Macbook Unibody Model A1278 Lvds Display Cable Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

Suggest a time??

Sections

Access Door
2 steps
Battery
1 step
Lower Case
2 steps
Display Assembly
9 steps
Front Display Glass
10 steps
Clutch Cover
2 steps
LCD Panel
6 steps
LVDS Display Cable
1 step

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Access Door

With the case closed, place the Unibody top-side down on a flat surface.
Depress the grooved side of the access door release latch enough to grab the free end. Lift the release latch until it is vertical.

With the case closed, place the Unibody top-side down on a flat surface.

Depress the grooved side of the access door release latch enough to grab the free end. Lift the release latch until it is vertical.

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Step 2

The access door should now be raised enough to lift it up and out of the Unibody.

The access door should now be raised enough to lift it up and out of the Unibody.

Step 3

              Battery

Be sure the access door release latch is vertical before proceeding.
Grab the white plastic tab and pull the battery up and out of the Unibody.

Be sure the access door release latch is vertical before proceeding.

Grab the white plastic tab and pull the battery up and out of the Unibody.

Step 4

              Lower Case

Remove the following eight screws securing the lower case to the chassis:
One 3 mm Phillips screw.
Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws.
Four 3.5 mm Phillips screws.

Remove the following eight screws securing the lower case to the chassis:

One 3 mm Phillips screw.

Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws.

Four 3.5 mm Phillips screws.

Step 5

Using both hands, lift and remove the lower case off the upper case.

Using both hands, lift and remove the lower case off the upper case.

Step 6

              Display Assembly

Disconnect the camera cable by pulling the male end straight away from its socket.
Be careful not to pull up on the cable as you remove it from the socket.

Disconnect the camera cable by pulling the male end straight away from its socket.

Be careful not to pull up on the cable as you remove it from the socket.

Step 7

De-route the camera data cable from the channel in the optical drive.

De-route the camera data cable from the channel in the optical drive.

Step 8

Remove the following screws securing the camera data cable and right speaker to the upper case:
One 9.9 mm partially threaded Phillips screw
One 9.6 mm threaded Phillips screw
One 4 mm Phillips screw
Slide the camera cable bracket out from under the subwoofer and remove it from the computer.
The iSight cable has an eyelet through which passes the left-most screw in these pictures.

Remove the following screws securing the camera data cable and right speaker to the upper case:

One 9.9 mm partially threaded Phillips screw

One 9.6 mm threaded Phillips screw

One 4 mm Phillips screw

Slide the camera cable bracket out from under the subwoofer and remove it from the computer.

The iSight cable has an eyelet through which passes the left-most screw in these pictures.

Step 9

Grab the plastic pull tab secured to the display data cable lock and rotate it toward the DC-in side of the computer.
Pull the display data cable connector straight away from its socket.
Make sure to pull the connector straight away and not straight up from its socket.

Grab the plastic pull tab secured to the display data cable lock and rotate it toward the DC-in side of the computer.

Pull the display data cable connector straight away from its socket.

Make sure to pull the connector straight away and not straight up from its socket.

Step 10

Remove the following two screws from the display data cable bracket:
One 7 mm Phillips screw.
One 5 mm Phillips screw.
Lift the display data cable bracket out of the upper case.

Remove the following two screws from the display data cable bracket:

One 7 mm Phillips screw.

One 5 mm Phillips screw.

Lift the display data cable bracket out of the upper case.

Step 11

Remove the two outer 6 mm Torx screws securing each side of the display to the upper case (4 screws total).

Remove the two outer 6 mm Torx screws securing each side of the display to the upper case (4 screws total).

Step 12

Open your MacBook so the display is perpendicular to the upper case.
Place your opened MacBook on a table as pictured.
While holding the display and upper case together with your left hand, remove the 6 mm Torx screw from the lower display bracket.

Open your MacBook so the display is perpendicular to the upper case.

Place your opened MacBook on a table as pictured.

While holding the display and upper case together with your left hand, remove the 6 mm Torx screw from the lower display bracket.

Step 13

Be sure to hold the display and upper case together with your left hand. Failure to do so may cause the freed display/upper case to fall, potentially damaging each component.
Remove the last remaining 6 mm Torx screw securing the display to the upper case.

Be sure to hold the display and upper case together with your left hand. Failure to do so may cause the freed display/upper case to fall, potentially damaging each component.

Remove the last remaining 6 mm Torx screw securing the display to the upper case.

Step 14

Grab the upper case with your right hand and rotate it slightly toward the top of the display so the upper display bracket clears the edge of the upper case.
Rotate the display slightly away from the upper case.
Lift the display away from the upper case, minding any brackets or cables that may get caught.

