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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!
July 18th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
kevin,
Do you mean remove the motherboard from the base in order to replace the jack? No, you can leave the motherboard in the base, just be careful.
July 17th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Do I have to take apart the motherboard? like step 14 says?
July 12th, 2009 at 5:25 am
Great fix! I noticed that my power socket was loose and found this article. I was wondering how tight the socket is from new as i only have about 1mm of play up and down and about the same left to right with no movement in and out. Even with firm pressure the socket feels secure. I originally thought the socket was soldered directly to the board so any movement was bad news, but looking at the design i’m thinking that it might be normal. Any thoughts?
July 11th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I have an A305 satellite laptop. It will only charge if you push the adapter in real hard and hold. I disassembled and discovered the dc jack is broke off from the plastic guides. Since it will charge if pushed in hard enough, is this a power cord connector issue or the jack? I bought the parts to fix this with the co-axial solution, but am wondering if I might still have the same problem after doing this. Any suggestons?
July 11th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
just applied to daughter’s Equium L350-10L (UK). She needs to use for school so unable to fit replacement power socket tonight., but Maplins JK10L at £1.59 is the UK equivalent and only needs an 8mm hole and is smaller overall @ 11mm dia and 21mm long.
As a temp repair, the locating lugs were not broken and I’ve rotated the existing socket thru 180 and refitted and put a brace section (modified an old desktop card blank cover) to provide support should she put too much pressure on the power lead when connecting. All rebuilt and working fine now; battery charging nicely.
Great info and descriptive pics; donation on the way. Will definitely use the site again (now a ‘favorite’. Thanks and keep up the good work.
July 10th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Never mind
July 8th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Any chance this will work with A205 model?
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
BliND,
I guess your soldering gun is not power enough. When I soldering the jack I didn’t have any problem. Make sure to use rosin-core solder.
Quote from Answers.com: “Solder made up in tubular or other hollow form, with the inner space filled with noncorrosive rosin flux.”
You can buy rosin -core solder in Radioshack ( Catalog #: 64-013 ). This solder will stick way better.
1. Unsolder wires from the jack.
2. Clean up contacts on the jack.
3. Apply a think layer of solder before soldering wires.
4. Solder wires.
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Ok, I figured it out. I guess it was just my soldering cause I redid it again this morning and it worked for a while, but again it stopped. Could I like cut some notches or drill a hole on the middle pin for the solder to stick better on it cause I’m pretty sure if I open the laptop again it probably came off. And really, thanks a lot for this guide!
July 1st, 2009 at 9:21 am
BliND,
Toshiba will not fix the motherboard, they will replace it with a new one. A replacement motherboard for a Satellite L305 will start from around $200. Plus you’ll have to pay labor charge. If you send this laptop to Toshiba, I would say you are looking at about $300. But call them and ask.
Send it directly to Toshiba (not authorized service center) because it might be cheaper.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:36 am
Well, we did have trouble soldering the middle pin, it was kind of hard getting it to stick to that smooth surface. I used a multimeter to test if power was going through and it was so I guess it is now a motherboard problem. Any idea how much a fix like this would cost without warranty through Toshiba?
June 29th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
BlinND,
If you soldered the new jack correctly but the laptop still not working, most likely it’s related to the motherboard.
June 28th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Wondering if you guys can help. Brother’s laptop had had the damaged power jack for a while and the AC jack was just lose in there for a while but it was still working. One morning the laptop stopped working so we figured it was just the AC jack that had gone too far and it wasn’t charging, tested the AC and that turned out to not be working, tested it with another laptops AC with same power and laptop still wasn’t charging. We tried to do this mod and was looking great but when we went to turn it on the laptop was just makes some tapping sound, any ideas?
If no other ideas we are going to check with Toshiba on how much it would cost to fix without warranty, any idea how much this repair would cost?
June 24th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Wow cool info I’m about to do the same thing to my laptop it’s a 5 year old gateway mx7118 laptop. The DC jack that I’m replacing has six points that I must solderto the motherboard, two I think are for the power while the other four might be just to secure the casing of the jack to the motherboard. If I am to get a replacement jack like the one that you used because it does look more durable overtime and if I do manage to make it fit all then all that I need is to get two cable wires of certain gauge solder them to the motherboard and then to the terminal end of the jack. Will that be able to work or should I go about it another way.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Rob,
Maybe you got a bad battery?
