Acer Switch Alpha 12 SA5-271-51XD Model No.: N16P3 screen detaching from the chassis of the computer

Hello. I'm new here. I have the above-mentioned computer, Acer Switch Alpha 12 SA5-271-51XD Model No.: N16P3- MFG Date: 2016.05 and about 2 or 3 months ago my screen started detaching from the chassis of the computer. It has been getting worse as time goes by. My computer's audio is going up and down by itself (very annoying), and other weird things are happening - things that make me think my computer is shorting out. The only reason I'm still able to use my computer is because I have a bunch of strong clips all around the computer holding the screen down. Does anybody know anything about this? Is there a fix for it. Is this a known problem? Has there been a recall for this problem? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Oh, and I also noticed recently that my computer is very hot to the touch. It never used to be like that.

[Edited the thread to add issue detail]

Accepted answers

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/711101/acer-switch-alpha-12-sa5-271-51xd-model-no-n16p3-screen-detaching-from-the-chassis-of-the-computer

Unfortunately, and due to your Alpha 12 pad being 8 years old, you have plastic case failure from wear and tear of the product, that is why it broke. You need to change the bottom case or top case if its securing points are broken.

You can try hot glue, but don't use the hot glue gun, as you need to melt the glue allot softer than what a hot glue gun melts the glue, use a soldering hot air gun or a lighter torch to melt the glue with about 500C temps and then apply it to the broken components to glue them together and sandwich components for a good bond, as this method is very successful and glues plastic components very well and securely and will last years.

Below is the components diagram for your Alpha pad which is identified as an Aspire SA5-271 pad, so replace the appropriate components (as the Acer part numbers are also included) that are broken, and you can reference from the diagram below. Note that this Alpha 12 pad is old and parts could be hard to get, unless you can get an old pad and swap parts. Good luck and hope this helps you out.

If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

DanzNotes

Thank you billsey. I'm a 'root cause' kind of guy - in all aspects of life. If my battery is the root cause, could that be why the screen is detaching from the entire perimeter of the computer. I now have 5 stong clamps holding the screen to the computer (I started with one, and as the screen started coming detached from more and more of the perimeter of the computer, I just kept adding more clamps (see pic). Assuming the battery is in just one area of the computer, could the 'battery swelling' be causing the 'entire' perimeter of the screen to be detaching from the computer?

billsey

Yup, in the worst case we saw instances where the screen itself would crack from the pressure the battery put on it. It's pretty easy to see when you open it up. Be careful with that ribbon cable that goes between the MB and bottom of the case where the keyboard fits, it's easy to pull on that and have it tear…

All comments

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/711101/acer-switch-alpha-12-sa5-271-51xd-model-no-n16p3-screen-detaching-from-the-chassis-of-the-computer

Unfortunately, and due to your Alpha 12 pad being 8 years old, you have plastic case failure from wear and tear of the product, that is why it broke. You need to change the bottom case or top case if its securing points are broken.

You can try hot glue, but don't use the hot glue gun, as you need to melt the glue allot softer than what a hot glue gun melts the glue, use a soldering hot air gun or a lighter torch to melt the glue with about 500C temps and then apply it to the broken components to glue them together and sandwich components for a good bond, as this method is very successful and glues plastic components very well and securely and will last years.

Below is the components diagram for your Alpha pad which is identified as an Aspire SA5-271 pad, so replace the appropriate components (as the Acer part numbers are also included) that are broken, and you can reference from the diagram below. Note that this Alpha 12 pad is old and parts could be hard to get, unless you can get an old pad and swap parts. Good luck and hope this helps you out.

If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

DanzNotes

I am beyond impressed with how quickly and comprehensively this issue was responded to. This community is awesome, and StevenGen is a miracle man, and so kind, so helpful, so knowledgeable and so thorough. Thank you man. You are amazing!

With that said, I am not melting glue at 500C, lol. I'll end up in the hospital. I think I'll just buy another computer. I really like pads. Any suggestions?

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1292645#Comment_1292645

Thank you DanzNotes you are so very kind as we try our best to help community members and we appreciate the problems and frustrations that some have with their products, and they want solutions. Take care and thanks again for appreciating us on this community!

If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

billsey

Very likely the root cause is the battery, the original batteries were prone to swelling and the extra thickness is what pushed the screen out from the case. Replace the battery and you should be back to normal.

DanzNotes

Thank you billsey. I'm a 'root cause' kind of guy - in all aspects of life. If my battery is the root cause, could that be why the screen is detaching from the entire perimeter of the computer. I now have 5 stong clamps holding the screen to the computer (I started with one, and as the screen started coming detached from more and more of the perimeter of the computer, I just kept adding more clamps (see pic). Assuming the battery is in just one area of the computer, could the 'battery swelling' be causing the 'entire' perimeter of the screen to be detaching from the computer?

DanzNotes

@ billsey…I forgot to mention that my computer, front and back, is really, really warm, almost hot. It never used to be like that. Is that a concern, or a clue?

billsey

Yup, in the worst case we saw instances where the screen itself would crack from the pressure the battery put on it. It's pretty easy to see when you open it up. Be careful with that ribbon cable that goes between the MB and bottom of the case where the keyboard fits, it's easy to pull on that and have it tear…

jim_jpmllc

To Billsey, you have answered many users questions and that is certainly decent of you. My wife's Alpha Switch 12 SA5-271, has been a very nice notepad. We went to Micro Center to buy a Surface Pro for her, and the salesperson talked us into this device. It has performed quite well for 8 years. then the wheels fell off, first the keyboard was unresponsive, needed to be disconnected and re. Then it began to simply black out and shut down, 2-1/2 years ago we had the battery replaced and when I looked at the computer, it was fully charged and then shut down out of charge within 30 minutes…I concluded it must be the battery. Then I bought an after market battery, with intentions of taking a run for it. But first I took the switch to Micro Center repair department, they declined because the screen was glued in, Oh well! I bought some plastic pry tools and decided to go for it. But decided to try to boot it up again, simply to drain the battery, and voila' it came alive again. Who knew! So I decided to take it to my office and "fly speck" it. When I got there I shut it down, with the windows program instructing it to reboot, that was fatal. No deal, it has been dead ever since. But I'd still be willing to take a run at it, but now can't drain the battery. The power button does depress, and when it does there is an orange lite that blinks 5 times, and then nothing. I'm not a fool - just stubborn. I called Acer Repair, and the guy actually told me that Acer has no parts for an 8 year old computer - he was sorry!. that's rubbish, there's always parts, but what can I do. I'd like to polish it up and give it to some grandkids, I have 7 going to college in the next two years, but where to turn. Do you work on them? Sorry to be so verbose, but the story is much of my issue. If I'm beating a dead horse, just say so, and I'll disassemble this thing and part-out the components on ebay.

Thanks

billsey

There is no reason to drain the battery to take it apart. The repair center didn't actually know what they were saying when they declined the repair, since you don't need to take the display itself apart to take the computer apart. Acer doesn't have new parts for these in stock, all the parts on the market are either from machines that have ended their life or are leftover from repair depots. You actually made a good choice with the SA12 vs. a Surface Pro, if anything had gone wrong with the SP you would have been completely out of luck, since they are so difficult to disassemble. It's almost impossible to get the glue holding them together softened enough to pull them apart without breaking the display. Very fragile…

So, the blinking LED tends to point at a bad battery still. If you want to take it apart yourself to replace that battery you mostly have to be real careful with the ribbon cable that goes from the motherboard to the pogo pins for the keyboard. It's really easy to tear it when you first get the halves loose from each other.

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