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MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement

Written By: Andrew Bookholt (and 4 other contributors)
  • Comments: 108
  • Favorites: 19
  • Completions: 30

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

25

Time Required

25 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

4

Flags

0

Introduction

Use this guide to replace a broken upper case cable.

  1. Use a coin or spudger to rotate the battery-locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.

    • Use a coin or spudger to rotate the battery-locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.

    Edit

  2. Lift the battery out of the computer.

    • Lift the battery out of the computer.

    Edit

  3. Unscrew the three evenly-spaced Phillips screws from along the rear wall of the battery compartment.

    • Unscrew the three evenly-spaced Phillips screws from along the rear wall of the battery compartment.

    • The screws are captive to the metal memory cover so you cannot lose them.

    • Using The Flexible Extension sold by iFixit will help with this step

    Edit

  4. Rotate the L-shaped memory cover so it clears the battery compartment opening and lift it up and out of the computer.

    • Rotate the L-shaped memory cover so it clears the battery compartment opening and lift it up and out of the computer.

    Edit

  5. Remove the following 3 screws:

    • Remove the following 3 screws:

    • One 11 mm Phillips#00 in the middle of the case. (Head: 5mm dia. x .75mm thick)

    • Two 14.5 mm Phillips #00 (Head: 5mm dia. x .75mm thick)

    • If the screws stick in the case, you can use a magnetized screwdriver to draw them out.

    • The shorter of the three screws goes in the middle.

    Edit

  6. Take extra caution with these screws as they can strip easily!

    • Take extra caution with these screws as they can strip easily!

    • You could use a flexible extension to minimize stripping.

    • Remove the following 3 screws from the rear wall of the battery compartment:

    • One 3 mm Phillips #0. (Head: 2.75 mm. dia.)

    • Two 4 mm Phillips #0 on the either side. (Head: 2.75mm dia.)

    Edit

  7. Remove the two Phillips screws from either side of the right wall of the battery compartment (not the ones closest to the battery connector).

    • Remove the two Phillips screws from either side of the right wall of the battery compartment (not the ones closest to the battery connector).

    • Two 6.25 mm Phillips #000. (Head: 4 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)

    Edit

  8. Remove the four indicated Phillips screws from the front wall of the battery compartment. When working from the left, remove the 2nd, 4th, 7th and 9th screw.

    • Remove the four indicated Phillips screws from the front wall of the battery compartment. When working from the left, remove the 2nd, 4th, 7th and 9th screw.

    • Four 3.25 mm Phillips #000. (Head: 4 mm. dia. x 4mm thick)

    Edit

  9. Remove the following 4 screws from the back of the computer:

    • Remove the following 4 screws from the back of the computer:

    • The longer screws go on the inside, shorter screws on the outside.

    • Two 11 mm Phillips #00, with Shank (2.2mm dia. x 2 mm len.) (Head: 3.2 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)

    • Two 7.25 mm Phillips #00, with Shank (2mm dia. x 3.75 mm len.) (Head: 3.2 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)

    Edit

  11. Remove the two Phillips screws from the optical drive side of the computer.

    • Remove the two Phillips screws from the optical drive side of the computer.

    • Two 5.2 mm Phillips #00, with Shank (2.3mm dia. x 3.5 mm len.) (Head: 3.2 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)

    • It is not necessary to remove the similar screws on the other side of the computer.

    Edit

  12. There's a trackpad and keyboard ribbon connecting the upper case to the logic board, so don't pull the upper case off entirely just yet.

    • There's a trackpad and keyboard ribbon connecting the upper case to the logic board, so don't pull the upper case off entirely just yet.

    • Starting near the display and working around to the front of the computer, pry up on the upper case. A plastic opening tool or a medium hard guitar pick may help you to do this.

    • The upper case is likely to stick at the connection above the optical drive. If this is the case, first free all other sides, then proceed to pull upward on the upper case from either side of the optical drive opening.