Grab the upper case with your right hand and rotate it slightly toward the top of the display so the upper display bracket clears the edge of the upper case.

Rotate the display slightly away from the upper case.

Lift the display away from the upper case, minding any brackets or cables that may get caught.

Step 15

              Front Display Glass

In the following steps, you will use a heat gun to soften the adhesive securing the outer black border around the underside of the front glass panel to the display. The area the adhesive is applied to is shown in red in the second picture.
With the heat gun set to low, start by heating the outer black border near the upper right corner of the glass panel.
Always aim the heat gun away from the soft rubber strip around the display glass. Heating the rubber will cause it to melt slightly, turning its finish from matte to glossy. Touching overheated rubber can cause it to permanently deform.
Due to the heat applied, it is normal for a layer of condensation to develop on the inside of the glass panel and/or the outside of the LCD. It can be removed with glass cleaner once the glass is separated from the display.

In the following steps, you will use a heat gun to soften the adhesive securing the outer black border around the underside of the front glass panel to the display. The area the adhesive is applied to is shown in red in the second picture.

With the heat gun set to low, start by heating the outer black border near the upper right corner of the glass panel.

Always aim the heat gun away from the soft rubber strip around the display glass. Heating the rubber will cause it to melt slightly, turning its finish from matte to glossy. Touching overheated rubber can cause it to permanently deform.

Due to the heat applied, it is normal for a layer of condensation to develop on the inside of the glass panel and/or the outside of the LCD. It can be removed with glass cleaner once the glass is separated from the display.

Step 16

With the panel sufficiently heated, fasten a heavy-duty suction cup near the upper right corner of the display glass.
Don’t fasten the suction cup on top of the rubber strip around the edge of the display glass.
To attach the suction cups we sell, first position the suction cup with the movable handle parallel to the face of the glass panel. While lightly holding the suction cup against the glass, raise the movable handle until it is parallel with the other handle.
Slowly and gently pull the corner of the display glass up off the display assembly.
If only the top edge of the glass lifts up (as seen in the third picture), repeat steps one and two until you can lift up the corner of the panel.

With the panel sufficiently heated, fasten a heavy-duty suction cup near the upper right corner of the display glass.

Don’t fasten the suction cup on top of the rubber strip around the edge of the display glass.

To attach the suction cups we sell, first position the suction cup with the movable handle parallel to the face of the glass panel. While lightly holding the suction cup against the glass, raise the movable handle until it is parallel with the other handle.

Slowly and gently pull the corner of the display glass up off the display assembly.

If only the top edge of the glass lifts up (as seen in the third picture), repeat steps one and two until you can lift up the corner of the panel.

Step 17

Gently lift the corner of the display glass enough to insert a spudger between it and the display assembly.
Use the flat end of a spudger to gently pry up the adhesive securing the front glass to the display.
Pry up the glass panel a few inches away from the upper right corner along the top and right edges of the display.

Gently lift the corner of the display glass enough to insert a spudger between it and the display assembly.

Use the flat end of a spudger to gently pry up the adhesive securing the front glass to the display.

Pry up the glass panel a few inches away from the upper right corner along the top and right edges of the display.

Step 18

Use a heat gun to soften the adhesive under the black strip along the right side of the front glass panel.
Attach a suction cup along the right side of the front glass panel.
Pull up on the glass panel while you use the flat end of a spudger to separate it from the rest of the display assembly.
Continue working along the right edge of the front display glass until it is separated from the display.
It may be helpful to use a guitar pick or another thin plastic object to keep the upper right corner of the front glass panel from sticking back down to the display assembly.

Use a heat gun to soften the adhesive under the black strip along the right side of the front glass panel.

Attach a suction cup along the right side of the front glass panel.

Pull up on the glass panel while you use the flat end of a spudger to separate it from the rest of the display assembly.

Continue working along the right edge of the front display glass until it is separated from the display.

It may be helpful to use a guitar pick or another thin plastic object to keep the upper right corner of the front glass panel from sticking back down to the display assembly.

Step 19

Use your heat gun to soften the adhesive under the black strip along the top edge of the glass display panel.
Attach a suction cup near the top edge of the glass display panel and use it to pull the glass panel up off the display.
Work along the top edge of the glass panel, carefully using the flat end of a spudger to separate the adhesive if necessary.

Use your heat gun to soften the adhesive under the black strip along the top edge of the glass display panel.

Attach a suction cup near the top edge of the glass display panel and use it to pull the glass panel up off the display.

Work along the top edge of the glass panel, carefully using the flat end of a spudger to separate the adhesive if necessary.

