Fix Your Stuff Community Store

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

759 Questions View all

Options

Black screen enigma: inverter cable or what?

My MBP a1226 has that not unusual problem of a screen that looks black, but I can still see very faint graphics on it. I must be upfront and say that before the screen went totally black, it started looking really weird with light/dark stripes of light at its bottom. I tried to attach a photo here, but it didn't work... so please just take a look at the pics on this post because it's exactly like my screen looked like before going totally black: LED Back light problems.)

So, I researched iFixit for a solution and decided to try replacing the LED Drive Board first. I did it and the screen came back on for like 10 minutes and it went black again. Weird, right? Then, since I'm not home but traveling abroad doing volunteer work -and seriously guys, you have no idea how hard it is to import parts overseas! - I decided that I'd hook the MBP to an external monitor and just go from there. It's worked wonders but it's not ideal since I need mobility. Anyway, what would eventually happen is - and this is the enigma I mentioned - the MBP screen would work and then go black... the time it would stay on varied. For about a month it remained black and I just used it hooked to the external monitor. Then yesterday, after not turning it on for about a week, I fired it up and voila: the screen was back and working. It worked for like 12 hours and then went black. I turned it off and just turned it on again this afternoon and the screen once again worked up until when I turned it off. Now I tried to turn it on again and it didn't work! Because I'm in a country where winter time is approaching and we've had very cold days, I started to wonder if it was something due to heating... I have read stuff online about people having great experiences about substituting the thermal paste. However, I don't think that's the case. I know that my LCD certainly needs to be replaced at some point but given how old my computer is, I'd just rather keep on cutting some corners and really kick this can down the road. I am entertaining the idea that it could really be the inverter cable, but iFixit troubleshooting page says that's the case if the backlight fails intermittently while moving the display. I have moved it a bit around and played with the angle of the top case to see if I'd see any changes while it was on and nothing really ever changed. It seems that moving it around has no implications on the screen at all.

So what is really the problem here? That's one enigma I can't solve and buying parts to later find out they won't resolve my problem is really frustrating not to say costly.

I know it's not the LED Driver Board. I have dropped the idea it could be the logic board because it works when connected to an external monitor. LCD needs replacement because of those dark/light stripes at the bottom of the screen, but it still works whenever my MPB "decides it's a good day for its screen to work again."

After reading this book chapter I've just written, would you be able to help me solve this enigma? Or should I hire a private detective?

Update (06/09/2016)

Tried replacing the inverter/iSight cable. Same problem persists. Now I wonder is it's the LCD... the troubleshooting page for this model says that once LED Drive Board and inverter cable have been ruled out, the next step would be replacing the LCD... honestly I'm so over it that I may just buy this whole screen piece instead of just a new LCD. Thoughts? Please share!

Answer this question I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Yes No
Score 0
4 Comments

Just to be clear you did say you had already replace the LED driver board with no change and now the inverter cable (which we all agree is not a good name for this cable). That does lead us back to the display unit but I find that hard to believe.

If you are clearly getting the Odd Vs Even LED's lit in the light bar I would have thought it was the power not getting to the driver board or the driver board its self was bad.

Can you post your own image of what you see here. Are we going down the wrong path?

by

Hey Dan,

Before I forget, why is inverter cable not a good name for it? Isn't that what iFixIt basically calls it? -> MacBook Pro 15" (Models A1226/A1260) Inverter/iSight Cable . I now they include "iSight" in it too, but isn't just because both cables are glued together?

I currently don't see anything on my screen. Everything is dark. I can still see the faint graphics in the BG using a flashlight but that's it. There were a few times when everything worked but then it was blackout again. I can only think I got a faulty LCD problem here.

If I knew how to post images, I'd have done so already. I tried but this forum doesn't seem to accept pic uploading.

