MacBook Pro 13" Touch Bar Late 2016 Antenna Cable Assembly Replacement

Written By: Dominik Schnabelrauch (and 4 other contributors)

Comments: 5
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MacBook Pro 13" Touch Bar Late 2016 Antenna Cable Assembly Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the antenna cable assembly of your MacBook Pro 13" Touch Bar Late 2016.

Tools

Buy these tools

Parts

Buy these parts

MacBook Pro 13" Retina (Touch Bar, Late 2016-2017) Antenna Bar

$29.99

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Step 1 Disable Auto Boot

Before starting this procedure, you must disable your Mac's Auto Boot feature. Auto Boot powers on your Mac when you open the lid, and may be accidentally triggered during disassembly. Use this guide or follow the abbreviated instructions below to disable Auto Boot.

Copy and paste the following command (or type it exactly) into Terminal:

Before starting this procedure, you must disable your Mac's Auto Boot feature. Auto Boot powers on your Mac when you open the lid, and may be accidentally triggered during disassembly. Use this guide or follow the abbreviated instructions below to disable Auto Boot.
Power on your Mac and launch Terminal.
Copy and paste the following command (or type it exactly) into Terminal:
sudo nvram AutoBoot=%00
Press [return]. If prompted, enter your administrator password and press [return] again. Note: Your return key may also be labeled ⏎ or "enter."
You can now safely power down your Mac and open the bottom case, without it accidentally powering on.
When your repair is complete and your Mac is successfully reassembled, re-enable Auto Boot with the following command:
sudo nvram AutoBoot=%03

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Step 2 Lower Case

Before proceeding, unplug and power down your MacBook. Close the display and lay it on a soft surface, top-side down.

Tool used on this step:

Magnetic Project Mat

$19.99

Before proceeding, unplug and power down your MacBook. Close the display and lay it on a soft surface, top-side down.
Use a P5 Pentalobe driver to remove the six screws securing the lower case:
Two 6.2 mm screws
Four 3.4 mm screws
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your device.

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Step 3

Apply a suction handle to the lower case near the front-center area of the MacBook Pro.

Lift the suction handle to create a slight separation between the lower case and the chassis.

Apply a suction handle to the lower case near the front-center area of the MacBook Pro.
Lift the suction handle to create a slight separation between the lower case and the chassis.

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Step 4

Insert one corner of an opening pick into the space between the lower case and the chassis.

Slide the opening pick around the nearest corner and halfway up the side of the case.

This releases the first of the hidden clips securing the lower case to the chassis. You should feel and hear the clip pop free.

Insert one corner of an opening pick into the space between the lower case and the chassis.
Slide the opening pick around the nearest corner and halfway up the side of the case.
This releases the first of the hidden clips securing the lower case to the chassis. You should feel and hear the clip pop free.

Edit

The instruction implies that sliding the pick up to the side of the case releases the clip. This is far from the truth; it takes a pretty strong force to pop the clip open. The plastic pick is a good start, but you need to reach in and pull the middle of that side of the case pretty hard.

dkraemer2 - January 18 Reply

Step 5

Repeat the previous step on the opposite side, sliding your opening pick under the lower case and up the side to pop the second clip free.

Repeat the previous step on the opposite side, sliding your opening pick under the lower case and up the side to pop the second clip free.

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Step 6

Insert your opening pick once again under the front edge of the lower case, near one of the two centermost screw holes.

Give the pick a firm twist to pop free the third clip securing the lower case to the chassis.

Repeat this procedure near the other of the two centermost screw holes, popping the fourth clip free.

Insert your opening pick once again under the front edge of the lower case, near one of the two centermost screw holes.
Give the pick a firm twist to pop free the third clip securing the lower case to the chassis.
Repeat this procedure near the other of the two centermost screw holes, popping the fourth clip free.

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Step 7

Pull the lower case firmly towards the front of the MacBook (away from the hinge area) to separate the last of the clips securing the lower case.

It may help to pull first at one corner, then the other. In case you aren't able to separate the clip from the lower case you can apply a suction cup next to the corner with the clip and carefully use it as a pulling handle.

Pull the lower case firmly towards the front of the MacBook (away from the hinge area) to separate the last of the clips securing the lower case.
It may help to pull first at one corner, then the other. In case you aren't able to separate the clip from the lower case you can apply a suction cup next to the corner with the clip and carefully use it as a pulling handle.

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Step 8

Remove the lower case.

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Step 9 Battery Connector

Carefully peel up the large piece of tape covering the battery connector, on the edge of the logic board nearest the battery.

Carefully peel up the large piece of tape covering the battery connector, on the edge of the logic board nearest the battery.
Remove the tape.

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Step 10

Gently peel back the small piece of tape covering the battery board data cable connector.

The tape is integrated into the ribbon cable and will not detach completely. Simply peel it back enough to access the connector.

Gently peel back the small piece of tape covering the battery board data cable connector.
The tape is integrated into the ribbon cable and will not detach completely. Simply peel it back enough to access the connector.

