Lenovo Thinkpad T480S Antenna Kit Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          2 - 3 hours

Sections

Bottom Cover
3 steps
LCD Assembly
6 steps
LCD Bezel
2 steps
LCD Panel
5 steps
Hinges
4 steps
Antenna Kit
3 steps

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Introduction

The antenna kit includes the WWAN and WLAN replacement cables and antennas. Some signs of a faulty or failed antenna kit include low performing Wi-Fi signal or no signal at all.

If your antenna kit has started to fail, and you are no longer receiving a strong signal it may be time to replace the antenna kit. Before attempting an antenna kit replacement, you may be able to resolve the issue using Lenovo’s troubleshooting guide.

Before attempting to replace the antenna kit, make sure to disable the internal battery, power down your device, and disconnect from any external power sources.

What you need

Step 1

              Bottom Cover

Disable the battery, power down the device, and unplug the power adapter from your device before proceeding/beginning the guide.
Loosen the six captive screws with a Phillips #1 screwdriver.

Disable the battery, power down the device, and unplug the power adapter from your device before proceeding/beginning the guide.

Loosen the six captive screws with a Phillips #1 screwdriver.

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Step 2

Remove the bottom cover with an opening tool.
Start from the top edge near the hinge and work your way along the edge until all of the clips are unsnapped.

Remove the bottom cover with an opening tool.

Start from the top edge near the hinge and work your way along the edge until all of the clips are unsnapped.

Step 3

Lift the bottom cover off.

Lift the bottom cover off.

Step 4

              LCD Assembly

Use the spudger to disconnect the coaxial cables from the Wi-Fi card and WWAN card.
When reassembling the Wi-Fi card, reattach the black wire closest to the screw and the gray wire on the other side of the black wire. With the WWAN card, reattach the blue wire on the left and the orange wire on the right.
There are also small color coded arrows on each card that match the corresponding wires, to make sure you connect to the correct spot.

Use the spudger to disconnect the coaxial cables from the Wi-Fi card and WWAN card.

When reassembling the Wi-Fi card, reattach the black wire closest to the screw and the gray wire on the other side of the black wire. With the WWAN card, reattach the blue wire on the left and the orange wire on the right.

There are also small color coded arrows on each card that match the corresponding wires, to make sure you connect to the correct spot.

Step 5

Use the spudger to disconnect the LCD cable from the motherboard.

Use the spudger to disconnect the LCD cable from the motherboard.

Step 6

Disconnect the camera cable from the motherboard using a spudger.

Disconnect the camera cable from the motherboard using a spudger.

Step 7

Remove all antenna cables from their routing.

Remove all antenna cables from their routing.

Step 8

Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove three 5 mm screws from the left hinge and three 5 mm screws from the right hinge.

Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove three 5 mm screws from the left hinge and three 5 mm screws from the right hinge.

Step 9

Carefully rotate the hinges upward and remove the bottom of the machine from the LCD unit.

Carefully rotate the hinges upward and remove the bottom of the machine from the LCD unit.

Step 10

              LCD Bezel

Using the spudger, pry the LCD bezel up from the edges starting near the hinges.
It is attached by adhesive so be careful not to break it. You may hear loud snaps when detaching the clips; this is normal.

Using the spudger, pry the LCD bezel up from the edges starting near the hinges.

It is attached by adhesive so be careful not to break it. You may hear loud snaps when detaching the clips; this is normal.

Step 11

Use the spudger to remove the internal bezel.
Start at the corner by the hinge and lift the edge of the internal bezel up with the pointed end of the spudger.
Hold the internal bezel with your fingers and work your way around the perimeter of the screen carefully pulling the bezel up.
You will feel resistance and hear snapping as you remove the bezel because it is connected with clips. Be careful that you don’t crack the bezel. The plastic is delicate in places.

Use the spudger to remove the internal bezel.

Start at the corner by the hinge and lift the edge of the internal bezel up with the pointed end of the spudger.

Hold the internal bezel with your fingers and work your way around the perimeter of the screen carefully pulling the bezel up.

You will feel resistance and hear snapping as you remove the bezel because it is connected with clips. Be careful that you don’t crack the bezel. The plastic is delicate in places.

Step 12

              LCD Panel

Remove four 2.9 mm screws from the LCD panel using the Phillips #1 screwdriver.

Remove four 2.9 mm screws from the LCD panel using the Phillips #1 screwdriver.

Step 13

Gently lift the panel and flip it over.
The panel is still connected to the unit by the LCD cable so be careful not to rip the connector when flipping it over.

Gently lift the panel and flip it over.

The panel is still connected to the unit by the LCD cable so be careful not to rip the connector when flipping it over.

Step 14

Peel back the tape covering the LCD cable connector.
Use the spudger to unlock the LCD cable.

Peel back the tape covering the LCD cable connector.

Use the spudger to unlock the LCD cable.

Step 15

Remove the LCD cable from the socket.

Remove the LCD cable from the socket.

Step 16

Remove the LCD panel from the system.

Remove the LCD panel from the system.

Step 17

              Hinges

Use the Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove two 2.8 mm screws from the hinge in the upper right corner.

Use the Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove two 2.8 mm screws from the hinge in the upper right corner.

Step 18

Remove the hinge in the upper right corner.

Remove the hinge in the upper right corner.

Step 19

Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove two 2.8 mm screws from the hinge in the upper left corner.

Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove two 2.8 mm screws from the hinge in the upper left corner.

Step 20

Remove the hinge in the upper left corner.

Remove the hinge in the upper left corner.

Step 21

              Antenna Kit

Pry the metallic tape and the black and blue antenna from the LCD Unit.

Pry the metallic tape and the black and blue antenna from the LCD Unit.

Step 22

Lift the black and blue cables from the routing.

Lift the black and blue cables from the routing.

Step 23

Pry the metallic tape and the grey and orange antenna cables from the unit.
Lift the grey and orange antenna cables from the routing.

Pry the metallic tape and the grey and orange antenna cables from the unit.

Lift the grey and orange antenna cables from the routing.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers community for help.

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