Can you fix an Asus eee pc power jack?

postingalwaysposting

I have an Asus eee pc 904HA, its about 2+ years old now and has been a trusty little netbook. Its been dropped a fair few times and has always recovered just fine with no lasting damage, except cosmetic. The last time it was dropped it appears to have taken the majority of the impact on the power jack (it was plugged in at the time) and now although it charges you have to have the cable at a certain angle, almost pressing it down to get it to 'connect'.

Looking into the jack the central pin doesn't look bent but obviously something not right. How easy is this to fix? Can I fix it alone or does it need to go to a dedicated pc repair shop? Also is it worth fixing or will it just be cheaper in the long run to replace it?

Many thanks.

flashg67

A quick google leads me to believe the power jack is soldered onto the motherboard ( happy to be corrected though!)- not an easy DIY repair unless you're prepared to distmantle the netbook and have soldering skills. I had a similar repair done on a laptop and it cost about £80 though it will vary regionally I would think. Worth finding a local repair shop via Yell.com and getting a quote if you're happy with the machine.

Might be worth seeing how much the Netbook in working order is worth (ebay?) and working out whether it's worth fixing, or perhaps sell it with the fault and treat yourself to a new one...

postingalwaysposting

Thanks Flash, I did Google but with so many different models I am easily confused. I shall see contact some local pc repair shops and see if I will be worth getting it fixed, however as you say it may be worth just selling this one on as faulty.

Thanks for your response I shall think about which will worth out best in the long run

Hammyman

Yes it can be done. I charge £30 as a guide. The original socket should be OK. The biggest problem you'll have is finding a PC repairer who knows what a soldering iron is. Most can plug bits in but few can solder.

societys_child

I've repaired a broken jack socket (which was soldered to the board) on a laptop. Fiddly and needs a bit of patience. You could connect the power supply wires direct but it would be permanently attached to the PSU unless you put a connecter inline. better that scrapping it I'd have thought but you still need to get the thing apart to do it.

Browntoa

definately solder job

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DC-power-jack-socket-asus-eeepc-900SD-901-904HA-904hd-/220740664376?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopAccessories_PowerSupplies&hash=item33652b3c38

we use a dremel to cut the top off , then light touch with a soldering iron gets the old pins out otherwise you can never get enough heat on the thing to ulsolder

postingalwaysposting

:T Thanks all, I shall contact some local computer repair shop in the hope that it can be fixed. Thank you all for your replies.

Hammyman

Browntoa wrote: »

definately solder job



we use a dremel to cut the top off , then light touch with a soldering iron gets the old pins out otherwise you can never get enough heat on the thing to ulsolder

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Oh. My. God.

I can count the number of times I've actually needed to change the socket on the fingers of one hand with 4 spare. It is very rare that they need to be changed. I can count the number of times I've needed to hack a socket to bits to remove it on the fingers of one hand with all of them still there.

And if you can't get enough heat on them to unsolder them without cutting them to bits, may I suggest going on a course to learn how to do it properly?

And at £3.25 for an 80p part, no wonder that Ebay auction is offering free postage.

Browntoa

if you want to lift all the tracking off the mobo its up to you, my way is the easy way for a "non-techie" to do the repair without paying for it and still have a working netbook/laptop afterwards.

Yes you can use solder suckers etc and remove it the "proper" way but inexperience can cause people to leave the iron on the pins WAY too long

and most "my power jack is faulty" laptops I look at are just crappy chinese copy chargers , always buy an original

Hammyman

Browntoa wrote: »

if you want to lift all the tracking off the mobo its up to you, my way is the easy way for a "non-techie" to do the repair without paying for it and still have a working netbook/laptop afterwards.

I've never lifted a track. I guess we're back to incompetence again.

Yes you can use solder suckers etc and remove it the "proper" way but inexperience can cause people to leave the iron on the pins WAY too long

Why are you removing the perfectly working charge socket that merely needs a dob of fresh solder on the pins in the first place?

and most "my power jack is faulty" laptops I look at are just crappy chinese copy chargers , always buy an original

Good advice. I don't touch them either.

macman

You really need a specialist laptop repair service. Most PC shops won't be able to do it in-house-they'll simply send it on to a specialist, which you can do yourself without paying a middleman.