iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2544 Camera and Microphone Cable Replacement

Written By: Sam Goldheart (and 6 other contributors)

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iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2544 Camera and Microphone Cable Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

Suggest a time??

Introduction

Reclaim your chat capabilities, use this guide to replace your combination iSight Camera and Microphone cable.

Tools

Buy these tools

Plastic Cards

$2.99

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Spudger

$3.99

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Parts

Buy these parts

iMac Intel 21.5" (2012-2019) Adhesive Strips

$19.99

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Step 1 Display

With the hinge free to move, the iMac will be unbalanced and hard to work on. Repairs can be completed as shown, but are faster and easier with an iMac service wedge.

Tool used on this step:

iMac Service Wedge

$12.99

With the hinge free to move, the iMac will be unbalanced and hard to work on. Repairs can be completed as shown, but are faster and easier with an iMac service wedge.
If you are using the iFixit cardboard service wedge, follow these assembly directions to put it together.
Before beginning any work on your iMac: Unplug the computer and press and hold the power button for ten seconds to discharge the power supply's capacitors.
Be very careful not to touch the capacitor leads or any exposed solder joints on the back of the power supply. Only handle the board by the edges.

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Step 2

Starting on the left of the display, near the power button, insert the iMac Opening Tool into the gap between the glass panel and the rear enclosure.

The hub on the iMac Opening Tool will keep you from pushing the wheel in too far. If using a different tool, insert no more than 3/8" into the display. Otherwise, you risk severing antenna cables and causing serious damage.

Starting on the left of the display, near the power button, insert the iMac Opening Tool into the gap between the glass panel and the rear enclosure.
The hub on the iMac Opening Tool will keep you from pushing the wheel in too far. If using a different tool, insert no more than 3/8" into the display. Otherwise, you risk severing antenna cables and causing serious damage.
Be gentle! The glass may crack if pried too much. Use a hairdryer to heat the edges and loosen the tape if the room temperatures are low.

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Step 3

Use the tool like a pizza cutter—roll it along through the gap, and it will cut the foam adhesive through the center.

Be sure to always push with the handle behind the cutting wheel. If you pull, the wheel might get pulled out of the handle.

Run the tool up along the left side of the display.

Use the tool like a pizza cutter—roll it along through the gap, and it will cut the foam adhesive through the center.
Be sure to always push with the handle behind the cutting wheel. If you pull, the wheel might get pulled out of the handle.
Run the tool up along the left side of the display.

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Step 4

Continue running the tool up around the top left corner.

Continue running the tool up around the top left corner.

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Step 5

Cut the adhesive along the top left of the display.

Cut the adhesive along the top left of the display.

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Step 6

You may want to run the tool back and forth through what you've already cut a few times, to ensure you get as much of the adhesive separated as possible.

Continue along the top of the display.
You may want to run the tool back and forth through what you've already cut a few times, to ensure you get as much of the adhesive separated as possible.

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Step 7

Push the tool around the top right corner of the display.

Push the tool around the top right corner of the display.

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Step 8

Wheel the tool down along the right side of the display.

Wheel the tool down along the right side of the display.

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Step 9

Finish pushing the opening tool to the bottom of the right side of the display.

At this point, you'll want to run the tool back around the entire display, to ensure you cut as much adhesive as possible.

Finish pushing the opening tool to the bottom of the right side of the display.
At this point, you'll want to run the tool back around the entire display, to ensure you cut as much adhesive as possible.

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Step 10

While the opening tool cut most of the adhesive, the display will still be slightly adhered to the case. A plastic card will be necessary to free up the last of this adhesive.

Starting from the top right corner of the iMac, wedge a plastic card between the display and frame.

While the opening tool cut most of the adhesive, the display will still be slightly adhered to the case. A plastic card will be necessary to free up the last of this adhesive.
Set the iMac face-up on a table.
Starting from the top right corner of the iMac, wedge a plastic card between the display and frame.
Be careful not to insert the plastic card more than 3/8", or you may damage internal components.

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Step 11

Gently twist the plastic card sideways to create a gap between the display and frame.

Move slowly and be careful not to stress the display glass too much—you only need to make a gap of about 1/4".

Gently twist the plastic card sideways to create a gap between the display and frame.
Move slowly and be careful not to stress the display glass too much—you only need to make a gap of about 1/4".

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Step 12

Slide the card toward the center of the display to cut any of the remaining adhesive along the top right corner of the iMac.

Be sure to stop before the iSight camera, or you may damage it.

Slide the card toward the center of the display to cut any of the remaining adhesive along the top right corner of the iMac.
Be sure to stop before the iSight camera, or you may damage it.

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Step 13

Wedge the plastic card into the top right corner once again and let it stay there to keep the adhesive from resettling.

Wedge the plastic card into the top right corner once again and let it stay there to keep the adhesive from resettling.

