How to replace the DC jack on Sony VGN-FS840w

Believe problem to be one of the Power MOSFET's, in the DC - DC circuit on the motherboard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC-to-DC_converter

Using the HP Pavilion dv6000 series and Pavilion dv9000 series, of Notebook PC's for an example,

http://mayohardware.blogspot.com/2010/04/important-parts-on-dv6000-and-dv9000.html

The two Power MOSFET's used; are the Fairchild Semiconductor Industries -FDS6679 - Power MOSFET, and the Alpha & Omega Semiconductor LTD - AO4407 - Power MOSFET.

Showing availability and cost. Using just FDS6679 for an example,

http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=fds6679

Obsolete. Using cross reference match example,

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Fairchild-Semiconductor/FDS6679AZ/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMshyDBzk1%2fWi1qxDdW%2fXBi2qgMuZEfLVO4%3d

One dollar and one penny USD.
AO4407 is obsolete too. Cross reference match example for it, cost is 78 cents USD.

NOT stating the P.MOSFET's are used on your Sony VAIO's motherboard. Showing what a Power MOSFET looks like for this type of application, and availability/cost.

Look on your motherboard in the DC - DC converter circuit area, where the DC Power Harness plugs in.

[The AC adapter (Charger), plugs into the DC Power Jack on the laptop. (DC_IN)

For your laptop the DC Power Jack is connected to wires, that end in a male plug connector. The male plug connector plugs into the motherboard.

It is now called a DC Power Harness ]

Let's take a brief look at a motherboard example,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sony-Vaio-PCG-6L1M-Laptop-Motherboard-A1171213A-Spares-Repair-NO-POST-/360566230317?pt=UK_Computing_Housings_Touchpads&hash=item53f36c0d2d

(Sony VAIO PCG-6L1M and VAIO VGN-B1VP are supposed to be the same)

The Main view shows up automatically, with the Top view of the motherboard.
Scroll down for Bottom and Top view.

Again there is a Main view, and this time two smaller views to the Right.
Top small view is Top view of motherboard.
Bottom small view is Bottom view of motherboard.

Looking at Bottom view of motherboard, believe DC Power Harness plugs into the Right side.
Series of Power MOSFET's are on the right side, also.

WEAR an ESD wrist strap, and have it's alligator clip attached to a good ground source.
Here is free access to the Service Manual.
You want VGN-B

http://www.tim.id.au/blog/tims-laptop-service-manuals/#toc-sony

Bottom line -> VGN-A
Scroll across, click on VGN-B
(It's a PDF file)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NN7UGWYmBY

Regards,
joecoolvette

AC/DC Jack? Here's a place to start: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-mMc8s0Z7I

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Sony+Vaio+VGN-FW250JH+laptop+replace+dc+jack+&oq=Sony+Vaio+VGN-FW250JH+laptop+replace+dc+jack+&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1722l7072l0l7247l18l18l0l17l0l0l226l226l2-1l1l0
here are some videos about replacing the jack ..Just watch them one by one and you will have an idea about how to dissemble it ..

The problem is your power supply charger, or the DC jack in the laptop, or bad battery. Remove the main battery and see if it will start up, if yes! the battery will need to be replaced, If no! plug charger in the computer and apply side-way pressure on the DC jack "not to hard" and press power repeatedly to see if you can start it, If yes! It is the DC jack that has broken free from the motherboard, If no! It is the power supply or motherboard. I suggest a computer tech

1. Test power adapter for output voltage. Bend the power cable in various directions while doing this to be sure that there is no broken conductors in the cable.
2. If power adapter is Ok, connect it & see if the power LED on the laptop will glow when you jiggle the power connector in various directions. If yes, then the DC jack might be loose or damaged, & need to be either re-soldered or replaced.
3. If not, then disassemble the laptop. Remove any components that attach to the laptop's motherboard first (e.g. battery, hard drive, RAM, wireless card, optical drive, ... etc.)
4. Next, remove the keyboard & the LCD screen.
5. Finally, unscrew all screws that hold the upper cover & lower cover together so that you could gain access to the motherboard.
6. Inspect the solder points connecting the DC jack to the motherboard. Make sure that none of them is loose. If any, re-solder them.
7. Inspect the center pin in the DC jack. Make sure that it is not broken or loose. If it is, then you might need to replace the DC jack.
8. When you are done, re-assemble back the laptop.

You can find firmware and registry updates for your DVD drive from Sony at the following:

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VGNFS840W

You might need a new battery....you could try removing the battery, plug laptop into ac and restarting. Or you might need a new DC power jack. If you wiggle the cord where it plugs into the laptop, and it starts to charge normally, then the DC power jack needs replacing. http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-vgn-s360p-replace-broken-power-jack/

sounds more like your dc jack(where you insert your plug into the laptop ) is going bad. If you have a multimeter the first thing to test would be your charger to make sure it isnt faulty. If the charger is fine then it is most certainly the dc jack. Replacing the dc jack is best to be left to someone who specializes in that kind of repair but if you know how to solder it may be something that you can do yourself. click here for more info on dc jacks.

Hi Chris,

I found this page that hopefully may haelp you.

It has pics, and how tos, etc.

http://repair4laptop.org/disassembly_sony.html

Hope this helps,

Karlos