Step 20

Use a heat gun to soften the adhesive under the black strip near the upper left corner of the glass display panel.
Attach a suction cup near the upper left corner of the glass display panel.
Pull up on the suction cup and use the flat end of a spudger to carefully pry the glass display panel out of the display assembly.
Once the upper left corner has been separated from the display, it may be helpful to use a guitar pick or another thin plastic object to keep the glass from sticking back down to the display assembly.

Use a heat gun to soften the adhesive under the black strip near the upper left corner of the glass display panel.

Attach a suction cup near the upper left corner of the glass display panel.

Pull up on the suction cup and use the flat end of a spudger to carefully pry the glass display panel out of the display assembly.

Once the upper left corner has been separated from the display, it may be helpful to use a guitar pick or another thin plastic object to keep the glass from sticking back down to the display assembly.

Step 21

Use a heat gun to soften the adhesive under the black strip along the left side of the front glass panel.
Attach a suction cup along the left side of the front glass panel.
Pull up on the glass panel while you use the flat end of a spudger to separate it from the rest of the display assembly.
Continue working along the left edge of the front display glass until it is separated from the display.

Use a heat gun to soften the adhesive under the black strip along the left side of the front glass panel.

Attach a suction cup along the left side of the front glass panel.

Continue working along the left edge of the front display glass until it is separated from the display.

Step 22

Now that the top, left, and right edges of the glass are free from the display, slowly lift the top edge of the glass panel and gently rotate it out of the display.
If necessary, use the flat end of a spudger to free the bottom edge of the glass display panel from the display assembly.
Before reassembling, be sure to clean both the inside of the glass display panel and the LCD as any dust or fingerprints trapped inside will be annoyingly visible when the machine is on. It is recommended to use a silicon roller and sticky sheets to clean well.

Now that the top, left, and right edges of the glass are free from the display, slowly lift the top edge of the glass panel and gently rotate it out of the display.

If necessary, use the flat end of a spudger to free the bottom edge of the glass display panel from the display assembly.

Before reassembling, be sure to clean both the inside of the glass display panel and the LCD as any dust or fingerprints trapped inside will be annoyingly visible when the machine is on. It is recommended to use a silicon roller and sticky sheets to clean well.

Step 23

Insert the edge of a plastic opening tool between the display glass and the camera bracket, and run it around the camera bracket to separate it from the display glass.
Do not forget to stick the camera bracket down to the new front display glass before reassembly.

Insert the edge of a plastic opening tool between the display glass and the camera bracket, and run it around the camera bracket to separate it from the display glass.

Do not forget to stick the camera bracket down to the new front display glass before reassembly.

Step 24

During the glass removal process, the AirPort & iSight data cable may stick to the adhesive on the glass panel, disconnecting it from the camera board as the panel is lifted. If your AirPort & iSight data cable is still connected to the camera board, skip this step.
If your objective is to remove the camera board, skip this step as reconnecting the AirPort & iSight data cable is not necessary.
To reconnect the cable, first use the tip of a spudger to remove the piece of foam tape over the AirPort & iSight data cable ZIF socket.
Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the ZIF cable retainer on the AirPort & iSight data cable socket.
Insert the AirPort & iSight data cable into its socket on the camera board and use the tip of a spudger to snap down the ZIF cable retainer, locking the cable in place.
Reapply the piece of tape covering the AirPort & iSight data cable socket.

During the glass removal process, the AirPort & iSight data cable may stick to the adhesive on the glass panel, disconnecting it from the camera board as the panel is lifted. If your AirPort & iSight data cable is still connected to the camera board, skip this step.

If your objective is to remove the camera board, skip this step as reconnecting the AirPort & iSight data cable is not necessary.

To reconnect the cable, first use the tip of a spudger to remove the piece of foam tape over the AirPort & iSight data cable ZIF socket.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the ZIF cable retainer on the AirPort & iSight data cable socket.

Insert the AirPort & iSight data cable into its socket on the camera board and use the tip of a spudger to snap down the ZIF cable retainer, locking the cable in place.

Reapply the piece of tape covering the AirPort & iSight data cable socket.

Step 25

              Clutch Cover

Slide the clutch cover toward the right edge of the display.
The clutch cover will move approximately .5" and stop. Do not force it too far to the right.
When reinstalling the clutch cover, be sure to slip it over the components protruding from the lower edge of the display about .25" to the right of its final installed position on the display.

Slide the clutch cover toward the right edge of the display.

The clutch cover will move approximately .5" and stop. Do not force it too far to the right.

When reinstalling the clutch cover, be sure to slip it over the components protruding from the lower edge of the display about .25" to the right of its final installed position on the display.