    • If you stand the base on end to get a better look you may displace the total of 4 grey plastic clips that hold the keyboard in place. Don't panic. They slide into slots at the top right-most edge near the CD drive.

    • During reassembly, make sure the clips on the right side click into place. They are different than the left side.

    Edit

  13. While holding up the upper case, pull up the black tab of the silver cable away from its connector. If there is no black tab, you can also use a spudger to gently pry the connector from its housing. This connector is tall, so be sure to pry straight up. If you happen to break your upper case cable when removing the upper case, we stock the cable individually and we have a guide that makes replacing it easy.

    • While holding up the upper case, pull up the black tab of the silver cable away from its connector.

    • If there is no black tab, you can also use a spudger to gently pry the connector from its housing. This connector is tall, so be sure to pry straight up.

    • If you happen to break your upper case cable when removing the upper case, we stock the cable individually and we have a guide that makes replacing it easy.

    • While you have the upper case removed, you may want to take the opportunity to remove dust, hair, etc. It's best to use a can of compressed air, though if you use a brush, make sure that its bristles are made of a material (usually animal hair) that doesn't generate static electricity, which can destroy electronics.

    • Upon reassembly, there are 4 grey plastic clips on the optical drive side of the keyboard (refer to second picture). They must be installed in their slots for the keyboard to snap in properly.

    • To make the reassamble process easier, it's better to pull out the clips first by pulling it straight up gently. Be careful not to put too much strength because it will break.

    Edit

  14. If you have a silver upper case cable, skip to Step 22.

    • If you have a silver upper case cable, skip to Step 22.

    • If you have a brown upper case cable, follow this and the following steps to replace your upper case cable.

    • Carefully peel the upper case cable off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.

    Edit

  15. Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully peel up the adhesive around the perimeter of the plastic panel stuck to the underside of the trackpad. Remove the panel from the upper case.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully peel up the adhesive around the perimeter of the plastic panel stuck to the underside of the trackpad.

    • Remove the panel from the upper case.

    Edit

  16. Use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the upper case cable ZIF socket near the keyboard cable. Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the upper case cable ZIF socket near the keyboard cable.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    Edit

  17. Gently peel up the section of the upper case cable stuck to the keyboard ribbon cable, being careful not to disturb the keyboard ribbon cable in the process.

    • Gently peel up the section of the upper case cable stuck to the keyboard ribbon cable, being careful not to disturb the keyboard ribbon cable in the process.

    Edit

  18. Pull the top upper case ribbon cable connector out of its socket under the trackpad.

    • Pull the top upper case ribbon cable connector out of its socket under the trackpad.

    Edit

  19. Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the mouse button ribbon cable socket. Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the mouse button ribbon cable socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    Edit

  20. Pull the mouse button ribbon cable out of its socket.

    • Pull the mouse button ribbon cable out of its socket.

    Edit

  21. Use the flat end of a spudger to help peel the last portion of the upper case ribbon cable off the adhesive securing it to the underside of the trackpad.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to help peel the last portion of the upper case ribbon cable off the adhesive securing it to the underside of the trackpad.

    Edit

  22. Remove the upper case cable from the upper case.

    • Remove the upper case cable from the upper case.

    Edit

  23. Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully peel up the adhesive around the perimeter of the plastic panel stuck to the underside of the trackpad. Remove the panel from the upper case.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully peel up the adhesive around the perimeter of the plastic panel stuck to the underside of the trackpad.

    • Remove the panel from the upper case.

    Edit

  24. Carefully peel the upper case cable and the piece of clear tape off the bottom of the upper case.

    • Carefully peel the upper case cable and the piece of clear tape off the bottom of the upper case.

    Edit

  25. Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the upper case cable ZIF socket. Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the upper case cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    Edit

  26. Pull the upper case cable out of its socket and remove it from the upper case.

    • Pull the upper case cable out of its socket and remove it from the upper case.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

30 other people completed this guide.

One Comment

I’m in need of this MacBook a1181 keyboard and trackpad connector flex. Just identical to the one they are using in the pictures give demo.

Rahbar Ali - Reply

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