Dead TH55

[weelogic]

My beloved TH55 died yesterday. Just stopped after loading up Tomtom Navigator. Now all I get when it sits in the cradle is the green power light and a permanent Bluetooth light (European version). The BT light usually flashes, and the power light is red until charged. I have tried disconnecting the battery, no change.

I have read other articles reporting similar problems, but don't see one thing that I have encountered. When I sit the TH in the charger, the case gets VERY hot (I guess something inside has fried). I don't know if anyone has seen this specific consequence, and thus can identify it for sure as a broken screen or blown backlight, for example.

All thoughts welcome!!

David

[psau3]

My beloved TH55 died yesterday. Just stopped after loading up Tomtom Navigator. Now all I get when it sits in the cradle is the green power light and a permanent Bluetooth light (European version). The BT light usually flashes, and the power light is red until charged. I have tried disconnecting the battery, no change.

Disconnect the cell, wait for a few minutes. I have had a few strange crashes and needed to let it cool down and any charge dissipate.

When I sit the TH in the charger, the case gets VERY hot (I guess something inside has fried).

Sounds like it's still stuck in a crash state or reset. The heat is being dissipated from something working hard, and the cell should not heat up appreciably, even when charging from 'empty'. Best to take it out of the cradle.

You could try reconnecting the cell whilst pressing the reset button. Not sure what else to suggest at this point. :(

[weelogic]

Thanks for that - appreciated. Unfortunately nothing seems to be making any difference at all. Looks like PalmOne will be getting my cash sooner than I had anticipated!!

[psau3]

Thanks for that - appreciated. Unfortunately nothing seems to be making any difference at all. Looks like PalmOne will be getting my cash sooner than I had anticipated!!

Pity you can't get it to respond. Just to confirm:

1. Power LED is orange ('charging') in cradle, eventually goes to green whilst in cradle.

2. BT LED remains on at all times.

3. Upon removal of all power, and subsequent reconnection of cell, goto line 1.

Weird. You've tried a hard reset as well, I assume. What is the display doing? Anything visible? Backlight comes on after reset? MS access LED flashes when you insert a stick? Can you still feel the return spring on the power/hold switch? Has the external slider detatched from the actual switch?

If you fail to get it working and don't fancy the cost of getting it looked at by Sony, let me know. I'm after a device to keep for mechanical spares, and would contribute towards your LifeDrive. :/

[weelogic]

Pity you can't get it to respond. Just to confirm:

1. Power LED is orange ('charging') in cradle, eventually goes to green whilst in cradle.

2. BT LED remains on at all times.

3. Upon removal of all power, and subsequent reconnection of cell, goto line 1.



Absolutely right, although it only takes a few seconds for the power led to go from orange to green. One odd thing is that if I leave the battery out completely and stick it on the cradle the same thing happens. It seems to me that something is bypassing the battery circuitry completely and going straight into the main power, probably with the result that something will get fried! The unit stopped when I had a car charger (genuine Sony part at that) connected.


Weird. You've tried a hard reset as well, I assume. What is the display doing? Anything visible? Backlight comes on after reset? MS access LED flashes when you insert a stick? Can you still feel the return spring on the power/hold switch? Has the external slider detatched from the actual switch?

The display is doing absolutely nothing. Zip. No weak backlight, no screen noise. The MS led isn't lighting. The power switch seems to be "normal". I have tried every type of reset but it's responding to none.

If you fail to get it working and don't fancy the cost of getting it looked at by Sony, let me know. I'm after a device to keep for mechanical spares, and would contribute towards your LifeDrive.

Contact me by pm and we can sort something out. Right now it's just a box taking up space. I won't have use for the cradle or chargers either, though the 2gb MS is on eBay!

[alloam]

That is the exact same problem I had with mine - blue BT light flashing constantly, would appear to charge, etc. But nothing else happening at all.

I left it (on advice given here and from Sony themselves) for four days until the battery was flat - no bluetooth flashing.

Then recharged it and, hey presto, it worked fine. It was a terrible few days waiting, but my relief to see it spring to life was fantastic!

I realise disconnecting the battery should have the same effect, but... It might be worth a try before you write a cheque for something else.

Peter

[danopoly]

i agree, ive helped people out with that advice. Leave it for 4 days without charge, then charge again and wait for atleast 15 minutes before turning it on. This worked for Zire72 (12 hours), Tungsten T5 (2 days) and TH55(4 days). Funny how ive emailed PalmOne 8-12 times about this issue and they keep giving me the same response! reset it. And in my emails i clearly state that Resets does nothing! So ive figured this for myself. But your Th55 should be fine. Ive helped 8 people with an exact problem like yours and without fail.

