Installing MacBook Air 11" Late 2010 Heat Sink

Remove the heat sink on your MacBook Air 11" Late 2010.

Use this guide to remove the heat sink. Before reinstalling the heat sink, be sure to apply a new layer of thermal paste.

Image #1

Add Note Edit Step 1 — Lower Case  ¶ 

  • Before proceeding, close your computer and lay it on a soft surface top-side down.

  • Remove the following ten screws:

    • Two 8 mm 5-point Pentalobe screws

    • Eight 2.5 mm 5-point Pentalobe screws

  • The special screwdriver needed to remove the eight 5-point Pentalobe screws can be found here.

Image #1

Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • Wedge your fingers between the display and the lower case and pull upward to pop the lower case off the Air.

  • Remove the lower case and set it aside.

Image #1 Image #2

Add Note Edit Step 3 — Battery  ¶ 

  • In this step you will disconnect the battery to help avoid shorting out any components during service.

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both short sides of the battery connector upward to disconnect it from its socket on the logic board.

  • Bend the battery cable slightly away from the logic board so the connector will not accidentally contact its socket.

Image #1

Add Note Edit Step 4 — Solid-State Drive  ¶ 

  • Remove the single 2.9 mm T5 Torx screw securing the SSD to the logic board.

Image #1 Image #2

Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Use a spudger to help lift the free end of the SSD just enough to grab it with your other hand.

  • Do not lift the end of the SSD excessively.

  • Pull the drive straight out of its socket and remove it from the logic board.

  • When reinstalling the SSD, be sure it is properly seated before reinstalling its retaining screw.

Image #1

Add Note Edit Step 6 — I/O Board Cable  ¶ 

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the I/O board cable connector upward out of its socket on the I/O board.

Image #1

Add Note Edit Step 7  ¶ 

  • The following connector has an especially deep socket. Use care when disconnecting it.

  • While gently pulling the I/O board cable upward near its connection to the logic board, use the tip of a spudger to pry upward on alternating sides of the connector to help "walk" it out of its socket.

  • Remove the I/O board cable.

Image #1

Add Note Edit Step 8 — Fan  ¶ 

  • Use the tip of a spudger to carefully flip up the retaining flap on the fan cable ZIF socket.

  • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

Next » « Previous

Required Tools

Spudger

$2.95 · 50+ In stock

T5 Torx Screwdriver

$6.95 · 50+ In stock

Arctic Silver Thermal Paste

$8.95 · 50+ In stock

Arctic Silver ArctiClean

$7.95 · 24 In stock

Related Products

Recommended Tools

Universal Drive Adaptor

$29.95 · 50+ In stock

iFixit Lock Pick Set

$29.95 · 31 In stock

Inspection Scope

$39.95 · 40 In stock

Frictionless Ratchet

$24.95 · 49 In stock

Portable Anti-Static Mat

$24.95 · 19 In stock

Comments Add Note Comments are offturn on