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July 22nd, 2025 14:21
My 4 yrs old Inspiron 5402 have heating issue and randomly turned off or not turned on sometime whole day
I am writing to express my concern regarding persistent hardware issues with my Dell Inspiron 5402 laptop, which I purchased in July 2021/2022.
Since the time of purchase, I have experienced frequent overheating and unexpected shutdowns. On several occasions, the device failed to restart for extended periods. I initially visited a Dell service center, where the first recommendation was to replace the motherboard. However, after inspection, they found no immediate fault and advised that if the issue recurred, a motherboard replacement would be necessary. I paid approximately ₹4,000–₹5,000 for repairs at that time, but unfortunately, the problem persisted.
Today, I contacted Dell support again and followed the troubleshooting steps provided. However, no specific issue was identified, and I was once again advised that the motherboard might be the root cause. I am now being asked to pay ₹13,000 for a replacement.
I am extremely disappointed that a device that is only around 4 years old, with no physical damage or heavy usage (such as gaming), is experiencing such critical hardware failures. I believe this raises concerns about the product’s reliability and durability.
ejn63
10 Elder
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28.6K Posts
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July 22nd, 2025 14:41
At what point were the repairs done? And exactly what was done? The system may simply need a cleaning at this point.
The bottom line is that consumer-grade notebooks (Inspiron, Pavilion, Ideapad, etc.) are designed around a 3 year lifespan -- they're not designed for the long haul. If you've received four years of service from any consumer-grade notebook, it's likely time to replace the system.
narayan1622
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July 22nd, 2025 14:51
@ejn63
To clarify, the device was cleaned during the initial service visit, and despite that, the issue persisted. At that time—about a year ago—the service center's first recommendation was to replace the motherboard. However, after inspection, they couldn’t identify a specific fault and advised that if the issue recurred, a motherboard replacement would be necessary.
My concern is not just about the repair itself, but the nature of the issue. The device has not been physically damaged, modified, or used for intensive tasks like gaming. It has been used responsibly, and yet, I’m now being told that a major component like the motherboard needs replacement—just after the warranty period has ended.
I understand that Inspiron is a consumer-grade product, but if the expected lifespan is only around three years, it raises questions about the value proposition, especially when it’s marketed as a premium offering. If that’s the case, the pricing and positioning should reflect that limited lifespan more transparently.
anne_droid
3 Apprentice
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649 Posts
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July 23rd, 2025 10:00
Hi
Well perhaps the CPU thermal paste could be an issue.
Thermal expansion on a joint, giving a fault. IE: a stress fracture.
The PSU voltage could be too high.
Frequent overheating in which specific areas?
You are not too specific on the details, and a replacement Main Board may NOT be the correct solution.
narayan1622
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July 23rd, 2025 10:09
@anne_droid,
thank you for your response and suggestion.
To clarify, the device is overheating specifically in the area above the keyboard, near the CPU fan strip. This seems to be causing the laptop to shut down randomly. I’ve already tried using a cooling pad, but it hasn’t helped.
A customer support executive is scheduled to visit and inspect the issue further. Hopefully, we’ll have more clarity after that.
Thank you again.