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MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace a broken upper case cable.

What you need

  1. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 1

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

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  2. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Lift the battery out of the computer.

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  3. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement, Memory Cover: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • 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.

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  4. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Grasp the right end of the L-shaped memory cover, then pull it towards you so it clears the battery compartment opening.

    • Lift the memory cover up and out of the computer.

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  5. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement, Upper Case: step 5, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following 3 screws:

    • One 11 mm Phillips#00 in the middle of the lower 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 of the lower case.

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  6. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • 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.)

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  7. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • 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)

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  8. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • 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 screws.

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

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  9. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 1

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

    • 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)

    • During reassembly, the two longer screws go on the inside, and the two shorter screws go on the outside.

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  11. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two Phillips screws from the optical drive (right) side of the computer:

    • Two 5.2 mm Phillips #00, with shank (2.3mm dia. x 3.25 mm len.) (Head: 3.2 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)

    • It is not necessary to remove the similar screws on the ports (left) side of the computer.

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  12. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1

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

    • Use a plastic opening tool, an expired plastic credit, or a similarly-thick card to pry up on the upper case, starting in the upper-left corner and working around to the front of the computer.

    • The upper case is likely to stick at its connection above the front edge of the optical drive. If this happens, first free all other sides, then proceed to pull upward on the upper case from either side of the optical drive opening. Here again, inserting a plastic card, guitar pick, etc. can be useful.

    • If you stand the base of the MacBook on one end to get a better look, you may displace the four grey plastic clips that hold the right side of the upper case in place. Don't panic. They slide into slots at the top rightmost edge of the lower frame, above the front edge of the optical drive.

    • During reassembly, make sure the clips on the right side, above the optical drive, click firmly into place. They're different from the clips on the left side, and so normally they require a little firmer pressure to click into place.

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  13. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 3 MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 12, image 2 of 3 MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 12, image 3 of 3

    • While holding up the upper case, pull up the black tab on the connector end of the silver ribbon cable away from the connector's socket on the logic board.

    • If there is no black tab, you can also use a spudger to gently pry the connector out of its socket on the logic board. 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, it's a good time 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 installed in slots running along the top of the frame in front of the optical drive (refer to second and third pictures). These clips must be installed in their slots for their mating tabs on the underside of the right side of the upper case to snap into them.

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  14. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement, Upper Case Cable: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • 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.

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  15. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

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  16. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

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  17. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • 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.

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  18. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 1

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

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  19. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 18, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

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  20. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 1

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

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  21. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 1

    • 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. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the upper case cable from the upper case.

    Edit

  23. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 22, image 2 of 2

    • 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. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 1

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

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  25. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 24, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 24, image 2 of 2

    • 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. MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 1

    • 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.

32 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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