MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2009

Mid 2009 Model A1278 / 2.26 or 2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo processor

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Required Tools

Spudger

$2.95 · 50+ in stock

T6 Torx Screwdriver

$4.95 · 50+ in stock

Phillips #00 Screwdriver

$4.95 · 50+ in stock

Tri-wing Y1 Screwdriver

$9.95 · 23 in stock

Recommended Tools

Home Tech Toolkit

$24.95 · 50+ in stock

Sorting Tray

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Anti-Static Wrist Strap

$7.95 · 50+ in stock

Pro Tech Base Toolkit

$59.95 · 50+ in stock

Thirsty Bag

$6.95 · 50+ in stock

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Installing MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2009 Upper Case

Prerequisite Only

This guide is only used as a prerequisite for other guides and is not a complete or useful guide when viewed independently.

Author: Walter Galan
Difficulty: Very difficult

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x
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The ins and outs of replacing your upper case.

Sections

Lower Case 2 steps
Battery 1 step
Fan 3 steps
Logic Board 13 steps
Upper Case 14 steps

Tools

Phillips #00 Screwdriver

Tools (continued)

Relevant parts

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Upper Case

Formats:
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Edit Step 1 — Lower Case ¶

Remove the following 10 screws securing the lower case to the MacBook Pro 13" Unibody:
- Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.
- Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws.

Edit Step 2 ¶

Slightly lift the lower case and push it toward the rear of the computer to free the mounting tabs.

Edit Step 3 — Battery ¶

For precautionary purposes, we advise that you disconnect the battery connector from the logic board to avoid any electrical discharge. This step is optional and is not required.
Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the battery connector up out of its socket on the logic board.

Edit Step 4 — Fan ¶

Use a spudger to pry the fan connector out of its seat, and straight up off the logic board.
It is useful to twist the spudger axially from beneath the fan cable wires to release the connector.
The fan socket and the fan connector can be seen in the second and third pictures. Be careful not to break the plastic fan socket off the logic board as you use your spudger to lift the fan connector straight up and out of its socket. The layout of the logic board shown in the second picture may look slightly different than your machine but the fan socket is the same.

Edit Step 5 ¶

Remove the following three screws securing the fan to the upper case:
- One 6.5 mm Phillips.
- One 5.5 mm Phillips.
- One 4.5 mm Phillips.

Edit Step 6 ¶

Lift the fan out of the upper case.

Edit Step 7 — Logic Board ¶

Grab the plastic pull tab secured to the display data cable lock and rotate it toward the DC-in side of the computer.
Pull the display data cable connector straight away from its socket.

Edit Step 8 ¶

Remove the following two screws securing the display data cable bracket to the upper case:
- One 7 mm Phillips.
- One 5 mm Phillips.
Lift the display data cable bracket out of the upper case.

Edit Step 9 ¶

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the subwoofer and right speaker connector up off the logic board.

Edit Step 10 ¶

In this step you will disconnect the camera cable. Most machines will have a small self adhesive plastic retainer stuck to the logic board to keep the connector in place. Before disconnecting the cable, be sure this retainer is moved out of the way.
Pull the camera cable connector toward the optical drive to disconnect it from the logic board.
This socket is metal and easily bent. Be sure to align the connector with its socket on the logic board before mating the two pieces.

Edit Step 11 ¶

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the optical drive, hard drive, and trackpad cable connectors up off the logic board.

Edit Step 12 ¶

Use your fingernail or the tip of a spudger to flip up the cable retaining flap on the ZIF socket for the keyboard ribbon cable.
Use your spudger to slide the keyboard ribbon cable out of its socket.

Edit Step 13 ¶

Peel the small strip of black tape off the keyboard backlight ribbon cable socket.

Edit Step 14 ¶

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the cable retaining flap on the ZIF socket for the keyboard backlight ribbon cable.
Use your spudger to slide the keyboard backlight ribbon cable out of its socket.

Edit Step 15 ¶

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the battery indicator cable connector up off the logic board.

Edit Step 16 ¶

Use the tip of a spudger to pry the microphone off the adhesive attaching it to the upper case.

Edit Step 17 ¶

Remove the following screws:
- Five 3.1 mm Phillips.
- Two 3.9 mm Phillips.
- Two 7 mm Phillips from the DC-in board.

Edit Step 18 ¶

Remove the following tri-wing screws securing the battery to the upper case:
- One 5.5 mm tri-wing screw.
- One 13.5 mm tri-wing screw.
Lift the battery out of the upper case.

Edit Step 19 ¶

Lift the logic board from its left edge and raise it until the ports clear the side of the upper case.
Pull the logic board away from the side of the upper case and remove it, minding the DC-in board that may get caught.
Be careful not to rip out the fragile connector plug of the microphone assembly.

Edit Step 20 — Upper Case ¶

Remove two Phillips screws securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.
The screws remain captive to the bracket.
Lift the the retaining bracket out from the upper case.

Edit Step 21 ¶

Lift the hard drive from its free edge and pull it out of the chassis, minding the cable attaching it to the computer.

Edit Step 22 ¶

Disconnect the hard drive by pulling the hard drive cable connector away from the drive.

Edit Step 23 ¶

Remove the following four screws securing the hard drive and IR sensor cable to the upper case:
- Two 1.5 mm Phillips screws.
- Two 4 mm Phillips screws.
Slide the hard drive and IR sensor bracket away from the edge of the upper case.
Carefully peel the hard drive and IR sensor cable from the upper case.

Edit Step 24 ¶

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the subwoofer to the upper case.
The longer of the two screws is on the right.
The subwoofer is still connected to the right speaker, so don't completely remove it just yet.
Lift the subwoofer off the optical drive, and set it above the computer.

Edit Step 25 ¶

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the camera cable bracket to the upper case.
The leftmost screw may remain captive in the camera cable.
If you have the Mid 2010 version, your camera cable bracket may look slightly different, but the procedure is the same.
Lift the camera cable bracket out of the upper case.

Edit Step 26 ¶

Remove the three 2.5 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case.
Lift the optical drive from its right edge and pull it out of the computer.

Edit Step 27 ¶

Peel back the small piece of black tape covering the right speaker cable.
Be careful, as the power button ribbon cable is directly under this piece of tape.

Edit Step 28 ¶

Use the tip of a spudger to pry the right speaker up off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.

Edit Step 29 ¶

Lift the subwoofer and right speaker assembly out of the upper case.

Edit Step 30 ¶

Remove the two outer 6 mm Torx screws securing each side of the display bracket to the upper case (4 screws total).

Edit Step 31 ¶

Open your MacBook so the display is perpendicular to the upper case.
Place your opened MacBook on a table as pictured.
While holding the display and upper case together with your left hand, remove the 6 mm Torx screw from the lower display bracket.

Edit Step 32 ¶

Be sure to hold the display and upper case together with your left hand. Failure to do so may cause the freed display/upper case to fall, potentially damaging each component.
Remove the last remaining 6 mm Torx screw securing the display to the upper case.

Edit Step 33 ¶

Grab the upper case with your right hand and rotate it slightly toward the top of the display so the upper display bracket clears the edge of the upper case.
Rotate the display slightly away from the upper case.
Lift the display up and away from the upper case, minding any brackets or cables that may get caught.