Why is the laptop shutting down?
**NOTE: The seller included a 45W charger and did not make right on it. I need to get a 60W unit - I know.**
I’ve had this MacBook for a little bit and it still has thermal problems. At first I tried to repaste it and this did not work - even with a quality paste. The notebook is still shutting down under load on the charger.
I don’t believe it’s the power adapter at fault since it appears to run fine (although the notebook says 16.5V/3.65A max) despite being 14.5V/3.1A at most). I may try a knockoff adapter to see if it still overheating as a diagnostic step, but I have ordered a heatsink as a speculative diagnosis.
Since it’s so old, my budget for repairing the laptop is 30-40% of the average the value of the 2006 2121 machines, so $30-40 USD ($100 for reference). The reason for this is I can find a 2008-2009 model for about as much as a major part, should the problem be expensive to fix.
@mayer here is the CoconutBattery info you want:
@danj here’s the information with the 60W unit:
Is this a good question?
4 Comments
What does CoconutBattery telling us?
Is the battery even holding a sizable charge?
by Dan
@danj It holds a perfect charge but can't charge because of the adapter. I checked when I got it because a lot of sellers lie or test it for 30 seconds and say it works.
I ordered the heatsink since it hit 165F even with new thermal paste. That's also why I don't think it's the power supply but it may not be helping.
by Nick
Please post your results after running Coconut Battery. That 45 watt adapter, if it is Apple will charge it up just fine it it is working. Do not use a knockoff adapter.
by mayer
Yeah... I was given a knockoff. Needless to say I ordered a genuine one on eBay (used; I don't trust anything new or open box) since it wasn't fixed soon enough. Yes, it will count against the parts cost limit unless it's a common part I can reuse so I may give the adapter a pass since I can use it with another 13" Mac or even an Air. It won't work for the 85W 15/17" ones, but I've found most of them are not in good shape. Ended up paying $12 for the OEM 60W on eBay. Would have gotten a OEM 85W but $12 (with free 2 day shipping as an upgrade) wasn't bad.
To put it in context I mentioned the knockoff in I meant for testing - I wouldn't use one of those adapters long term. I don't leave this one plugged in unless I'm using it because I know these adapters well enough to know better. The problem is the new price kills these machines, so it's used or garbage knockoff unless you own a Mac WORTH having a new one to justify the cost.
by Nick