After replacing the battery, trackpad and keyboard stopped working

[britpoprule]

 

[britpoprule]

Is it possible to notice anything?

 

[britpoprule]

Everyone gone?

 

[pigoo3]

what would you do before taking it to an apple store or third party....try and change the cable connector to the trackpad? and move from there?...

With a 2015 MacBook Pro...got to be real careful how much money you spend on it. At least in the US...anything older than 7 years (which this MacBook Pro may be now)...Apple considers "obsolete"...and may not even work on it (even if you were willing to pay for full repairs).

Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty - Apple Support

Learn about your options for getting service and parts for Apple devices that are past their warranty period.

support.apple.com

This leaves you with going to 3rd party repairs shops (or repair things yourself). These guys very likely won't troubleshoot it for free...thus you will be out some cash just to have things diagnosed (Apple probably would have diagnosed it for free). Of course more money if you have them repair it (parts & labor).

This can add up fast...and be a significant percent of the computers value.

I would suggest doing the best you can yourself. This usually means swapping known good parts for suspected bad parts. Purchase known good parts from places that accept returns...just in case the known good part you purchase doesn't correct the issue.

Nick

 

[pigoo3]

Is it possible to notice anything?

Sometimes if it's an electrical issue...they can happen without any visual signs of damage. Could be one little transistor/capacitor/etc...with no noticeable signs of damage.

 

[britpoprule]

I will do that. Starting from swapping the trackpad connector and see what happens from there.

 

[techiesteve]

As the the keyboard and trackpad aren't functioning the first thing to check after a battery replacement is the trackpad cable. This runs over the battery, so had to have been disconnected earlier. If after reseating you still have the same fault, replace the trackpad flex cable. Although called the trackpad flex cable, when defective the trackpad and keyboard fail, although the keyboard power switch still functions. The cable does fail regularly in normal use, so after disconnecting to replace the battery it's even more likely to have failed. Third party trackpad cables for the MBPr 13" 2015 are widely available. It should be a quick cheap fix. As you are in the UK Replace Base sell as do other sources.

 

[britpoprule]

As the the keyboard and trackpad aren't functioning the first thing to check after a battery replacement is the trackpad cable. This runs over the battery, so had to have been disconnected earlier. If after reseating you still have the same fault, replace the trackpad flex cable. Although called the trackpad flex cable, when defective the trackpad and keyboard fail, although the keyboard power switch still functions. The cable does fail regularly in normal use, so after disconnecting to replace the battery it's even more likely to have failed. Third party trackpad cables for the MBPr 13" 2015 are widely available. It should be a quick cheap fix. As you are in the UK Replace Base sell as do other sources.

I ordered a new trackpad cable, but I don't understand the connection with the keyboard and the backlight of the keyboard, they should have continued working...in my opinion..
So you're saying that the trackpad cable can fix it all at once?

 

[britpoprule]

Sometimes if it's an electrical issue...they can happen without any visual signs of damage. Could be one little transistor/capacitor/etc...with no noticeable signs of damage.

Talking about visual signs of damage, do you see any?

 

[pigoo3]

Talking about visual signs of damage, do you see any?

I didn't see anything when I looked at the photo a couple days ago. That's why I mentioned sometimes if there is damage...there may not be anything visual to see. Especially if it's a damaged cable.

If there was an electrical short...sometimes you'll see a small burn area/smoke/spark residue...but not always. Even damage to a cable connector (bent pins for example) on the logic board are not always easy to see.

Plus we're only looking at one side of the logic board...could be something on the side we cannot see. But please don't think I'm saying pull the logic board to look...not really worth the risk at this point (maybe only as a last resort).

Nick

 

[britpoprule]

I didn't see anything when I looked at the photo a couple days ago. That's why I mentioned sometimes if there is damage...there may not be anything visual to see. Especially if it's a damaged cable.

If there was an electrical short...sometimes you'll see a small burn area/smoke/spark residue...but not always. Even damage to a cable connector (bent pins for example) on the logic board are not always easy to see.

Plus we're only looking at one side of the logic board...could be something on the side we cannot see. But please don't think I'm saying pull the logic board to look...not really worth the risk at this point (maybe only as a last resort).

Nick

No, I would never do that unless strictly necessary. I'm moving gradually, hoping that the new cable fixes everything.

 

[britpoprule]

One question is, why would that trackpad cable would bring to life even the keyboard and light beneath?
Logically someone would think that it would only resuscitate the trackpad. What do you think?

 

[techiesteve]

One question is, why would that trackpad cable would bring to life even the keyboard and light beneath?
Logically someone would think that it would only resuscitate the trackpad. What do you think?

Although described as the trackpad flex cable, when it fails the trackpad and keyboard is inoperative, and the caps lock key LED and KB backlight are also inoperative. Only the keyboard power button functions. As you have found you can use an external mouse and keyboard. Apple's technical documentation doesn't explain why, as only modules and cables etc are simply replaced/exchanged.

 

[britpoprule]

I've just changed the cable and everything seems to work as before. Thank you so much for your help

 

[pigoo3]

I've just changed the cable and everything seems to work as before. Thank you so much for your help

Congrats. Glad it was something straightforward.