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Step 14

Insert a second plastic card into the gap between the display and frame located at the top left corner of the iMac.

Insert a second plastic card into the gap between the display and frame located at the top left corner of the iMac.

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Step 15

Gently twist the card upward, slightly increasing the space between the display and frame.

As with the other side, twist slowly to allow the adhesive time to separate, and be careful not to over-stress the display glass.

Gently twist the card upward, slightly increasing the space between the display and frame.
As with the other side, twist slowly to allow the adhesive time to separate, and be careful not to over-stress the display glass.

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Step 16

Slide the plastic card toward the center, again stopping just before the iSight camera.

Slide the plastic card toward the center, again stopping just before the iSight camera.

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Step 17

Wedge the plastic card back into the top left corner.

Wedge the plastic card back into the top left corner.

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Step 18

With both plastic cards inserted as shown near the corners, gently twist the cards sideways to increase the gap between display and case.

If there are any sections that seem to stick and won't separate, stop twisting and use one of the cards to cut the remaining adhesive.

Begin to lift the top of the display up from the frame.

With both plastic cards inserted as shown near the corners, gently twist the cards sideways to increase the gap between display and case.
If there are any sections that seem to stick and won't separate, stop twisting and use one of the cards to cut the remaining adhesive.
Begin to lift the top of the display up from the frame.
Only lift the display a few inches—the display data and power cables are still connected to the logic board.

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Step 19

While holding the display up with one hand, use the other hand to unplug the display power cable. Make sure that you pull the cable out from the plastic tab, and not by pulling on the color wires.

Lift the display up enough to have easy access to the connector, but not so much that you stretch the cables and stress their connections (about 8").

While holding the display up with one hand, use the other hand to unplug the display power cable. Make sure that you pull the cable out from the plastic tab, and not by pulling on the color wires.
Lift the display up enough to have easy access to the connector, but not so much that you stretch the cables and stress their connections (about 8").

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Step 20

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the metal retaining bracket on the display data cable.

Carefully pull the display data cable from its socket on the logic board.

Be sure to pull the display data cable connector straight out of its socket.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the metal retaining bracket on the display data cable.
Carefully pull the display data cable from its socket on the logic board.
Be sure to pull the display data cable connector straight out of its socket.

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Step 21

Lift the display up to a near-vertical position.

At this point there is still a strip of adhesive along the bottom of the display, that will hold the display to the frame like a hinge. You can loosen this adhesive by working the display up and down a few times.

Lift the display up to a near-vertical position.
At this point there is still a strip of adhesive along the bottom of the display, that will hold the display to the frame like a hinge. You can loosen this adhesive by working the display up and down a few times.

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Step 22

If necessary, a plastic card can be used to cut any remaining sections of the bottom adhesive strip.

If necessary, a plastic card can be used to cut any remaining sections of the bottom adhesive strip.

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Step 23

Lift the display up from the frame and remove it from the iMac.

It may be necessary to slowly lift from one side, to peel against the remaining adhesive.

Be very careful handling the display—it's big, heavy, and made of glass.

Lift the display up from the frame and remove it from the iMac.
It may be necessary to slowly lift from one side, to peel against the remaining adhesive.
Be very careful handling the display—it's big, heavy, and made of glass.
During reassembly, head over to our display adhesive guide to install the new adhesive.

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Step 24 Camera and Microphone Cable

Use the tip of a spudger to flip down the metal retaining bracket on the camera cable.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip down the metal retaining bracket on the camera cable.

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Step 25

Gently pull the camera cable straight down from its socket on the camera board.

Be sure to remove only the camera connector—the microphone connector is on a separate branch of the cable.

Gently pull the camera cable straight down from its socket on the camera board.
Be sure to remove only the camera connector—the microphone connector is on a separate branch of the cable.

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Step 26

Disconnect the microphone connector from its socket on the camera board.

Disconnect the microphone connector from its socket on the camera board.

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Step 27

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the metal retaining bracket securing the camera cable connector to the logic board.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the metal retaining bracket securing the camera cable connector to the logic board.

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Step 28

Pull the camera cable straight away from its connector on the logic board.

This is a delicate connector that can easily be broken. Make sure to pull the connector parallel to the logic board when removing.

Pull the camera cable straight away from its connector on the logic board.
This is a delicate connector that can easily be broken. Make sure to pull the connector parallel to the logic board when removing.

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Step 29

The camera cable is connected to the rear enclosure via adhesive. Gently peel and remove it from the rear enclosure.

If you have trouble peeling the cable from the rear enclosure, use a spudger to help pry it free.

The camera cable is connected to the rear enclosure via adhesive. Gently peel and remove it from the rear enclosure.
If you have trouble peeling the cable from the rear enclosure, use a spudger to help pry it free.

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