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PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement

What you need

  1. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Use a coin to turn the battery locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.

    • Lift the battery out of the computer.

  2. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement, Upper Case: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following 10 screws:

    • Two 3 mm Phillips in the battery compartment, on either side of the battery contacts.

    • Four 3 mm Phillips around the memory compartment.

    • Four 16 mm Phillips along the hinge.

  3. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the memory compartment cover.

    • Remove the two 12 mm Phillips screws on the Aluminum bracket at the top of the memory compartment.

  4. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Rotate the computer 90 degrees clockwise so the power receptacle faces you.

    • Remove the three 3 mm Phillips screws along the edge of the lower case.

    • When replacing these screws, you must install them in the correct order. Begin by installing the screw closest to the display hinge, then work your way toward the front of the computer.

  5. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Turn the computer 90 degrees clockwise so the hinge faces you.

    • Remove the lower 5 mm Phillips screw on each side of the hinge (two total).

  6. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Rotate the computer 90 degrees clockwise so the ports face you.

    • Remove the three 3 mm Phillips screws along the edge of the lower case.

    • When replacing these screws, you must install them in the correct order. Begin by installing the screw closest to the display hinge, then work your way toward the front of the computer. Also, be careful not to put the screws in the two holes on either side of the video out port.

  7. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Turn the computer over and open the display.

    • Remove the two 4.2 mm long, 1.5 mm hex screws at the top corners of the upper case (two total).

    • A T6 Torx driver will work, but repeated use will strip the screws.

  8. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Grasp the back corners of the upper case and pull up.

    • Do not pull the upper case off yet; you still need to disconnect the keyboard and trackpad cable.

    • Lift the back of the case up and work your fingers along the sides, freeing the case as you go. Once you have freed the sides, you may need to rock the case up and down to free the front of the upper case.

  9. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Rotate the upper case up and toward the screen, so that the upper case rests against it.

  10. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the amber tape securing the trackpad ribbon to the logic board.

    • Disconnect the trackpad ribbon from the logic board by pulling up on the connector.

    • Remove the upper case from the computer.

  11. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement, Left Ambient Light Sensor: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two 3 mm Phillips screws securing the left ambient light sensor. One is silver and one is black, or both black.

    • Disconnect the cable from the Logic board and remove the left ambient light sensor from your computer.

  12. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement, Left Speaker: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the 4 mm hex nut securing the left speaker.

  13. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the left speaker cable.

  14. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement, PC Card Cage: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the four Phillips screws from the PC card cage.

    • The two longer screws go on the right side of the card cage.

  15. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the PC card cable from the logic board.

  16. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the PC card cage up and remove it from the computer.

    • When replacing the PC card cage, make sure you attach it to the post on the metal eject button.

  17. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement, DC & Sound Card: step 17, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the silver Phillips screw.

    • Remove the 5 mm hex nut screw.

    • Disconnect the power cable and the speaker cable from the DC & sound board (connectors highlighted in yellow boxes).

  18. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the DC & sound card out of lower case, but don't remove it entirely as there are still cables connected.

  19. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the power cable from the DC & sound card board.

  20. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz DC & Sound Card Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the RJ-11 cable from the modem.

Conclusion

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

18 other people completed this guide.

Attached Documents

4 Comments

The Tools Used list specifies a #6 Torx wrench, but in step 7 it says a 1.5mm hex wrench is preferred. This is good to know ahead of time since a #6 Torx wrench is not available from the local hardware store, but a 1.5mm hex wrench is.

ewoudenberg - Reply

THANKS for the clear, accurate help! your tutorial did the job - bravo!

valleydave3 - Reply

Thanks you guys. I never thought I could fix my own Mac 'till I came here. I did have to mix two different procedures as the inside of my PowerBook G4 was not exactly like the one in either.

Thank you!

JOhnZ

johnzip - Reply

Great guide - i fixed my PB G4 1,67 without any troubles. My DC-in board had a burned through capacitor. Now it´s loading again the battery and recognizes the powerplug.

Thank you!

Guenther Roppele - Reply

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