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White Screen on MacBook Pro 13" Late 2011 but External Video Works
I have a MacBook Pro 13” Late 2011 that no longer displays video to its LCD. The screen is lit and white but nothing can be seen otherwise. I've connected an external monitor and it works well. I've taken the machine apart as I was also having problems with the WiFi reception. I was able to determine the problem with the WiFi was that the wires had become torn where there is factory stripping near what appears to be a grounding screw. All three of these wires were torn.
Could these three wires being separated be the cause of the video too?
Could these three wires being separated be the cause of the video too?
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I don't know if you have to be the original owner. I suspect not. Repair requires replacing the logic board.
If you have an Apple store nearby, I suggest you make an appointment at the Genius bar. They won't charge you to diagnose the problem.
ASKER
I use EE to diagnose and repair issues. That said, often when I post questions about Apple products someone always says go to the Genius bar? If I had one nearby that would be an option but the nearest is 2 hours away.
If I were going to repair myself my assumption is it would take a motherboard replacement to repair...
If I were going to repair myself my assumption is it would take a motherboard replacement to repair...
That is correct. Probably prohibitively expensive for a machine of that age. And if Apple will repair it for free, it is worth the drive. You could phone them first. They will want a serial number.
You can order a new logic board and get instructions on how to replace it here: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Late+2011+Logic+Board+Replacement/7658
Cost is $375 for the 2.4 GHz logic board or $850 for the 2.8 Ghz logic board.
Cost is $375 for the 2.4 GHz logic board or $850 for the 2.8 Ghz logic board.
I would suggest you phone Apple first, give them your serial number, and find out if you are eligible for a free replacement.
ASKER
^^Will do. Thank you!
I frequently check warranty status online. http://selfsolve.apple.com/
If the screen is white without any video, that just suggests the Backlight LEDs work and the LCD Video signal doesn't. You could take a picture of the board to show what cables broke.
If everything else is working and you're getting external video, then it's likely not the motherboard. The video problem listed on the link that strung provided suggests a failure in the video chip. That would necessitate a motherboard replacement, but your description doesn't exactly match the conditions described there. You may need to replace the screen, which includes the connector, if that's what's torn. If you have a picture of those broken cables, that would help with the diagnosis.
When you got it 2nd hand, was it from eBay? Did the seller describe the problems with it?
If the screen is white without any video, that just suggests the Backlight LEDs work and the LCD Video signal doesn't. You could take a picture of the board to show what cables broke.
If everything else is working and you're getting external video, then it's likely not the motherboard. The video problem listed on the link that strung provided suggests a failure in the video chip. That would necessitate a motherboard replacement, but your description doesn't exactly match the conditions described there. You may need to replace the screen, which includes the connector, if that's what's torn. If you have a picture of those broken cables, that would help with the diagnosis.
When you got it 2nd hand, was it from eBay? Did the seller describe the problems with it?
@serialband - checking the warranty from the serial number won't help. A 2011 is clearly out of warranty. The only question is whether the problem is covered by the recall.
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That doesn't look healthy.
ASKER
Sure doesn't. In my opinion its a design flaw. The wires were torn at the factory stripping. Initially it was difficult to tell as the stripped wire is concealed by a small copperish piece of tape that has a screw through it. Very strange. I'm not sure of its purpose.
Those look too cleanly cut to me. None of those are video cables. They are antenna cables for Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz Wifi, and 5 GHz Wifi. Bluetooth and Wifi can still work, but the range will now be very limited. They have nothing to do with your display. They're basically just shielded wires that connect to the bare antenna wire on the back of the LCD panel. They're shielded near the motherboard to prevent interference to and from the motherboard. You could just solder these cables back up and they'll work again.
Please check step 17 of the ifixit link that strung provided for the video cable. (https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Late+2011+Logic+Board+Replacement/7658) See if it is connected properly. Also, you may have to open up the LCD panel to see if something was cut there. The Macbook outputs correct video through the display port, so the Video Chip is working correctly. The motherboard is not likely the culprit. The problem is more likely to be a broken cable or the LCD panel itself. The backlight is a separate circuit.
Please check step 17 of the ifixit link that strung provided for the video cable. (https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Late+2011+Logic+Board+Replacement/7658) See if it is connected properly. Also, you may have to open up the LCD panel to see if something was cut there. The Macbook outputs correct video through the display port, so the Video Chip is working correctly. The motherboard is not likely the culprit. The problem is more likely to be a broken cable or the LCD panel itself. The backlight is a separate circuit.
ASKER
At this point I'm just going to put the device on eBay for parts. No time to continue working on it and if this one failed this way my guess is the next could do the same. Thanks for your efforts.
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