Fix Your Stuff Community Store

The March 2015 update of Apple's 11" MacBook Air features fifth generation Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, resulting in slightly increased performance and battery life.

140 Questions View all

Options

Broke the clip off the keyboard cable connector :(( HELP PLZ

So I was trying to fix my mousepad and when I went to put the trackpad back into the laptop, I connected the tracking pad cable easily. However, the cable to the keyboard is super awkward to put in and during my attempt, the locking clip broke off. Since it’s in a crazy position, it’s super hard to do any of the hacks that i’ve seen (tape, paper, etc). I still have the piece that broke off. I was wondering if anyone has suggestions and if it’s possible at all to reconnect the clip that snapped off. PLEASE help me. It took me three days to even get to this point since the back case screws were stripped. I’m SO close to being done with this and I may shave my head if I don’t fix this soon. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

Block Image

Block Image

Block Image

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Yes No
Score 0
Add a comment

1 Answer

Filter by:
Most Helpful Newest Oldest
Chosen Solution

Options

Relax! All you did was pop off the clamp latch piece, it looks OK in your picture.

So what to do? To get the latch back in you’ll need to pop it back into the two holes (hinge points) within the base.

Block Image

Let’s think this through using a mind model… You have a set of shelfs within a cabinet where the sides are slotted to accept a shelf. So you would slide the shelf into the two slots (one on each side) and its done! Clearly there was no need to spread or alter the sizes of the cabinet or shelf.

Here we need to bow the latch so its slightly smaller to fit it into the hinge holes. just don’t bend it to much as you will snap it! And you do what to make sure the area you are working is setup so if it flies off, which it can do in the process so you can find it again. Take note on what side is down look at the image I posted.

  • Hint! A black desk or floor will make it impossible to find and you might what to setup a few walls to stop it from traveling far.

OK, you got the latch back in now how in the blue blazes do you get the cable to feed in!

The trick here is to use a strip of electricians tape to create a pull tab onto the ribbon cable to help in guiding it into the ZIF connector. I also find using a short bamboo skewer to place under the cable to help lift the cable up again the bowing of the cable will help in getting it into the connector.

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 2

1 Comment:

Oh my god, you are my hero!! It worked so quickly and made sense when you put it in relation to shelves. Every other solution I saw was so complicated but with this I fixed the flip and my laptop is working great now. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I no longer have to pull a early 2000s Britney Spears thanks to you :)

by

Add a comment

Add your answer

riley will be eternally grateful.
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 5

Past 30 Days: 17

All Time: 685