How to take apart Sony Vaio VGN-FZ220 laptop. Replacing power jack.


Broken power jack

These instructions explain how to take apart a Sony Vaio VGN-FZ220 series laptop. I had to replace the DC-IN power jack because it was broken. The jack is soldered to the power harness and can be easily replaced if you have basic soldering skills. Use this guide on your own risk.

You can search for spare parts for Sony Vaio VGN-FZ series notebooks here.

Sony Vaio VGN-FZ220 repair

I created these instructions while taking apart a Sony Vaio VGN-FV220E but I think you can use them for entire VGN-FV220 line.

Taking apart bottom part

STEP 1.
Unplug power adapter. Unlock and remove laptop battery. Remove one screw securing the memory cover and remove the cover. Remove one screw securing the hard drive cover and remove the cover.

Remove laptop hard drive memory

STEP 2.
Remove three screws securing the hard drive. Slide the hard drive to the left side and disconnect it from the connector on the motherboard. Remove the hard drive. Remove both memory modules (spread latches on both side of the memory module and carefully pull it from the slot).

Remove laptop DVD drive

STEP 3.
Remove two screws securing the DVD drive. Carefully pull the DVD drive from the laptop and remove it.

Remove screws from bottom

STEP 4.
Remove all screws (marked red and green) from the bottom of the laptop. 
If you are taking apart the whole laptop, you’ll have to remove all screws.
If you are using this guide just for removing or replacing the keyboard, you’ll have to remove just four green screws (they secure the keyboard bezel) and after that you can proceed to the steps 7-9.
Again. If you want to disassemble the whole laptop, you’ll have to remove all screws from the bottom (red and green).

Release latches in the battery bay

STEP 5.
Carefully disengaged three latches in the battery compartment. These latches secure the keyboard bezel. Push on latches with a small flathead screwdriver until they are unlocked.

Release latches in DVD bay

STEP 6.
Carefully unlock two more latches in the DVD drive compartment. I wasn’t careful enough and broke one latch. :)

Remove keyboard bezel

STEP 7.
You can remove the keyboard bezel with a small flathead screwdriver.

Remove keyboard screws

STEP 8.
Remove two screws securing the keyboard.

Disconnect laptop keyboard

Unlock keyboard connector

STEP 9.
Carefully lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest. The keyboard cable is connected to the motherboard. 

First, unlock the connector. Remove clear tape securing the connector. After that slide the LOCK (this part of the connector secures the cable inside) about 1-2 millimeters to the left using your fingernails. This will release the keyboard cable. Now you can pull keyboard cable from the connector and remove the keyboard.

WARNING! If you break the keyboard connector you’ll be screwed big time. The keyboard will never work again (until you find a way to repair the connector or replace the whole motherboard). Be careful.

Disconnect display cables

STEP 10.
Disconnect cables pointed with red arrows. Disconnect three wireless card antenna cables pointed with yellow arrows.
 

Remove screws from hinges

STEP 11.
Release all disconnected cables. Remove screws securing display hinges (three screws securing each hinge).

Remove laptop display

STEP 12.
Lift up and remove laptop display panel.

IMPORTANT! You’ll have to go through steps 10-12 only if you want to remove the display panel. 
In order to remove the laptop base cover and access the power jack, it’s not necessary to remove the display panel. It occurred to me only after I removed the display panel.

Here’s what you have to do. Leave all cables mentioned in the step 10 connected to the laptop and go to the step 11. Remove only two red screws from each hinge and do not remove green screws. Now you can close the display and proceed to the step 14 (removing base assembly).

Display has been removed

STEP 13.
The display panel has been removed. I didn’t have to remove it but I did.

Remove laptop base cover

STEP 14.
Turn the laptop upside down and remove the base cover.

Release DC-IN power jack

STEP 15.
Now you can access and replace the DC-IN power jack located in the top left corner of the laptop.
Do you see the RTC (CMOS) battery? I’ll explain at the end why I mentioned the battery.

DC-IN power jack broken

STEP 16.
The DC-IN power jack was broken in many pieces. I unsoldered the broken jack and replaced it with a new power jack.

DC-IN power jack replaced

The power jack has been replaced. Now you can assemble the laptop following steps 16-1.

IMPORTANT! After I replaced the jack, I assembled the laptop back together, plugged in the power adapter, pressed on the power button and NOTHING! The laptop was dead! There were no LED lights or any activity at all. I tested power jack continuity with a voltmeter and didn’t find any problem. The motherboard was getting power but didn’t turn on. I thought the motherboard was fried. Just in case I unplugged the RTC (CMOS) battery from the motherboard, waited for 30 seconds and plugged it back in. Tested the laptop again AND it started like new!!!!

 

 

Topics: Disassembly help, Power jack, 7. Sony Laptops |

4 Responses to “How to take apart Sony Vaio VGN-FZ220 laptop. Replacing power jack.”

  1. D@uthyW@rlorD Says:
    August 24th, 2008 at 1:40 pm

    Thnx Awesome work! ^^ …

    I have VGN-FZ190FE and it´s the same body! I can reach heart easier that I tought! ^^

    Greetings! ^^

  2. Piccolo Says:
    October 4th, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    Thanks I have a VGN-FJ290 cant find the CMOS

  3. Amit Says:
    October 24th, 2008 at 2:48 am

    Hi, I have Sony VGN-FZ18G laptop and I have to clean the CPU fan and heat exchange as it was very dirty and your instruction worked perfectly.

    Thanks a lot for such a wonderful description..:-)

    Amit

  4. moin Says:
    November 18th, 2008 at 8:38 pm

    thanks, for the tip that is really helpfull

Comments