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In the following guide I will explain how you can replace broken display hinges on Dell Latitude C640 and Latitude C540 series laptops. Replacing and removing hinges is not a difficult task if you are careful and pay attention to details. I’m not sure if you can use the same hinges for both Latitude C640 and C540 but the following removal and replacement instructions should be the same for both models.
1. Find new replacement hinges.
2. Follow the laptop disassembly instructions below.
Proceed on your own risk and do not blame me if you destroy the laptop.
Before you start, remove the laptop battery.
Remove five screws securing the keyboard. These screws are marked with a letter K stamped on the base.
Remove five screws securing the display hinges. Three screws on the left side and two screws on the right side.
Carefully lift up and remove the keyboard bezel with a flathead screwdriver or another sharp object.
Lift up and remove both hinge covers.
Lift up the keyboard from the base. Be careful, the keyboard is attached to the motherboard with a flat ribbon cable. Disconnect the keyboard cable and remove the keyboard.
The keyboard cable had been disconnected from the motherboard.
Remove four screws securing the video cable.
Carefully disconnect the video cable from the motherboard by the yellow belt on the connector.
Remove six rubber screw seals with a sharp object. Remove six screws located under these seals.
Insert your fingers between the display bezel and the LCD screen and carefully separate the bezel from the display. Keep separating the bezel from the display with your fingers until you can remove it. Remove the bezel.
Remove two screws securing the LCD screen to the display hinges. You’ll find two screws on each side of the screen.
Remove the LCD screen from the display cover. Be careful the screen is attached to the video cable.
Unplug the video cable from the LCD screen (Green Arrow).
Unplug the video cable from the inverter board (Red Arrow).
Remove the screen.
After the LCD screen had been removed you can remove two screws securing both display hinges.
Remove both hinges from the display cover. Now you can replace both hinges, or just a broken one.
February 6th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
laptop tech
my dell latitude c840 has a screen problem. When i turn it on the screen comes on and u see windows loading. When it goes blank to switch to log in screen it never comes back on to log in. But i did notice that the screens backlight was on. I put it in safe mode w / networking and it started to start up but the screen just froze or the laptop just stoped loading wondering could this be a hard drive issue or what could cause this to happen thanks
mack
January 30th, 2010 at 6:06 am
This is helpfull. I had to replace only the right hinge. I did it without copmletely removing the panel and the keyboard. The hinge can be replaced by only removing LCD bezel and the keyboard bezil.
RMW
December 25th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Dell Latitude C640 How to replace the CPU. PLEASE HELP! I am stuck at the thermal cooling assembly! Please please please how do I get it off! & replace cpu
December 21st, 2009 at 3:31 am
Thanks dear, The information was really very helpful, infact i was having problem with hinges the have got loose but not broken any way,
I accessed the Lcd and disassemble the hinges, and make them thight again by a special research on the topic, lol.
Regards, and mary xmas,
Noman
November 7th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Chad,
Here’s a link to the official service manual for Dell Inspiron 1525.
The manual has instructions for removing and taking apart the display panel. You can use it for accessing and replacing the hinges.
The broken hinge has to be replaced with a new one, you cannot repair it.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Hi
This question is not related to this section but I couldn’t find anywhere else to post in your website. I have Dell Inspiron 1525 and left side screen hinge is broken. Do you have any thing to show how I can repair it or replace it.
Really appreciate your help.
Thanks
September 28th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Great guide. If these instructions are followed in order and you take your time its a rather painless process. I was able to swap out my hinge in roughly 30 minutes and that included removing parts from a donor system.
May 24th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
debbie,
Here is the service manual for Dell Inspiron E1405 or 640M laptops.
Apparently one or both display hinges are broken and has to be replaced. You cannot tighten broken hinges, you’ll have to replace them.
If the hinges are broken, you’ll have to remove the display panel and disassemble it. You’ll find pictured instructions in the service manual I linked above.
In order to removed the display assembly, you’ll have to
1. Remove the keyboard cover (hinge cover).
2. Remove the keyboard so you can unplug the Wi-Fi cables from the Wi-Fi card and unplug the LCD cable from the motherboard.
3. Remove screws from the display hinges and remove the display panel.
4. Remove the display bezel, access hinges and replace them.
May 23rd, 2009 at 6:48 am
Will this tutorial work for a Dell Inspiron E1405? If not do you know where I can get instructions for that? I have heard conflicting opions on just removing the plate at the tope of the key board and the bezel plate around the screen. Some people say you have to take the whole thing apart, others say you can just take plates off and tighten screws. What is your opinion. My screen is so loose that it just flaps all the way back and has no more resistence, I cant use it unless it prop up the back of the screen, either that or I type with one hand and hold the screen up with the other hand.
May 16th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I was able to pull the hinges apart and tighten them on a c640.
Turn the riveted cast piece back and forth and pull away from the long part.
Once off, there is a pin on the long bit that has a slot in it.
The grease made it hard to see the slot at first.
I put a screwdriver blade in the slot, wedged it open and put it back together.
There is now more tension on the hinge.