How do I replace upper case on Acer spin 5 SP513-54N-74V2 what is the connector on motherboard for?

So I have my Acer Spin 5 for over 3 years and its been great but since I am out of warranty and being told it would be $500+ for repairs, I have decided to try to do the repairs myself. I am tech savy guy and have taken apart iPhones and other older computers before. So I know way around laptops. Been looking at YouTube videos and it seems the Acer spin 5 SP513-54N-74V2 is not too bad to disassemble and reassemble.

My upper case has been destroyed by opening and closing the laptop the past 3 years. The screw points have been disconnected and the some of the keys have cracked, I haven’t abused the laptop but I feel the plastics after some years become weak and prone to fall apart.

Everything seems straight foward for a transfer over to the new case and it seems it take some time for me to do it right, but I am puzzled by the item below that is circled. I believe its a conntector the motherboard for light and looking at it. It seems to be glued on and not screwed? I want to make sure I dont crack this, but if I do, does anyone what this piece is for a parts replacement?

Accepted answers

billsey

Those are from the service guide, which isn't available to the public. They allow a few of us here access so we can post snippets like that.

All comments

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/722715/acer-spin-5-sp513-54n-74v2-upper-case-replacement

That plug or whatever it is, is not shown in the SP513-54N SG as that part of the case is empty, it might be an optional part that some Spin laptops had, did your Acer Spin 5 SP513-54N-74V2 have that blue plug in its case (as your caption is not very clear) and you haven't told us if that blue plug was included win your Spin case. I can't tell you what it is as its not described in the Acer service guide. That is why its advisable that whenever you take a laptop apart you take captions of all the parts and plugs and cables where they were pugged into.

SP513-54N case caption shown in the service guide

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billsey

That is a case hall sensor, I believe.

The color doesn't mean anything, they just sourced those from different vendors who used the different colors. Next to the sensor is, I believe, a couple of magnets used to 'see' the laptop is opened.

AzComputerGuy

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1332674#Comment_1332674

Thank you for this, seems easier than I thought it would be to remove. They just pop up

AzComputerGuy

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1332674#Comment_1332674

Forgot to ask where did you get this indepth removal instructions?

billsey

Those are from the service guide, which isn't available to the public. They allow a few of us here access so we can post snippets like that.

AzComputerGuy

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1333028#Comment_1333028

Thanks good to know

AzComputerGuy

So I was able to take my whole spin 5 apart and put on the new upper case. I am grateful that Acer has made the process super easy from the days of breaking parts from doing these type of repairs.

One thing I am having an issue with are the Wifi 1 and 2 connectors the white and grey wires that connect to the wifi chip. I feel the connectors should clip on easily, they dont and its annoying me. I cant believe this more difficult than what I just did

I feel there is something wrong with the wifi chip connectors?

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1334343#Comment_1334343

Yes the Wi-Fi antenna AUX and MAIN wires plugs at the card are annoyingly small and if you damage the plugs then you will never ever be able to clip them back properly again and you will need to get new antenna wires.

This happened to my Nitro AN515-56 laptop when i tried to upgrade the WLAN card from its oem Wi-Fi 6 to a better Wi-Fi 6E card that didn't work and it was a waste of time and I did the same as you and damaged the antenna wires plugs that didn't clip into the cards pins, as you really need a microscope to plug these plugs into the card pins properly. If that is what you did then you have two options:

Get new antenna wires and re route them to the LCD panel and reconnect these wires to the card
If you have a good soldering iron then solder the white/black antenna wires clips to the WLAN card pins, as that is another solution

Good luck and hope this helps you out.

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AzComputerGuy

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1334358#Comment_1334358

This is the wifi card that is inserted into a slot, what you recommend is a no no. When I can just replace the wifi card itself. My antenna wires are connected to my screen and I just got a brand new screen.

You are right though, these connections are small and annoying. I had plugged them in before when I put in the new screen to test it out but took it apart again when the new upper case arrived and now its a b%^ch to put back together

AzComputerGuy

So I sent back my replacement screen after it started glitchng and I will be getting a replacement from the Vendor. Does anyone know if the INTEL AX201NGW Wi-Fi Card is same for all laptops or different for Acer? The wifi card below is stock on my Acer.

I have found some on Ebay but they seem to have different numbers for the T P/N, SPS, FRU, ETC

See below for the Ebay wifi chip

billsey

The AX201NGW cards all supposed to be the same, but there are lots and lots of different vendors assembling them. They all have to use the same chipset (the AX201NGW part) but may or may not use exactly the same additional circuitry. Buying from a reliable vendor should be all that's needed to be sure to get a good one. For yours, the white and black antenna wires should be connected like this:

So, white to the outside, and black closer to the screw 'hole' at the edge.

AzComputerGuy

I got my new Wi-Fi chip today and was able to connect the Wi-Fi and all new cases. Looks like a brand new laptop and grateful that Acer made it so easy to repair this laptop. I was told $700 from Acer and I ended up repairing my Spin 5 for under $100.