is my laptop on the mode out (give way down) - problems with power give?

I've got AN RM laptop, about 6 old age old.
Anyway, when you insert the power supply, it is a job to engender it work. Sometimes the light on the computer showing whether the power supply is upcoming thorugh does not move on. You've to 'toggle' the shit lead (I'm presuming that's what it's called - the end of the power lead which connects into the computer) to get it in a definite position before the power supply comes through.
That is a smidgen of a bother, but it static works. Even so, I'm curious if this sort of probloem is likely to deteriorate, and whether getting it fixed module be costly.
Thanks in advance for any answers