Macbook Air 2013 Backlight Fix?

[kieferpuls]

I´ve bought a defective Macbook Air 2013 13.3" A1466. Everything works well except the backlight (I can see the screen works when I use a flashlight.)

I´ve bought a display cable but since the screen works with the flashlight text I guess I have no use of it.

The person who I bought the Macbook Air from says he had a water spill. I will open it up tomorrow and see if I can make out any clear signs of liquid damage.

My questions is: how could I isolate the problem so I know which part to replace? I´ve changed a Macbook pro retina display before, but that is my only experience so far and would very much like to fix this on my own for tight budget reasons.

Thanks so much.

 

[pigoo3]

Water damaged computers are difficult to diagnose…since the liquid can get anywhere & everywhere.

Here are pretty much the parts available for a 2013 MacBook Air:

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/MacBook-Air-133-13GHz-Core-i5-m-1356.html

And here are the repair procedures available for a 2013 MacBook Air:

https://www.ifixit.com/Device/MacBook_Air_13"_Mid_2013

As you can see. The display is pretty much a sealed part. If something is damaged in the display itself…then a complete replacement display may be needed. Beyond this is a new video cable. If a new display or a new display cable doesn't fix things…then pretty much all that's left is a damaged logic board (which is quite common when liquid spills happen).

One thing you could try is using an external monitor with the MacBook Air. Just to be sure things look proper externally.

HTH,

- Nick

p.s. Thread moved to notebook area.

 

[kieferpuls]

Thank you Nick. That´s very helpful.

Things do look proper externally using a second monitor.

I guess I should try that new LVDS cable tomorrow even though I get a picture when I light the screen from the back. Second step, a new display; but that is way more than I want to spend.

 

[chscag]

First thing to do is check the backlight fuse. It's very possible that fuse was blown when the spill occurred. Do some googling for the location of the fuse in various MacBook Pro and Air machines. The fuse resembles a small resistor, sometimes referred to as a "fusistor".

 

[kieferpuls]

First thing to do is check the backlight fuse. It's very possible that fuse was blown when the spill occurred. Do some googling for the location of the fuse in various MacBook Pro and Air machines. The fuse resembles a small resistor, sometimes referred to as a "fusistor".

I checked the logic board. There was some moldy looking stuff around the area that I cleaned with alcohol. The backlight fuse looked okay though (the one with the letter "P".) No signs of burned out parts, just dirty, that´s all; but after putting everything back together the problem persists. Now it doesn´t recognize the external monitor anymore but I suspect that is just a configuration problem or something funny with the external monitor itself.

Tomorrow I will open the monitor up and replace the LVDS cable. Maybe that´s the solution.

Thanks.

 

[kieferpuls]

The external monitor is okay again. I will try the new LVDS cable and will let you guys know. Hopefully I´ll manage not to break the screen glass.

 

[pigoo3]

Good luck.

- Nick

 

[ManoaHi]

I had this happen to me on my 2013 MBA i7 with 8GB RAM and 500GBFlash. I had a Hydro Flask empty itself, somehow the latch of my lid opened up during the drive to work and filled up my backpack until there was no more water left in the flask. I could tell the Mac still worked when hooked up to an external monitor and I could sort of make out the text on the built in screen. The amount of liquid didn't seem to bad (my iPad was in the same "bath" but came out unscathed), but after a couple of weeks of my MBA not working normally (I was still able to take a TimeMachine Backup) I had to take it in to the Apple store. They replaced almost everything inside, one board was ok, the rest, toast. It cost me $700 and I didn't get insurance so I paid. But still cheaper than buying a new one. Liquid could go anywhere.

 

[chscag]

The backlight fuse looked okay though (the one with the letter "P".)

It may have looked OK, but did you check for continuity with an ohm meter? (Or bridge it temporarily to see if the backlight comes on.)

 

[kieferpuls]

It may have looked OK, but did you check for continuity with an ohm meter? (Or bridge it temporarily to see if the backlight comes on.)

I don´t have an ohm meter but will oder one now: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Multimeter-V...364393?hash=item1a0c691aa9:g:bc8AAOSwX~dWm2CH

Right now I´m in the process of replacing the LVDS cable. I want to do it now so that I can return it and get my money back when switching cables doesn´t fix the problem.