I have already placed an order for a new screen unit. It's better than just trying one cable at a time. I'm so over the whole thing. But I truly wish I could determine what's really broken...

by

Sorry Joe was out of the country for a while. Sounds like Mayer picked up the ball here.

As to why is the name wrong has to do with core function of the name 'invert' to turn something over. In this case to alter the voltage would be the action which is what a CFL light source would need, but an LED light source would not. This was the transition system between CFL to LED backlighting which is why the name is off.

The reason the cable is combined with the iSight is because it's a harness. Apple often combines things to speed up manufacturing which also means it can be a bit more complex in repairing, replacing a given part which is a sub set of the assembly.

by

Does Mayer reply to things using your account as well? Because the last comments were all signed by you (Dan). Anyway, I just used that name "inverter cable" because it's what iFixit and other people selling those combined cables use for them. But let's forget about it...

Here's the latest: I got a secondhand screen and my computer is back to life. This leads me to believe that the problem with my other screen is the LCD itself. I had replaced the LED Driver board. No luck. Then I replaced the inverter/iSight cable. No luck. When I replaced the whole piece, the computer came back to life. So the problem is solved and I'm tempted to say that the LCD was the enigma after all. But I'd only be 100% sure if I ever replaced the LCD.

by

Add a comment

1 Answer

Filter by:
Most Helpful Newest Oldest
Most Helpful Answer

Options

You're going to hate me here ;-}

If it's not the LED driver board its self, then its probably the cable leading to it. Take a look at this guide: MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 LED Driver Board Replacement jump down to Steps 13 & 14. The cable maybe worn or damaged leading to the socket. Over time the flexing of the lid can break it down.

The other possibility is the fuse link. In this case you don't have a real hard dark screen so I would suspect one of the solder joints was failing making an intermittent connection. Here's a vid by Louis Rossmann as he walks though the different parts and in his case the fuse link was blown Macbook Pro A1211 no backlight motherboard fault & repair. I would note the reason the fuse went here was likely a damaged cable so that too would need to be fixed, which he does not get into.

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 2

11 Comments:

Haha... I'd never hate anyone who tries to offer me ideas & solutions.

So, if I understand you correctly, you don't think it's the inverter cable but another cable. I dunno the name for it... I took a look and some people call it "flat cable"... is that correct? So you think I should replace that one only?

I watched Rossmann's video but - wow - if that's my problem I guess my only solution is a new computer because I don't have the equipment or the skills for soldering. I'm gonna open my MBP now and see if I can spot the fuse... I just dunno if I'm gonna be able to determine if it's blown.

by

No, not the flat ribbon cable, the other cable that goes to your logic board. Look at Step14 thats the cable end at the logic board.

by

Does it have a name?

So you're saying that you put your money on that cable instead of the inverter cable? Is it possible to determine if the cable is broken just based on its appearance? I opened my MBP just now and I wasn't able to determine if any fuse was blown/burnt. Everything looks pretty good actually... I have a way to get the inverter (and it comes with an isight cable attached to it... unf... secondhand stuff!) but I have NO IDEA if anyone would be able to get me that other cable you're talking about...

by

The Inverter Cable is the name you had them reversed in your description. ;-}

"So you're saying that you put your money on that cable instead of the inverter cable? "

You would need a DVM and measure the voltages or if you had the ends disconnected at both sides you could use an Ohm meter to measure the resistance from end to end.

The cable is not available as a spare ;-{ You'll need to get it from a junker.

by

Did I really? I think I've used the right name all along... inverter cable.

Anyway. Just to clarify then: you think that if I replace that cable on the left (not the airport cable but the other one that connects to the LED Board Drive + iSight), I may have a shot at fixing this problem, right? I happen to have found a guy that is selling that inverter cable+isight cable. I was gonna order it from him this weekend. I'm just a little anxious about buying it to later find out it won't work at all.

by

Show 6 more comments

Add a comment

Add your answer

Joe will be eternally grateful.
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 0

Past 30 Days: 0

All Time: 326