Home
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!
March 5th, 2010 at 11:07 am
Deanna,
I cannot answer all these questions without looking at the laptop.
If the laptop base is not damaged, maybe you should buy a new DC jack harness and install it instead of the broken one?
March 4th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Hi!
(the plastic doesn’t go all the way flush from the cord into the jack…but it didn’t when i just plugged it on before all the work just to see how it fits) I got the exact jack that you mention. could it somehow be wrong for the p305d or is this okay to have that little space of the post showing? or is it just enough to not make a circuit and power up? so there’s no usual indication that i’ve just plugged in and the battery is now charging. could i have used too much solder? wires were tightly connected to the jack. i worried that maybe i should cover some of the wire and solder with electrical tape, maybe i shouldn’t have? what do you make of this? i wonder if after all this hard work it was just a faulty power cord. i have no indicator lights on that to be sure. i’d love some advice if you have any and sorry for nearly writing a book here LOL hope you can help 
well i survived this entire process. I didn’t know you had a tutorial for taking apart my p305d and i actually found it before i started. soldering is probably the most aggravating part. aside from dropping a screw in the tiny hole in the hard drive housing…argh! thought i was going to have to take it all apart again just to get the screw. anyways, i found that the power jack was not near as broke as yours only loose….slightly. it’s taped down and harnessed very well, so surely it didn’t come loose from the motherboard itself. i kind of wish i’d have super glued the darned thing back and been done with it. long story short, i got the new jack in, all parts back together and working great..tested that out first on battery to make sure i didn’t ruin something else in the process…..crossed my fingers and plugged her in…..and……..nothing
March 4th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
and since ive been upstairs the taskbar has frozen and crashed 3 times. i dont see how that could be linked but my taskbar has never crashed.
apologies for the multiple posts
March 4th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
ok so i have just taken the laptop upstairs and plugged it into a socket in my bedroom and it works almost perfectly,
if i move the mouse round quickly in circular motions it only freezes for a fraction of second about once every 10 seconds whereas downstairs i wouldnt even be able to move more than a few mm before it darting off in another direction.
March 4th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Aaron McAllister,
I have no idea what’s wrong.
Bad soldering? Grounding issue? Maybe the jack is shoring something.
I cannot tell without looking inside the laptop.
March 4th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Hey i did this fix on my l300 all charges ok now. The only problem i have is when i plug the ac adaptor the touchpad becomes very irratic. My cursor goes really jumpy it is extremely hard to use. As soon as i take the ac adaptor out the mouse works smoothly again.
I also noticed that if i put my fingers on the silver part of the dc jack thats visible when charging the mouse goes smooth again. so i end up holding that with one hand while trying to use the laptop with the other.
I havent a clue whats causing it. If anyone can help any advice would be greatly appreciated
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:48 am
deanna,
You can attache it to one of the frame screw on the desktop. Somewhere on the back of the desktop.
If you don’t have antistatic mat or wrist strap, it’s not critical. Simply touch the metal desktop frame before touching internal parts in the laptop. It will remove any static from your body.
In my example the red wire is “+” and the black one is “-”.
The red wire should be connected to the connector in the middle of the generic jack. The black cable is connected to the connector on the side.
You can see it on the step 6.
I don’t think you have to shorten it for Satellite P305D. As you can see on the last picture in the guide, it has enough space for the generic jack.
Good luck and proceed at your own risk!
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:59 am
Hi! thank you so much for going to so much trouble posting this site. Hopefully by the end of the day I will have finished this repair on my p305d. I will be donating too and I hope that everyone else does. If they haven’t shame on them! because you’ve saved all of us alot of money!
This will be my first computer repair. I’ve rarely failed at things like this being a pretty successful do-it-yourselfer and I like to be very prepared and make sure I understand everything before i proceed. I have all supplies, even an antistatic wriststrap as well as an antistatic mat to be safe. so my 3 questions are very basic, but i want to know before i proceed:
where do I clip the antistatic mat/and or wristrap? It’s evident on a desktop but I’m not sure on a laptop.
How do I check polarity? (this is my main question….it seems very important…the other questions i can figure out as i go, so if you don’t have time please just answer this one)
Will I have to shorten the jack for the p305d (i noticed some comments where some models didn’t actually require it…if so how do i shorten it?
Thank you again! and it’s tax season so I will definitely be donating!
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Raven,
I cannot tell what is wrong without looking at the laptop.
Check all connections. Make sure memory is seated correctly if you removed it for some reason.
March 1st, 2010 at 11:01 pm
Hi,
I just finished the repair and when i put my charger in, it charges. But when i hit the power button, the power doesnt stay on and comes on but the screen never comes on. I feel like I didn’t hook something back up correctly. Is this correct? and is there something i can do that will fix this
February 27th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Kam,
Did you solder wires correctly? Did you check polarity?
February 26th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
okay so i did this mod… after finishing i tried to boot up my laptop to see if the green light would come on but no light omg i was hopeful this would not happen i have no direction at this point… somebody please tell me what the problem could be! and i checked if there was a flow of electricity and it was but still no charge
February 26th, 2010 at 3:11 am
Just did the repair, took 5 hours, 3 hours spent on soldering the power cable to the RadioShack part. I was about to give up because I had screwed the part in and soldered already.
All in all, easy fix overall since now I know. Thanks for the guide, now I wish I would of asked for more money from her, but she was too cute to ask for $100, so I just asked for $20 for the repair.
February 23rd, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Hi,
I asked because the jack’s body is connected to the ground terminal. For example a common 3.5mm audio jack is basically the same, BUT it has a plastic housing around it. On the image above step 1 it clearly shows the body of the jack is directly connected to ground solder point…
February 23rd, 2010 at 5:13 pm
amz,
You mean touch the ring with your fingers? Nope, it’s not dangerous. It’s same like touching metal casing on your microwave oven.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:31 am
hi! an “electrical” question. The jack you show is metallic, the outer ring would connect to the ground cable. Isn’t that dangerous? I mean, if I accidentally touch the outer ring while in use?
Thanks!
February 22nd, 2010 at 8:52 pm
John,
Try this:
http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2009/11/17/fix-broken-keyboard-connector-on-laptop-motherboard/
February 22nd, 2010 at 4:53 pm
First off, your directions were spot on, thanks for posting them!
Unfortunately… I broke an end off the little white plastic clip that holds the keyboard ribbon to the Motherboard… any idea where i can get a new one or maybe a work around that would do the trick????
Thanks again!
February 20th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
I have the same issue and its killing me!!!!!! I’m no good at soldering any chance I could buy a completed unit from you?
February 18th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Holly,
Is there any way you can order this jack online (maybe from the US site)?
Calling to Toshiba will not help you go find this jack.