Also, try updating BIOS to the latest version.
June 20th, 2009 at 9:52 am
It was my nephews L305D. My brother-in-law asked me to look at it. If I hadn’t found this, I would have never attempted to disassemble. But this info, and the specific part number to use, were perfect. Thx!!!! All works great now!!!
June 14th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
I have a Toshiba Satellite L20 & a Toshiba Equium L20, (same mode, different name)
both have new battery’s after the old ones died, I purchased new battery’s for both
but they fail to charge at all (orange LED flashes constantly)
I heard that it’s a chip failure or lock out on the motherboard so as to prevent
damage, has anyone else experienced this problem & found a solution ?
June 7th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Yeah, the AC adapter is working.. i just bought it :/
I soldered everything solid.. so i’m almost sure thats not the problem..
im gonna do some more freelancing.. then buy a voltometer and maybe its one of the wires that has a short or something. I really should have gotten my A+ lol
June 6th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Coby,
Did you test the AC adapter? Maybe the adapter is dead?
June 4th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I did the process as you detailed, but for some reason my laptop still isn’t charging! There are no clear signs of the motherboard being cracked, or any of that but I feel I may have to disassemble it completely to look at the motherboard.
I have a toshiba satellite a205-s5000 by the way.. any ideas why it may not work?
May 31st, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Jared,
If you reassembled a laptop and the screen doesn’t come on, the first you have to check is the memory modules.
May 30th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Just did this today with a friend. We soldered wire to the jack then spliced with existing cable. Tested with a multimeter and found my power cable died, got a new one. Be careful when removing the keyboard ribbon, mine got damaged so I got a usb one to get me by. Also when reinstalling the memory, get it right or the display won’t work until you do.
May 28th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Colin,
Good luck! By the way, you can use these Toshiba Satellite A205 disassembly instructions.
May 28th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Havnt finished the actual repair yet, have to get out of work and run to radio shack for the parts however, i did prep everything so all i have left is the soldiering and such of the new jack. Spot on my friends this is most excellent. Im not really a electroincs guru, my knowledge goes thru high school electonics class, but what i am is a supporter or do it youself. this is much better then the repair would have costed me and the instructions are clear concise and get the job done. Spot on again my friends and i will update when the repair is complete. Doing the repair on a Satelite A-205a so far so good everything is matching up so add another to the list that this will work for. Thanks!!!!!!!
May 18th, 2009 at 5:05 am
The step-by-step instructions, right down to the case modification, were crystal clear, and spot-on. After opening my nephew’s L355D, I noticed the jack and the base were both intact, and I was about to cement it back in. Then I figured, for $3 and about an hour of time (and a large Dunkin’ Donuts coffee) I would save myself the hassle of most likely having to do this again, and, ultimately having to replace the jack assembly anyway. I would, however, strongly recommend to anyone doing this procedure NOT to do this on the kitchen table with 2 curious cats running around. Otherwise, it’s really quite a simple procedure. Thanks for the clear, concise, accurate instructions! Z
May 6th, 2009 at 7:23 am
piece of cake L355d has room but my soldering sucks. took 1 hr. used a 3/4 drill bit to open hole ( didnt have a 7/16. after putting laptop back together forgot the Electrical tape. THANK YOU
May 5th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Kenneth,
I think this jack will last for a long time.
I used just a regular pocket knife because I didn’t have your tools.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Kenneth,
The Satellite L355D laptop has a larger case and fitting a new jack in should be a problem. Enjoy your new jack. I think it should last for a long time.
May 1st, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I have to say this was a life saver for me. For $3.00 and an hour of time I repaired my wifes L355D-S7825 (5 months old). I saw no point in getting it repaired with the same type of power jack which may or may not break again in 5 months.
I used a 7/16″ bit to enlarge the hole and a sharp chisel to remove the plastic bits other than that you procedure was perfect for me.
In the L355D there was plenty of room for the new jack to fit.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:25 pm
I had a problem like that but I didn’t repair laptop myself because it was under warranty. I mailed it to a local authorized Toshiba center (Northwest Computer Support) and they replaced the bottom and power socket at no charge. I got my laptop a week later like new.
You can contact them and fix yours, here’s the link: http://www.nwcsupport.com/ContactUs.aspx