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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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Screen is dark, hooked to ext. monitor.What should I do next?

My MacBook 13'' 2.16 GHz A1181 Screen is dark and I did what you suggested to another Ifixit user.

I hooked it up to an external monitor I am able to see the screen desktop and the computer content

What should I do next?

Thanks for your help

Marcela

Update

The screen is black and there is minimal clarity of the desktop, can not see the cursor, I thinks that is a good parameter of how minimal I can see of the desk top.

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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Is the screen black or can you still discern the desktop? Any change when the screen is moved up and down?

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Prior to it reaching it's current state, had the screen been flickering or dimming, possibly a slight reddish/orange hue? Also prior could you hear a low level hum from the lower bezel area? Did the screen give any indication that something wasn't normal or did it just go black?

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Prior to it reaching it's current state, had the screen been flickering or dimming, possibly a slight reddish/orange hue?

No, just went black

Also prior could you hear a low level hum from the lower bezel area?

No I did not. It has sound

Did the screen give any indication that something wasn't normal or did it just go black?

No, just went black Thanks MArcela

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Chosen Solution

Since you can see a faint image of the desktop that means the actual video components are good and that something in the backlight system is bad. Since it just went "black" on you the most likely source of the problem is the inverter. Click here and chose the inverter guide for instructions on how to replace it. Going through that guide will also give you an idea if you or someone you know can do the job. The inverter is sold here and a number of other places. Prices vary on them from about $10 USD to $50 USD.

Inverter cables, when they go out normally show there is a problem over a period of time before they fully go out with the backlight flickering or going off/on when the upper clam shell is moved toward or away from the keyboard. The actual backlight/CCFL bulb normally shows problem(s) over a period of time with one or some combination of the following: Dimming, flickering, reddish/orange hue or low level hum coming from the lower bezel area (not the speakers). Though it is rare to find and normally associated with liquid damage, backlight problems can also originate from the control circuitry on the motherboard/logic board. From the details you have given in your question and answers to questions I'd put the chances of the inverter being the problem at 90%+.

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Thanks so much.. I will try with the inverter!

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I've never found a bad A1181 inverter. Probably 90% of the time it's the screen itself, and 10% of the time it's the inverter cable, and never (or very, very rarely) the inverter itself. But since they are cheaper, it can't hurt to replace the inverter cable before going to the expense of replacing the screen.

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marcela will be eternally grateful.
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