im ready, to try to fix it myself! But im a little unsecure how you open it, so i will be able to make the repair.
Could you help me, mate?
June 28th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Angela Monroe,
June 26th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
This worked well for the inside the laptop part — downside? The jerry-rigged fix I was using until I could get the permanent fix done bent and damaged the female coaxial connector on the AC-Adapter. Sooooo now I get to find the correct piece and have my ‘big brother’ solder THAT to the power adapter. *bangs head on desk*
June 25th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Well, after I purchased the Toshiba guide for tearing down the computer, I ended up doing the repair with your modification. It took me forever to get everything soldered, as I have not had to solder for a very long time. After all was said and done – the repair as you wrote it works great! Besides being a modification, I feel that this repair is actually an upgrade over what was actually there as made by the manufacturer. I do not understand why Toshiba makes such a great laptop, yet has a flimsy piece that holds the jack in place. Thank you so much. Now my nephew won’t have to buy the bottom part of the case. The only thing left to do is to replace one of the bad hard drives and he’s totally back in business. I’ve chosen a different drive than he has now. I think he’ll be very happy to have it back once all is finished – with the upgraded drive that I’m going to be dropping in.
June 25th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Thanks, You saved my laptop. L355d-s7901. i epoxyed the old one back in place. If not for your guide i would never have tried All the computers your saving is costing the Toshiba people a bunch of money. Keep up the good work! Eddie.
June 25th, 2010 at 8:29 am
Mortfan,
Thanks for the heads up on the screw under the ram cover. Worked like a charm! Thanks again for this great site!
June 24th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Angela Monroe,
I would suggest using epoxy instead of superglue.
June 24th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Thank you soo much this worked perfectly. I was a little scared at first because like Patrick my screen would not show so plugged in my memory modules and it worked!!! Thank you for saving my laptop and making it look good too.