Member Avatar for Brad_6

I have a Gateway Laptop, anytime i let the battery die, it wont turn on when i plug it in, no charging light, no power light... until i heat up the underneath of my laptop with a hair drier, then it starts to charge.. any sollutions so i dont have to do this everytime?

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Reported by (Gateway nv51b02h): the laptop only begins to charge after warming the underside with a hair dryer. correctly noted battery age as a factor, but the heat-dependent behavior points to an intermittent, temperature-sensitive fault rather than a simple dead cell.

Heating that temporarily restores charging is consistent with an intermittent electrical connection or a part whose resistance changes with temperature. Possible causes include a loose or cracked DC jack, a cold solder joint in the power/charging area, marginal MOSFETs/charging ICs, or an internal battery-pack protection/thermistor that only becomes conductive when warmed. The hair-dryer workaround masks the root cause and risks accelerating failure.

Useful diagnostic actions (in roughly the order they isolate the fault):

  • A multimeter can verify the AC adapter output at the barrel; the measured DC should match the adapter label within a few percent.
  • Observe LEDs while gently wiggling the barrel at the jack; any flicker or intermittent behavior strongly implicates the jack or its solder joints.
  • Inspect the battery pack for swelling and check battery/motherboard contacts for dirt or corrosion; clean contacts with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol.
  • Where safe and if comfortable with live measurements, check for adapter voltage at the motherboard battery connector; presence of adapter voltage but no charging indicates a failed charging circuit or IC.
  • If a temperature-dependent solder joint is suspected, a qualified technician can reflow/resolder the joint or replace the DC jack; these fixes are usually far cheaper than a full motherboard replacement.

Final notes: repeated heating risks further damage. Back up important data before repair attempts. Given the laptop age, replacing the battery and addressing the DC jack/soldering are cost-effective first steps; a full board replacement should be last resort.

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Member Avatar for rproffitt

Sounds like a failing part. Since you are heating up so many parts with that hair dryer, I won't be able to tell if it's motherboard, battery or a connection failing.

In fact since you left out model number (don't, just don't tell me it's series designation. get the model number and age in your posts.)

If it's over a few years old it could be as cheap as the CMOS batter to as bad as some I see that need a battery and motherboard.

Member Avatar for Brad_6

Its an nv51b02h bought in 2011 been doing this since prob 2013

Member Avatar for rproffitt

From 2011 the battery should be dead by now (unless you didn't use it on battery much and even then.) But when it starts to charge, how many minites do you get on a charge? If less than 30, battery is gone so don't put in the bad battery.

Now as a test try this.
. power off
. remove charger
. remove battery
. press and hold the power button for 60 seconds.
. release and plug in the charger

Test.

No go? At this many years the CMOS battery can be gone too. It's cheaper than a Volt meter so just do it.

Report back after this. And to repeat, if the big battery is gone you can stress the motherboard by leaving it in.

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