Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

7

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 2 hours

Sections

3

  • Lower Case
  • 2 steps
  • Battery Connector
  • 2 steps
  • Left Fan
  • 3 steps

Flags

0

  • BackMacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Lower Case
  • Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:
  • Three 13.5 mm (14.1 mm) Phillips screws.
  • Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.
  • When removing these screws, note how they come out at a slight angle. They must be reinstalled the same way.

Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:

Three 13.5 mm (14.1 mm) Phillips screws.

Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.

When removing these screws, note how they come out at a slight angle. They must be reinstalled the same way.

1024

Step 2

  • Using both hands, lift the lower case near the vent to pop it off two clips securing it to the upper case.
  • Remove the lower case and set it aside.

Using both hands, lift the lower case near the vent to pop it off two clips securing it to the upper case.

Remove the lower case and set it aside.

Step 3

              Battery Connector
  • For certain repairs (e.g. hard drive), disconnecting the battery connector is not necessary but is recommended as it prevents any accidental shorting of electronics on the motherboard. If you do not disconnect the battery connector, please be careful as parts of the motherboard might be electrified.
  • 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.

For certain repairs (e.g. hard drive), disconnecting the battery connector is not necessary but is recommended as it prevents any accidental shorting of electronics on the motherboard. If you do not disconnect the battery connector, please be careful as parts of the motherboard might be electrified.

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.

Step 4

  • 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.

Step 5

              Left Fan
  • Remove the following three screws securing the left fan to the logic board:
  • Two 3.5 mm T6 Torx screws.
  • One 4.2 mm T6 Torx screw.

Remove the following three screws securing the left fan to the logic board:

Two 3.5 mm T6 Torx screws.

One 4.2 mm T6 Torx screw.

Step 6

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the left fan connector from the logic board.
  • It is useful to twist the spudger axially from beneath the fan cable wires to release the connector.
  • The fan socket and the fan connector can be seen in the second and third pictures. Be careful not to break the plastic fan socket off the logic board as you use your spudger to lift the fan connector straight up and out of its socket.
  • The layout of the logic board shown in the second picture may look slightly different than your machine but the fan socket is the same.

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the left fan connector from the logic board.

It is useful to twist the spudger axially from beneath the fan cable wires to release the connector.

The fan socket and the fan connector can be seen in the second and third pictures. Be careful not to break the plastic fan socket off the logic board as you use your spudger to lift the fan connector straight up and out of its socket.

The layout of the logic board shown in the second picture may look slightly different than your machine but the fan socket is the same.

Step 7

  • Lift the left fan out of the upper case.

Lift the left fan out of the upper case.

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

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                    Andrew Optimus Goldheart

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Konstantinos Bonotis - May 23, 2018

Reply

Are you sure that’s the left fan and not the right ?

If you click on the buy these parts” link it shows a picture of a different fan, the one on the other side of the MBP.

Would be nice if you could clear this up.

Thank you.

Stephen Fry - Jul 20, 2018

Reply

Yes its the left fan when you are typing on the Mac & that is what it’s called. When you replace it however it’s on the RHS of the upside down Mac with the motherboard exposed.

butch coolidge - Dec 8, 2020

Reply

after cleaning the fans from dust, my left fan is making constantly noise. it’s not loud but it is annoying by time. can i fix this or is it because the fan is damaged?