Fix Your Stuff Community Store

Repair and disassembly information for the 2020 refresh of the MacBook Air model A2179 with an Intel processor that was released in March 2020.

103 Questions View all

Options

Help! Cut display cabling!

I am so embarrassed… I cut two display cable ribbons on my MacBook Air while trimming a vinyl skin/wrap. It was extremely stupid. I didn’t even realize it until I opened my MacBook and saw black and grey.

My question - what is it going to take to fix them? Can I purchase and replace the cables themselves? do I need to purchase an entire display assembly? How do I go about repairing the damage?

All advice appreciated. Thank you so much!!

Edit: Added photo of ribbon-like cabling location (taken of underside of closed MacBook).

Block Image

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Yes No
Score 0
1 Comment

To be very clear I tried to get a photo of the cable location and damage. Please forgive the overexposure - it is hard to see the ribbon-like cabling in the crack.

by

Add a comment

1 Answer

Filter by:
Most Helpful Newest Oldest
Chosen Solution

Options

Replace the entire display, usually the broken cables are not repairable.

The equipment and process to be able to repair the broken cable probably costs more than buying a new screen or a new computer if you only buy them to do one repair. They only make sense when doing commercial repairs, not DIYs.

Also, even you do decide to buy all the equipment, you are most likely to trash a few displays practicing repair skills.

So don’t bother, just get a new screen assembly.

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 5

4 Comments:

Tom, you are awesome. Thank you for the quick reply!

So to confirm, I could not just purchase this part: MacBook Air 13" (Late 2018-Late 2020) Display Cable

I need to purchase the entire assembly, like this? MacBook Air 13" (Late 2018-Early 2020) Display Assembly

The price difference is significant, so I just want to be 100% sure this is the only way to go.

Thanks again. Please know I really appreciate your help.

by

I read up more, and if I am correct, I cut the “flex cable” that gave MacBook Pro owners so much trouble. https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-macb...

It seems the way to fix the cabling itself is possible but way too involved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYtDVjYN...

Indeed this will be a most costly fix. But my thanks again for the timely help.

by

@joschwinn Yeah that looks like it. The "cable only" part is actually the cable from the mainboard to display control board, which is not the one you broke. You broke the display control board to LCD panel rolling cables, which are soldered to the display board on one end, embedded into the display unit on the other end.

Before you go about buying a whole new display, maybe ask around who does repairs commercially like the video you posted. It is always good to keep the original display panel.

by

Thanks again Tom. I am going to call around for some quotes, and if they are what I think they will be, find a display assembly myself and learn how to install it with the iFixit guide! Will try to update this once I figure everything out.

Once again, so appreciate your chiming in to help. You really helped save my day after my agonizing mistake!

by

Add a comment

Add your answer

joschwinn will be eternally grateful.
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 9

Past 30 Days: 45

All Time: 1,215