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MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Cable Replacement

Written By: Andrew Bookholt (and 3 other contributors)
  • Comments: 26
  • Favorites: 28
  • Completions: 22

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

8

Time Required

Suggest a time??

Sections

3

Flags

0

Introduction

Use this guide to replace a broken AirPort/Bluetooth cable.

  1. Remove the following ten screws:

    • Remove the following ten screws:

    • Three 14.4 mm Phillips #00 screws

    • Three 3.5 mm Phillips #00 screws

    • Four 3.5 mm shouldered Phillips #00 screws

    • When replacing the small screws, align them perpendicular to the slight curvature of the case (they don't go straight down).

    Edit

  2. Use your fingers to pry the lower case away from the body of the MacBook near the vent. Remove the lower case.

    • Use your fingers to pry the lower case away from the body of the MacBook near the vent.

    • Remove the lower case.

    Edit

  3. Use the edge of a spudger to pry the battery connector upwards from its socket on the logic board. It is useful to pry upward on both short sides of the connector to "walk" it out of its socket. Be careful with the corners of the connectors, they can be easily broken off.

    • Use the edge of a spudger to pry the battery connector upwards from its socket on the logic board.

    • It is useful to pry upward on both short sides of the connector to "walk" it out of its socket. Be careful with the corners of the connectors, they can be easily broken off.

    Edit

  5. Bend the battery cable slightly away from its socket on the logic board so it does not accidentally connect itself while you work.

    • Bend the battery cable slightly away from its socket on the logic board so it does not accidentally connect itself while you work.

    Edit

  6. Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth connector up from its socket on the logic board.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth connector up from its socket on the logic board.

    Edit

  7. Peel back the piece of EMI tape covering the AirPort/Bluetooth cable connector above the optical drive.

    • Peel back the piece of EMI tape covering the AirPort/Bluetooth cable connector above the optical drive.

    Edit

  8. Use the tip of a spudger to lift the AirPort/Bluetooth connector off of its socket on the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

    • Use the tip of a spudger to lift the AirPort/Bluetooth connector off of its socket on the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

    Edit

  9. Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth cable from the machine.

    • Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth cable from the machine.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

22 other people completed this guide.

3 Comments

Add a comment

My Wifi failed, "no hardware found", but the Bluetooth still worked. I replaced the board, but still no dice. Turns out it was the cable!

Michael Schwern - Reply

This specific cable or the one that goes up to the screen?

Anton Wretman SSIS -

Yes, this cable.

Michael Schwern -

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