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Model A1181: 1.83, 2, 2.1, 2.13, 2.16, 2.2, or 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo processor

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Display contains garbled, multicolor lines - is this a cable problem?

Macbook A1181 13" 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo

I have a computer display malfunction with my 3.5 yr. old MacBook. I'm trying to narrow problem to whether it's a faulty (a) display data cable, (b) inverter cable, (c) inverter, (d) something else, or (e) something fatal.

The machine is a 3.5 year old MacBook 13" 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo w/2 GB RAM, model type A1181. It has been used hard, and the 3 year warranty has expired.

THE PROBLEM: The screen display is normal about 75% of the time. About 25% of the time, the display is no longer there, replaced instead by flickering horizontal and vertical lines of rainbow colors against black background. Sometimes, portions of the underlying display are visible as well; sometimes the screen then goes completely black. Occasionally, there will be static-y blocks of gibberish (think multicolor barcode) across the whole screen (but clearly not informational).

The problem seems to happen regardless of length of operation, temperature, etc.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: (1) sometimes moving the screen forward/backward causes a temporary resolution; (2) sometimes thumb pressure on keyboard case (upper left, upper right by power switch) causes temporary resolution; (3) sometimes thumb pressure on display (lower right, lower left) also gives temporary resolution; (4) the bezel covering the screen has separated from the back in the lower left corner; (5) there seems to be no problem with the quality of backlighting.

Hope I've provided enough information.

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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Apple MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.16 13" (White) Specs

Identifiers: Mid-2007 - MB062LL/A - MacBook2,1 - A1181 - 2139

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The first thing to try is connecting it to an external display. If the image is perfect externally while it's going haywire on the laptop's screen, you know the problem is in the laptop's display hardware. On the other hand, if the external display also shows the defects, you know the problem is with the video chip or the board (not too common on this model, but it's worth ruling out). If you could try that and report back, we can go from there.

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I'll have to report back tomorrow; I don't have an external display (or useable TV for that matter) readily handy! Thanks for the VERY QUICK response, by the way!

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It DOES seem to work well when hooked up to an external display. The more I think about it, the more I suspect it's a cable issue. Any idea whether it's the display data cable or the inverter cable? Thanks in advance

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That would be the LVDS/data display cable. The inverter cable is for the backlight.

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John Mayer will be eternally grateful.
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