Step 26

Starting at its far right end, rock the clutch cover along its long axis while pulling it away from the clutch hinge.
Working from right to left, carefully continue to release and lift the clutch along the lower edge of the display assembly.
Lift the clutch cover up off the front bezel and set it aside.
When reinstalling the clutch cover, be sure to widen the opening when slipping it over the small black plastic cosmetic cover that fills the open end of the clutch cover when it is in place. The cosmetic cover has very thin and delicate plastic arms that hold it to the right clutch hinge.

Starting at its far right end, rock the clutch cover along its long axis while pulling it away from the clutch hinge.

Working from right to left, carefully continue to release and lift the clutch along the lower edge of the display assembly.

Lift the clutch cover up off the front bezel and set it aside.

When reinstalling the clutch cover, be sure to widen the opening when slipping it over the small black plastic cosmetic cover that fills the open end of the clutch cover when it is in place. The cosmetic cover has very thin and delicate plastic arms that hold it to the right clutch hinge.

Step 27

              LCD Panel

De-route the display data cable from its retaining bracket near the lower left edge of the display.

De-route the display data cable from its retaining bracket near the lower left edge of the display.

Step 28

Remove the following six screws securing the LCD panel to the front bezel:
Four 3.25 mm Phillips with large heads.
Two 3.2 mm Phillips with small heads.

Remove the following six screws securing the LCD panel to the front bezel:

Four 3.25 mm Phillips with large heads.

Two 3.2 mm Phillips with small heads.

Step 29

Do not try to remove the LCD yet. The circuitry along its lower edge is wedged in a gap along the lower edge of the display recess in the aluminum display assembly.
Hold the display vertically and tip it enough to grab the top edge of the LCD and rotate it slightly out of the display assembly, being careful not to break the circuitry off its lower edge.
Pull the LCD toward the top edge of the display to slide the circuitry along its lower edge out of the recess in the aluminum display assembly.
It may be helpful to use one hand to feed the display data cable through its channel in the aluminum display assembly as you pull the LCD toward the top edge of the display with the other hand.

Do not try to remove the LCD yet. The circuitry along its lower edge is wedged in a gap along the lower edge of the display recess in the aluminum display assembly.

Hold the display vertically and tip it enough to grab the top edge of the LCD and rotate it slightly out of the display assembly, being careful not to break the circuitry off its lower edge.

Pull the LCD toward the top edge of the display to slide the circuitry along its lower edge out of the recess in the aluminum display assembly.

It may be helpful to use one hand to feed the display data cable through its channel in the aluminum display assembly as you pull the LCD toward the top edge of the display with the other hand.

Step 30

Pull the LCD toward the top edge of the display to slide the circuitry along its lower edge out of the recess in the aluminum display assembly.
It may be helpful to use one hand to feed the display data cable through its channel in the aluminum display assembly as you pull the LCD toward the top edge of the display with the other hand.

Step 31

Peel the piece of tape covering the display data cable connector away from the edge closest to the LCD.

Peel the piece of tape covering the display data cable connector away from the edge closest to the LCD.

Step 32

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the thin steel retaining clip securing the display data cable to its socket on the LCD.
Pull the display data cable straight away from its socket on the LCD.
Lift the LCD out of the display assembly and set it aside.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the thin steel retaining clip securing the display data cable to its socket on the LCD.

Pull the display data cable straight away from its socket on the LCD.

Lift the LCD out of the display assembly and set it aside.

Step 33

              LVDS Display Cable

Carefully route the LVDS display data cable through the slot located to the left of the antenna assembly.
Do not use excessive force as you may damage the LVDS display data cable.
Lift and remove the LVDS display data cable from the display assembly.

Carefully route the LVDS display data cable through the slot located to the left of the antenna assembly.

Do not use excessive force as you may damage the LVDS display data cable.

Lift and remove the LVDS display data cable from the display assembly.

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

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                                                                                      10 other people completed this guide.

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                                      with 1 other contributor

                    Walter Galan

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joergzambo - Sep 12, 2012

do i need a new display glass to reassemble the macbook or can i reuse the old one?

gsdfw442f - May 5, 2015

Still a very interesting question?Can I use the old display glass to reassemble the macbook (in reverse order) or is that only going to work with a new display or glue or whatsoever?

Luke Barone - Feb 20, 2013

On an A1278 13" MBP, the guide does not seem correct… It is not the split-back, and the cables are in different sections

dcole871 - Jan 19, 2017

I’m glad you pointed this out, but it’s weird that nothing’s been changed.

keyneschang - Jun 13, 2013

I did it but broke the glass. Be careful!

Introduction#

What you need#

Introduction

What you need