Repair gurus, HELP!
Wednesday, November 22 2006 @ 11:02 AM CST

I have a G4 iBook. Last week the tip on the power adaptor jack that plugs into the computer broke off and got stuck in the socket, so now I can't plug in to get the battery charged (everything else works fine). I took it to CompUSA and they told me that I need a whole new motherboard since the socket piece is an integral part of the motherboard. Cost $800+ for the motherboard and $140.00 labor (more than a new computer).

Anybody here have any ideas about how to extricate that piece?

Re:Repair gurus, HELP!
Wednesday, November 22 2006 @ 11:33 AM CST

Is there enough of the pin exposed to grab it with tweezers? If you try tweezers, make sure you remove the battery first.

You might have some luck taking the computer apart to access the internal side of the power jack. I found a website that shows how to take one apart (for replacing the hard drive and fixing mic wires) I don't know if the jack is totally enclosed on the inside though.


http://www.sterpin.net/uk/ddibookg4uk.htm


Hope some of this helps, and good luck!

Re:Repair gurus, HELP!
Wednesday, November 22 2006 @ 11:44 AM CST

Quote by: ValleyPastor I have a G4 iBook. Last week the tip on the power adaptor jack that plugs into the computer broke off and got stuck in the socket, so now I can't plug in to get the battery charged (everything else works fine). I took it to CompUSA and they told me that I need a whole new motherboard since the socket piece is an integral part of the motherboard. Cost $800+ for the motherboard and $140.00 labor (more than a new computer). Anybody here have any ideas about how to extricate that piece?

Wow - what a shaft of a quote! Nobody wants fix anything anymore - its all replace! What if you bring it to some eletronic engineer or eletrical store? Sounds like something that could be fixed by someone not in the computer business. I feel your pain considering the computer is fine! Good luck!

Re:Repair gurus, HELP!
Wednesday, November 22 2006 @ 03:42 PM CST

I'd try what mikey_d sujested - however, there is a chance that the female end of the connector was damaged - in that case, you may be better off getting a new laptop - I have had success re-sodering them in the past, but I'd only give it a 50-50 chance.

Re:Repair gurus, HELP!
Wednesday, November 22 2006 @ 04:35 PM CST

Quote by: ValleyPastor I have a G4 iBook. Last week the tip on the power adaptor jack that plugs into the computer broke off and got stuck in the socket, so now I can't plug in to get the battery charged (everything else works fine). I took it to CompUSA and they told me that I need a whole new motherboard since the socket piece is an integral part of the motherboard. Cost $800+ for the motherboard and $140.00 labor (more than a new computer). Anybody here have any ideas about how to extricate that piece?

Call Apple repair directly. I can't find it on their web site right now but I'm pretty sure they used to replace that board for $600 plus shipping. Their repair service is generally very quick. They'll even send you a box to ship the laptop in. As far as the labor costs quoted above, I've taken quite a few of those apart and it's a real pain. There must be over 30 screws holding that thing together. The web site indicated in a previous post has some pretty good pictures depicting the process but I didn't see one that showed a good shot of the connector so I'm not sure if you could take the unit apart and then remove the broken pin. I have one in pieces at work on a bench. If you're interested, drop me a note, and I can take a look at it next Tuesday (long Thanksgiving weekend) and let you know if there would be some way to push the pin out from inside the unit.

Re:Repair gurus, HELP!
Wednesday, November 22 2006 @ 04:54 PM CST

Maybe you could use a small powerful magnet, one from an old harddrive would be ideal, or else use a piece of wire or a guitar string lightly dipped in superglue and CAREFULLY inserted into cavity to create contact with broken fragment then carefully remove, persistance should succeed, beats paying 900 bucks, delicacy is essential here but it just might work. If it were mine I'd try these routes.

Re:Repair gurus, HELP!
Wednesday, November 22 2006 @ 05:06 PM CST

Quote by: Willywagga ...or else use a piece of wire or a guitar string lightly dipped in superglue and CAREFULLY inserted into cavity to create contact with broken fragment then carefully remove, persistance should succeed...

Yes, I would try this method. There has to be a way to get that piece out without replacing the motherboard. I doubt a magnet would be powerful enough, but it might be worth a try... keep it far from the hard drive though.

Re:Repair gurus, HELP!
Wednesday, November 22 2006 @ 07:19 PM CST

Quote by: Willywagga Maybe you could use a small powerful magnet, one from an old harddrive would be ideal, or else use a piece of wire or a guitar string lightly dipped in superglue and CAREFULLY inserted into cavity to create contact with broken fragment then carefully remove, persistance should succeed, beats paying 900 bucks, delicacy is essential here but it just might work. If it were mine I'd try these routes.

Amazing you suggested that, down to where to get the magnet. I thought of precisely the same thing but decided to try it before I suggested it. I have a power adapter from an iBook and the tip doesn't appear to be iron based. I tried a magnet on it and it had no attraction. It looks like copper.

Re:Repair gurus, HELP!
Thursday, November 23 2006 @ 01:12 AM CST

I hate compusa's 'techs' and I use the term disgustedly. I have repaired your exact problem. You need a set of dental picks available at Northern, Harbor Freight Salvage, sometimes Big Lots. Also small small small needle nose pliers or sturdy but small tweezers. USing the picks you carefully work the tip out to grab and pull. Dont wiggle more than a tiny bit or you will damage the connectors. In most cases the powermodule is NOT built into the motherboard. These crooks could at the very worst replace the individual powermodule alone which avgs $125 depending upon model. Its total bullshit when they pull this crap. Especially since odds are they would pull hte pin out anyway but charge you the $800. They are scum. Same as the old PRAM battery going bad -and the bastards would tell people its the motherboard and charge them but really just replace the battery.

Worst case get out your phone book and call local mac vendors explain your problem and ask them if they can remove the plug end for the cost of the labor. Odds are you may even find one that may do it for free. Because they will know you will be a customer for life after that.

Worst case is the power module has broken leads connecting the plug to its board. new module plus labor = less than $300.
online places such as DT&T repair.com and macresq.com also perform cheap quality repairs.

NEVER GO TO COMPUSA FOR REPAIRS PERIOD. ON ANYTHING.
EVER.













DID I SAY EVER?

Re:Repair gurus, HELP!
Thursday, November 23 2006 @ 03:19 PM CST

Same thing happened to my wife's iBook when the dog got tangled up with the lead and pulled the iBook over breaking off the power supply connector and leaving the pin in the computer.
I called the nearest Mac reseller who replaced the power supply within a week and charged me £120
A reasonable charge I would say as no tweezers I could find would do the job