Backup battery very low (and then not...)

lingprofe · 06-12-05, 10:48 PM

I have a 1.5 year old Axim X5. For about 3-4 months now, I'll get the red pop-up message "Backup Battery is Very Low..." when I start up. When I check the amount of power on this battery, it usually shows 0%.

Strange thing is ---

1) I replaced the battery 2-3 months ago (after a month of this message). Even with brand new battery, same problem.
2) Sometimes I don't get the message. I check the battery and it's at 100% charged. Then 10 seconds later I'll get the message, check the battery, and it's at 0% (or 20% or whatever).

Seems to me that it's not the backup battery at all, but rather something with the Axim itself. Anyone else had similar problems? Any suggestions on a fix?

Thanks in advance.

06-12-05, 10:59 PM

Try and rub the tip of an eraser on the backup battery and the battery contacts (on axim). Sometimes the tips can oxidize causing unreliable readings.

06-12-05, 11:11 PM

There's also a method that involves slightly bending the backup battery contact prongs. You'll need to search the forum to find the procedure.

ikehiker · 06-12-05, 11:19 PM

Make sure you have the latest OS version (WM03 ROM A05 or PPC02 ROM A04 (for advanced) or ROM A03 (for basic). The early PPC02 ROM versions had problems with misreporting the levels of the backup battery.

06-17-05, 04:27 PM

Did you ever get it working?

Chris Waters · 06-17-05, 10:19 PM

I'm having the same problem. A soft reset takes care of the problem for a day or two, but then the warning comes back. It had been working fine for months.

I've tried brand new batteries, but still have the same problem.

I replaced the original battery about six months ago, FWIW.

docscomp · 06-18-05, 06:17 PM

Having same problem .Tried both the cleaning and bend of contacts an it appears to have worked for now will monitor and let you know

Cpt_Kludge · 06-22-05, 06:18 PM

I fixed three of the X5's by:
1) Backup unit
2) Remove Batteries
3) Remove back cover-6 screws
4) on Backup Battery board, flow solder onto the 2 square pads
5) Using alcohol and a Qtip, clean the S shaped springs on the Motherboard that connect to the Backup battery board.
6) Wick almost all the solder from the square pads on the B/U Batt Board
7) Clean B/U Batt board throughly with alcohol
8) Stretch the S shaped springs outward (away from the MB) just a bit.

Reassemble Unit.

I did this more than 4 Mo. ago to three X5's and they all work fine now. One even has a battery running down. I'm going to see how low I can get it to go. So far it is between 70 and 80%

Joe

RosieP · 06-23-05, 05:01 PM

I had this problem. I borrowed my husbands X5 (we have one each) and found that the suspect battery showed up as 100% on his and 0% on mine. On checking I found that the plastic cover that goes over the back-up battery compartment on my X5 had one edge of the little plastic 'channel' that locks in at the sides damaged. I straightened the plastic out and the battery now makes proper contact. Hope this helps!

Chris Waters · 06-23-05, 08:59 PM

The problem has returned for me. I spent way too long on the phone today talking with a foreign-speaking Dell support person. After consulting with his senior tech lead, he suggested I try yet-another-new-battery--even though I just installed the current one. In lieu of that, he suggested backing everything up and performing a hard reset. I'm about to try that.

06-23-05, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by Chris Waters

The problem has returned for me. I spent way too long on the phone today talking with a foreign-speaking Dell support person. After consulting with his senior tech lead, he suggested I try yet-another-new-battery--even though I just installed the current one. In lieu of that, he suggested backing everything up and performing a hard reset. I'm about to try that.

A hard reset will work if some software is causing the issue. Most likely it is hardware issue though.

Chris Waters · 06-23-05, 11:22 PM

What type of hardware issue would develop after almost two years of use that would cause this?

schorpioen11 · 06-27-05, 07:26 AM

I've my 1first Dell Since 3 years and have the same problems. The second one i bought 3 months ago. This was also have the same problem. I have to change the backup battery every 3 months.
Still now i have no suggestions to solve the problem

Eric X5 · 06-30-05, 09:06 AM

I got the same problem too. My problem usually happens everyweek. I suspected if my CF type 256m storage drains the power or cause the mis-reporting of b/u power level. I remove it for a few weeks and never happens again. Then I put it back again, the problem comes back in next day. I saw a lot of duct inside the slot. I cleaned it with an air gun (can size) and keep observing.....

Eric X5 · 07-05-05, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by Eric X5

I got the same problem too. My problem usually happens everyweek. I suspected if my CF type 256m storage drains the power or cause the mis-reporting of b/u power level. I remove it for a few weeks and never happens again. Then I put it back again, the problem comes back in next day. I saw a lot of duct inside the slot. I cleaned it with an air gun (can size) and keep observing.....

Yesterday, after I finished using my CF type GPS and took it out and left the CF slot empty. When I try to power it on, the message of "backup power..." shown again. The b/u battery status was zero! I just open the cover of the b/u battery, took it out for a couple second and put back, the status return back to 100%! Any clues? Should it be sth wrong with the CF slot or the CF memory card?