Introduction
Use this guide to replace a broken AirPort/Bluetooth board.
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Remove the following ten screws:
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Three 14.4 mm Phillips #00 screws
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Three 3.5 mm Phillips #00 screws
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Four 3.5 mm shouldered Phillips #00 screws
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Use the edge of a spudger to pry the battery connector upwards from its socket on the logic board.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth ribbon cable connector up from its socket on the logic board.
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Peel back the piece of EMI tape covering the AirPort/Bluetooth cable connector.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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5 Comments
If you change your bluetooth card, its MAC address will change. Since pairing is done by MAC, you will need to re-pair all devices.
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. Lesson learned: try the cheaper part first! Not a total loss, now I have Bluetooth 4.
Hello,
I was able to complete this repair in less than 40 minutes, thanks to the author and his easy-to-follow guide!
Regarding Step 10 - I found it easier to use a Phillips #000 screwdriver (instead of the recommended #00 size) for the two “orange” 3.1 mm Phillips screws, as it did not slide off the tiny screw heads like the larger-sized screwdriver would.
This is an amazingly succinct and clear at of instructions! My Hat is of to you!
I discovered that the flat wifi cable was not properly plugged in, so I plugged it back in and went no further! Yea it worked!
I added this note already in step 7, but want to make more visible for those that might encounter a broken cable:
Actually, on my repair attempt, one antenna cable broke (on the image the bottom right one in the red square in #7), I’m not sure whether it broke already before or was morbid somehow. Fact is: suddenly I had this cable in my fingers, and was sure I completely broke the macbook and need to find a new display now.
But as it turned out: the Mac is still fully working, including WIFI, BT, Camera etc. So apart from my huge relief, I want to address that these cables may break easily at their connection with the display. And that one antenna might be not mandatory for WIFI to work.
