Intermittent keyboard/trackpad

Remove the base cover and check the condition of the battery -- if it is starting to swell, touchpad/keyboard issues are very often the first sign.  If the battery is swollen, remove it and dispose of it safely and immediately.

Thanks for the fast reply,

the battery does not appear to be swolen, however, after removing it and reinstall, closing the case, the keyboard and trac pad did not respond. Removed the cover, now working. 

I bought this used about a year ago, taking the cover the screws were not very tight and the battery screws, other than at the terminal, were missing. I did reseat the ribbon cables to the interconnect board, appeared ok. 

ANy suggestions as to where the issue is where the battery presses?

Thanks

There could be a number of causes -- is the battery OEM or third party?  Third party batteries may not have the same dimensions and cause issues.  So too could missing screws that are ground points -- replacing those would be a good idea.  There could also be damage to the keyboard/touchpad cables -- or the mainboard connectors (are the cables firmly locked down)?

the battery appears to be original dell, I did reseat all the cables, will see if I have any screws that would work. 

I was a hardware IT tech for over 30 years, with certifications from all the majors, including dell... 

Just wondering where the pressure point is that causes the problem, perhaps insert a spacer that would give more room from the battery  pressing when case is closed. Almost makes me believe the original owner was aware of the problem...