 

[pigoo3]

I want to do it now so that I can return it and get my money back when switching cables doesn´t fix the problem.

Sounds like you're expecting the cable to not be the solution. Maybe…maybe not.

Sometimes we want problems to have a more "sexy" solution (other than a boring cable). I busted my butt trying to fix a fan problem in a 2011 27" iMac (probably removed the 27" display panel 20 times)…and did hours & hours of OS/software troubleshooting. In the end turned out to be a stupid $5.00 SATA hard drive cable…which I already had just inches away all the time in a brand new hard drive box!!

Fingers crossed the LVDS cable fixes things!

- Nick

 

[kieferpuls]

Sounds like you're expecting the cable to not be the solution. Maybe…maybe not.

Sometimes we want problems to have a more "sexy" solution (other than a boring cable). I busted my butt trying to fix a fan problem in a 2011 27" iMac (probably removed the 27" display panel 20 times)…and did hours & hours of OS/software troubleshooting. In the end turned out to be a stupid $5.00 SATA hard drive cable…which I already had just inches away all the time in a brand new hard drive box!!

Fingers crossed the LVDS cable fixes things!

- Nick

Hehe, ain´t that the truth?

Thanks.

 

[kieferpuls]

Alright, I managed to remove the bezel without breaking the screen glass and I´m calling it a day. Tomorrow I will deal with removing the display cable from the PC Board (not sure if that´s what it´s called) which by my first tentalizing tries seems incredibly hard to bend enough so that I can disconnect the LVDS cable without breaking other connectors. Does anybody have any tips or links that can help? I found this guy on youtube who has been of some help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OBrkfCHwq4

Hopefully I´ll get that cable replaced tomorrow and find out whether that´s as far as I get or not.

 

[kieferpuls]

I´ve replaced the LVDS cable and there´s still no backlight. Any ideas?

Thank you.

 

[kieferpuls]

UPDATE: as I was putting the display assembly back together with the rest of the machine I noticed this tiny little part with the number 76 printed on top came out (see photo.) I really goofed there, I know; but once I put everything back together the situation is still the same: everything works perfectly except for the backlight. Could it be that this piece is one of the culprits? Is it also a "fuse" like the one with the letter "P"?

I know now that the LVDS cable is not the problem so it has to be the backlight fuse. I´m willing to buy the tools and fix it myself if possible, maybe this is a chance to learn how to do things like this, at least just enough to fix this one particular issue. Does anybody have any experience and advice with this (what to buy and do)?

I really appreciate the help I´m getting from this forum.

http://postimg.org/image/egez8me17/

 

[pigoo3]

Could it be that this piece is one of the culprits?

I think that you already know the answer. Not supposed to be any lose parts floating around inside of a laptop computer. Is this specific part responsible? Not 100% sure. But it is very likely.

Display issue + loose part = probably related

- Nick

 

[kieferpuls]

I think that you already know the answer. Not supposed to be any lose parts floating around inside of a laptop computer. Is this specific part responsible? Not 100% sure. But it is very likely.

Display issue + loose part = probably related

- Nick

I wasn´t floating before, I knocked it out by accident while putting back the assembly. Stupid, I know. But I think it might have been lose already and it´s around the backlight fuse area where the water traces were most noticeable. I guess I just I can´t fix it on my own. I would have to learn how to solder Logicboard components, using schematics, etc. All things I have absolutely no experience with. Would love to learn but can´t find any learning shortcuts online.

Thanks.

 

[Nick_1234]

I wasn´t floating before, I knocked it out by accident while putting back the assembly. Stupid, I know. But I think it might have been lose already and it´s around the backlight fuse area where the water traces were most noticeable. I guess I just I can´t fix it on my own. I would have to learn how to solder Logicboard components, using schematics, etc. All things I have absolutely no experience with. Would love to learn but can´t find any learning shortcuts online.

Thanks.

Could you finally manage to fix your back-light issue, and if so can you please share, how?

 

[jasongoldworthy]

hi there,


thats a damaged capacitor and will need replacing so this will more than likely solve your issue

 

[pigoo3]

Please keep in mind guys...this is almost a 1.5 year old thread. Not very likely the OP is still checking the thread to reply to questions...and they probably have either fixed the problem by now or purchased another computer.

- Nick