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Step 11

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the small black locking tab securing the cable in its connector.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the small black locking tab securing the cable in its connector.

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Step 12

Disconnect the battery board data cable by sliding it out from its socket.

Slide parallel to the logic board, in the direction of the cable.

Disconnect the battery board data cable by sliding it out from its socket.
Slide parallel to the logic board, in the direction of the cable.

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Step 13

Fold the battery board data cable to the side and out of the way.

Fold the battery board data cable to the side and out of the way.

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The cable is held down with adhesive. Be very gentle with the delicate cable as you peel it back.

dkraemer2 - January 18 Reply

Step 14

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the 3.7 mm pancake screw securing the battery power connector.

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the 3.7 mm pancake screw securing the battery power connector.

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Step 15

Use a spudger to gently lift the battery power connector, disconnecting the battery.

Lift the connector high enough so that it stays separated from its socket. If it accidentally makes contact during the course of your repair, it could damage your MacBook Pro.

Use a spudger to gently lift the battery power connector, disconnecting the battery.
Lift the connector high enough so that it stays separated from its socket. If it accidentally makes contact during the course of your repair, it could damage your MacBook Pro.

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Step 16 Antenna Cable Assembly

Remove the four 1.9 mm T3 Torx screws securing the plastic covers on top of the display hinges.

Remove the two plastic covers in the left and right corner of the Macbook with a pair of tweezers.

Remove the four 1.9 mm T3 Torx screws securing the plastic covers on top of the display hinges.
Remove the two plastic covers in the left and right corner of the Macbook with a pair of tweezers.

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Step 17

Remove the two 2.9 mm T3 Torx screws securing the aluminum cover on top of the main display cable.

Remove the aluminium cover with a pair of tweezers.

Remove the two 2.9 mm T3 Torx screws securing the aluminum cover on top of the main display cable.
Remove the aluminium cover with a pair of tweezers.

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Step 18

Remove the two 1.7 mm T3 Torx screws securing the aluminum cover on top of the display cable flex connector.

Remove the two 1.7 mm T3 Torx screws securing the aluminum cover on top of the display cable flex connector.
Remove the aluminium cover with a pair of tweezers.

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Step 19

Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully disconnect the display cable.

Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully disconnect the display cable.

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Step 20

Remove the four 1.5 mm T3 Torx screws securing the two aluminum covers on top of the two display cable connectors.

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the two aluminium covers.

Remove the four 1.5 mm T3 Torx screws securing the two aluminum covers on top of the two display cable connectors.
Use a pair of tweezers to remove the two aluminium covers.

Edit

These do not need to be removed.

In fact, these screws and covers came already installed on my replacement display.

dkraemer2 - January 18 Reply

When re-installing the display, be careful to make sure that the display cable from the logic board sits properly ABOVE its connector on the display hinge.

dkraemer2 - January 18 Reply

Step 21

Remove the four 3.9 mm T5 Torx screws on both sides, which secure the antenna cable assembly.

Also remove the twelve 1.1 mm P2 screws on both sides.

Remove the four 3.9 mm T5 Torx screws on both sides, which secure the antenna cable assembly.
Also remove the twelve 1.1 mm P2 screws on both sides.

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Step 22

Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the three coax cables from the main board.

Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the three coax cables from the main board.

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Step 23

Remove the 2.8 mm T5 Torx screw securing the three coax cables to the main board.

Remove the 2.8 mm T5 Torx screw securing the three coax cables to the main board.

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Step 24

Use an opening pick to lever out the antenna cable assembly in three separate actions.

Do not slide the opening pick from one side to the other because there are two display cables that can be damaged.

Insert the opening pick beneath the right side of the antenna cable assembly and lever it out. Pull it out and repeat the procedure in the middle between the two display cables. Repeat once more on the left side of the assembly.

Use an opening pick to lever out the antenna cable assembly in three separate actions.
Do not slide the opening pick from one side to the other because there are two display cables that can be damaged.
Insert the opening pick beneath the right side of the antenna cable assembly and lever it out. Pull it out and repeat the procedure in the middle between the two display cables. Repeat once more on the left side of the assembly.

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Step 25

Carefully start removing the antenna cable assembly by pulling it slightly upwards and away from the MacBook.

You'll be pulling the three coax cables beneath the heat pipe. Be careful not to damage them nor the heat pipe.

Carefully start removing the antenna cable assembly by pulling it slightly upwards and away from the MacBook.
You'll be pulling the three coax cables beneath the heat pipe. Be careful not to damage them nor the heat pipe.

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Step 26

Remove the antenna cable assembly.

Edit

I had a LOT of trouble re-installing the three antenna cables underneath the heat pipe! The only way I could get them through was to use clear tape to bind the three antenna connectors together tightly into one pointy end. I was able to push that through into place, but I was not able to push the three separate wires through.

dkraemer2 - January 18 Reply