Dell Inspiron 11-3180 Touchpad Replacement

Introduction

If you've tried the troubleshooting and it still isn't working, you may need to replace your touchpad.

ⓘ To remove the touchpad, you need to remove the battery, this does not mean you need a new battery unless that is another problem you have with your Chromebook.

ⓘ When removing and replacing touchpad, the touchpad listed doesn't come with the M8 cable so you will need to keep the cable for repair.

What you need

Step 1 Bottom Case

Dell Inspiron 11-3180 Touchpad Replacement, Bottom Case: step 1, image 1 of 1

Flip the Chromebook to have the bottom facing you.
Make a note of all of the screws present. You may need to uncover some of them hidden beneath plastic tabs. The location of each screw is marked in the accompanying image.

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Step 2

Remove all nine of the 6 mm screws on the bottom with a size #00 Phillips screwdriver.
If needed, use a toothpick or the tip of your screwdriver to uncover the plastic that's hiding them.

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Step 3

Flip the Chromebook upright and open it.

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Step 4

Using the iFixit plastic opening tool, wedge it into the seam of the bottom plate. This will create a small gap between the sections that you can gently pry open. Work your way around to each side of the device until the bottom pops free.
Caution: DO NOT attempt to fully remove the bottom plate yet, as there are still connected wires. Doing so may result in damage to your device.

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Step 5

Once you have pried enough space between the Chromebook and the bottom plate, flip it back over so the bottom plate is facing you and gently pull it up with your hands.

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Step 6

Tool used on this step:

Tweezers

$4.99

Buy

Before you completely pull off the back, you must disconnect the MB cord.
Using blunt-nosed tweezers, carefully flip the black bar that keeps the MB cord latched in as circled in the image.
Once open, grab the flat cord with your tweezers and pull horizontally until it comes free. Your bottom plate is now fully removed.

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Step 7

Finally, pull off the bottom plate carefully and set it to the side to continue with your needed repairs or replacements.

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Step 8 Battery

Dell Inspiron 11-3180 Touchpad Replacement, Battery: step 8, image 1 of 1

Tool used on this step:

Tweezers

$4.99

Buy

Locate the battery on the lower half of the open laptop.
Using blunt-nosed tweezers, carefully disconnect the battery cable from the service board by pulling at the small plastic tabs on either side.

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Step 9

Use a #00 Phillips screwdriver to remove the six 4 mm screws.
Also remove the one 6 mm screw.
Not all screws are pictured, but the locations are circled.
There should no longer be any screws holding down the battery.

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Step 10

Carefully remove the battery with hands.

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Step 11 Touchpad

Dell Inspiron 11-3180 Touchpad Replacement, Touchpad: step 11, image 1 of 1

Carefully remove the M8 cable by lifting the small black latch.

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Step 12

Lift the cable covering the top of the trackpad and remove the four 2 mm screws lining the top with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.

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Step 13

Tool used on this step:

Tweezers

$4.99

Buy

Lift the electrical tape with tweezers if needed.
Carefully remove the trackpad by sliding it away from you, using blunt-nosed tweezers if you need to make space to grab it.