X51v won't turn on

doclrm · 01-12-09, 06:32 PM

After my beloved x5 died I purchased a little used x51v on ebay and it works only intermittantly. Sometimes for days at a time it will not power on, just stays black. In the car charger the battery light glows orange, then turns green, so I know the battery is charging. When it is on, the battery is often at 97%. I have read about the battery door problems, and I suspect this is the gremlin. Holding pressure on the battery cover does not make it work however, nor does holding down the switch with the stylus while pushing the on button. I tried putting tape in the little feet of the door, but no luck, though I am not sure I did that right. I don't have tools or experience to solder inside the case. Thank you.

johnhu_2005 · 01-12-09, 07:40 PM

First, try jiggling the lock switch a few times.

Try putting a tiny drop of nail polish in the battery switch.

Then, it could also be the battery. Try a new one.

*Please DO NOT use nail polish remover!

doclrm · 01-12-09, 08:37 PM

Have tried jiggling the switch, pressing the battery cover, and shaking the unit in all sorts of combinations, with no luck. Will try the nail polish remover; when you say in the battery swiotch, do you mean in the contacts between the battery and the unit?
I don't think the battery is bad, because when it does work, it seems to work perfectly.
Sometimes I do get the message that the unit was put into hibernation because the battery door was opened.

JakeRich · 01-12-09, 08:50 PM

There are two little points sticking out at the bottom inside of the battery door. They push on the battery switch inside the Axim so it knows if the battery door was opened. If the switch gets sticky, or the points wear down a bit, or the door warps a little, the points don't push the switch far enough. So, to build them up you can use a little fingernail polish (not remover), or a tiny piece of electrical tape, or a drop of hot glue. Anything to build up the points a couple of hundredths of an inch.

You can also try to see if a bit of dust is in the switch using one of the cans of compressed air. I wouldn't put any liquid in the Ax at all, as you cannot tell where it is likely to end up.

99% of the time, it's the little points. See this thread.

srvctec · 01-12-09, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by johnhu_2005

Try putting a tiny drop of nail polish remover in the battery switch.

Absolutely DO NOT use nail polish remover, it will most likely melt the plastic housing and whatever else plastic it comes in contact with on the PDA.

doclrm · 01-13-09, 08:25 AM

Thanks JakeRich. Tried nail polish, x 3 coats, but no luck. Have viewed the thread you suggested (and all others I could find relative to this problem) without success. Any other thoughts?

PS is that an A6 on your logo?

JakeRich · 01-13-09, 08:51 AM

Well, one of the threads linked in that thread shows how to remove and solder across the contacts of the switch, effectively making it permanent. That's a radical solution, but may be all that is available to you. It is not a job for a novice solderer, however.

Yes, it's an A6. Not many people recognize it. I was a B/N for 20 years. They are all retired now, and they've retired the ship where I spent most of my time, so that's the trifecta--I retired, aircraft retired, ship retired.

johnhu_2005 · 01-13-09, 05:48 PM

Thank you JakeRich and Srvctec. I mis-remembered the fact is should be nail polish instead of the remover. :o