[Dirk Hasloewer]

I had the same problem with my TH55. Sent it to Sony and they repaired it without charge. I have a new MAC now, so it seems that they have changed the unit wich contains WiFi and BT connection.

[COmedic04]

Well, I'm freaking out, to put it lightly.... Yesterday, I was using my TH55 at work, typing a document and looking through pictures of my latest backpacking trip. Then, this morning, I went to turn it on, and....nothing. No flickering screen, no power light, just nothing. I tried just pushing one of the "powered" function buttons instead of turning it on, still nothing. Tried opening the camera to turn it on, nothing. Tried soft reset, hard reset, warm reset, nothing. When I place it in the cradle, the power light turns orange like it's charging, and eventually turns off, letting me know the battery is fully charged, but it still won't turn on!!!

ANY SUGGESTIONS?!?!? I've thought about disconnecting the battery, but I'll have to track down a Y-bladed screwdriver first. Help, I'm freaking out!! Thanks!

[COmedic04]

Bump.......in addendum, I'm thinking about buying a battery from Laptops For Less for $37 plus S&H....know of anywhere better? I've looked on eBay, but can't find one that includes the Y-bladed screwdriver like LFL does. Help!!

[jwsp]

well come on, weelogic, we're all holding our breath here! Any news?

[weelogic]

Bad news, I'm afraid. The unit never regained life, not after 4 days, not after 14. Paul Sauberlich suggested that the car charger unit had malfunctioned, sending excess voltage across the terminals and destroying some critical component. Given the heat that was generated on any attempts to charge, that seems plausible. TH55 has just been sold for spare parts and replaced by LifeDrive.... Different, not better, but it does what I need it to do.

[rlc7254]

Bump.......in addendum, I'm thinking about buying a battery from Laptops For Less for $37 plus S&H....know of anywhere better? I've looked on eBay, but can't find one that includes the Y-bladed screwdriver like LFL does. Help!!

LFL does not send the correct screwdriver with their order. I recevied three different torx wrenches with mine, and none fit the TH. They say they do, but they don't. However I was able to open it with a small jeweler's screwdriver without doing any damage.

[psau3]

LFL does not send the correct screwdriver with their order. I recevied three different torx wrenches with mine, and none fit the TH. They say they do, but they don't.

Torx-brand drivers have a trilaterally-symmetrical 6-way point, so they don't fit. I get the impression that most of the 3-way drivers sent with replacement covers, cells, etc. have a sharply-angled tip, not really suitable for these shallow-headed screws. They do the job, but filing down the tip will improve things. Worked for me. :)

[psau3]

I have you now...
well come on, weelogic, we're all holding our breath here! Any news?

I can now take a closer look at weelogic's device and try to find the fault. I'll post anything pertinent.

[psau3]

When I sit the TH in the charger, the case gets VERY hot (I guess something inside has fried)

I've found why. On the underside of the mainboard, to the left of the camera cutout, there is an 8-pin smt chip. There is discolouration and scorching of the mainboard by pins 5&6. Heat from this has melted and distorted the support bracket for the lens cover arm. Anyone care to take a guess on the melting point of this thermoplastic? Ouch. Quick pics:

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~nausicaa/weelogic/melty/01.jpg
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~nausicaa/weelogic/melty/02.jpg

The rest of the device appears mechanically sound, apart from an unusual magnetic mount (weelogic) and some crappy post-production add-in standoffs (Sony). :)

[DanT]

Nice pix. Thanks for posting. At least you have a good LCD, which is the only spareparts I don't have.

[psau3]

At least you have a good LCD

Not too sure at this point. I'll know when I have time to swap components in and out of my TH55.

The TFT module requires a biased supply, perhaps around +-15V, generated by a boost convertor that expects 5V as an input. As the device failure seems to have been caused by weelogic's Sony-brand 12V car adaptor...

Anyway, it looks like the mainboard is completely shot, as most large BGA parts are running hot on connection of power, ARM core and DSP included. Repair is not a viable option. Sony would most likely trash and supply a refurbished board. :(

But as you said, I now have some spares.

[weelogic]

Always nice to see the inside of your once-loved unit !!! The magnetic mount was for a vent-mout for the car, used for navigation. Anyone care to guess where I'd like to stick Sony's car charger.......