Charging Cuts Out When Moving The Lid?
It's a frustrating problem: your laptop charges fine until you adjust the screen, and then—clunk—the power cuts out. This indicates a complex issue where the hinge mechanism is pinching or damaging the DC power cable. We are experts in fixing this "double trouble" in Leeds.
The Hinge-Power Connection
On many modern laptops (especially HP and Dell), the DC charging port is located right next to the screen hinge. As manufacturers make laptops thinner, they run the power cables through the same narrow channel as the hinge mechanism.
When the hinge stiffens up over time (due to dust or drying grease), the force required to open the lid increases. Eventually, the metal hinge snaps its plastic mountings and starts to "float" inside the case.
Here is the danger: that loose, jagged metal hinge then slices through the delicate power wires next to it. Result? A laptop that sparks or stops charging whenever you move the screen. At Leeds Computer & Laptop Repairs, we fix both the structural damage and the electrical fault in one go.
Signs of Hinge-Related Power Failure
1. The "Crunching" Sound
When you open your laptop, do you hear a cracking or popping noise from the corner? That is the sound of the hinge ripping out of the plastic chassis. If the charging port is on that side, it's only a matter of time before the wire gets severed.
2. Positional Charging
If the laptop charges when the screen is at 90 degrees but stops when you push it back to 120 degrees, the internal cable is being stretched or pinched by the broken hinge mechanism.
3. Visible Case Separation
Look at the corner where you plug the charger in. Is the plastic casing splitting open? Can you see inside the laptop? This lack of structural integrity means the charging port is loose and moving around, damaging its connection to the motherboard.
The "Leeds Repair" Technique
We often see customers who have tried to superglue their hinges. This rarely works. We use a professional 3-step process.
- Step 1: Loosen Hinges. We mechanically adjust the tension of the metal hinges so they are easier to open, reducing future strain.
- Step 2: Bolt-Through or Epoxy. Depending on damage severity, we either use high-strength aviation epoxy to rebuild the mountings or install discreet "bolt-through" repairs for unbreakble strength.
- Step 3: Harness Replacement. We replace the damaged DC power cable harness with a new one, routing it safely away from the moving parts of the hinge.
Save Your Laptop
A broken hinge is a "cancer" for laptops. If left untreated, it will eventually snap the screen or the motherboard.
- Cost Effective: Repair costs ~£80. New laptops cost ~£600.
- Eco-Friendly: Save a perfectly good computer from landfill.
- Guaranteed: Our structural repairs come with a solid warranty.
Hinge & Power FAQs
Understanding structural repairs.
How long does the repair take?
Structural repairs involve curing times for epoxy resins (usually 12-24 hours) to reach maximum strength. We usually ask to keep the laptop overnight to ensure the bond is permanent before giving it back to you.
Will the repair fall apart again?
Not with our method. The reason the factory mountings failed is that they are tiny brass inserts in weak plastic. Steps 1 (loosening the hinge) and 2 (using mass epoxy reinforcement) ensure the new bond is actually stronger than the day it left the factory.
My screen flickers too. Is that related?
Yes, very likely. The video cable runs through the other hinge (on the opposite side). If the chassis is twisting due to a broken hinge, it can pull on the video cable too. We will check both cables while the machine is stripped down.