Fix Your Stuff Community Store

2.2, 2.4, 2.5, or 2.6 GHz Core 2 Duo processor

759 Questions View all

Options

Top case (where keyboard is housed) layers separating

I just had my topcase replaced by Apple. This is what Apple calls the surface that houses the keyboard, so the name may confuse some who read the title of my post. To reiterate, topcase in this post is not the lid. It's the part your palms rest on. Funny Apple naming thing.

Next day a dog knocked it off the table. The front left corner of the lower half of the case is dented in above the hard drive, the topcase doesn't nest in that corner, and the topcase is separating in two layers. The layers include the darker grey edge that borders the topcase, and set into it is the lighter grey panel that makes up the majority of the surface. It is nested into the darker rim. This light one is the part that's lifting up. I believe it was glued down, but to see in there I'd have to pry it up more, risking more damage. I took the topcase off the computer to look at it from the underside, but there's an under layer and the junction is not visible.

I'd take it into Apple, but they just replaced the topcase, and the bottom case is now obviously damaged and I doubt they would cover it in the 90 day warranty on the Flat Rate Repair they just did (which, by the way, is a way around the recently expired extended 4 year warranty on logic boards for the messed up 08 models).

Anyone know what kind of glue is appropriate to try to sneak in there to hold it down?

Block Image

Answer this question I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Yes No
Score -1
5 Comments

It would really help if you could upload a photo. Just hit the images tab in the lower left hand corner of this frame.

by

btw, I'm aware the dent in the corner of the case, which is causing the whole topcase to lift up, is affecting the lift of the light grey layer. I've been trying to bend the lower case back into square, but it's proving difficult. I'll write a different post for that.

by

This does not look like a unibody. Please give us the last three figures of your serial number (located in the battery compartment).

by

It's not a unibody. YJX. If I tagged it incorrectly when I posted, my bad.

by

Apple MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 15" (08) Specs

Identifiers: Early 2008 - MB133LL/A - MacBookPro4,1 - A1260 - 2198

by

Add a comment

2 Answers

Filter by:
Most Helpful Newest Oldest
Most Helpful Answer

Options

There's really nothing to come apart here. What happens is that the tabs that fit into the lower case didn't get seated correctly. Follow this guide to reseat your upper case. Note the edge that you are showing is seated first then the rest is lowered into place. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Upper Case Replacement

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 2

3 Comments:

In fact, it is coming apart. When the top case is off the mac, you can fidget with it and see that the right side is glued solidly down. The left side lifts off. I think in the fall from the table, and with the subsequent torque from the top case not seating in the newly dented, off-square corner, it has caused the light grey part to separate. The tabs seat fine but it won't stay in position due to the bad fit due to the dent. I am aware I have two issues going on; the dented corner causing the top case to not seat, and then the light grey layer coming up, probably due to the impact. The dog caught the power cord, and it whipped onto the ground. As Inspector Clouseau would say, "It is not my dog" :).

by

Regardless, I'm looking for advice on what glue to use to secure it back down, in case there is some type of glue that would be either bad or good. Thanks for your suggestion, mayer.

by

When you get the keyboard off, examine the tabs that the screws go into as they can get bent and may need to be pushed back into place. There's no glue used on this.

by

Add a comment
This answer was originally to another question.

Options

See this Similar Problem for possible solutions.

If this answer is acceptable please remember to return and mark it.

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 1

2 Comments:

oldturkey03: I see you labelled this as a duplicate to my other post. If you read the posts, you will see they are about different issues caused by the same drop. I posted them separately, as most of these forums prefer people not to try to address multiple issues in one thread. If possible, please undo the merge, as the answers for each issue will be different. One is about how to fix the dent in the corner, and the other is about a layer separating on the topcase.

Thanks!

by

Please ask the question again as I know of no way to undo a merge.

by

Add a comment

Add your answer

Sue will be eternally grateful.
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 0

Past 30 Days: 0

All Time: 330