Apple finally own up to and agree to fix hinge issues!

[NC MacGuy]

Are you guys saying that the hinge will definitely break no matter how much care I take of my baby MBA?

NC MacGuy, let us know how it goes regarding the lines

As far as breaking, I don't think they all will but unless they've redesigned the hinge, it will get loose and floppy like sleeve of wizard.

We shall see soon enough about them lines:

 

[xparaparafreakx]

Are you guys saying that the hinge will definitely break no matter how much care I take of my baby MBA?

NC MacGuy, let us know how it goes regarding the lines

Im pretty sure it will.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/692838/

Last post, when I pulled out the hinges from my air.

 

[Chimpy]

Gotta love Apple. Yes, they should acknowledge these issues sooner. However, most companies sweep it under the rug and just disavow any problems forever.

 

[mhnajjar]

That is one scary picture

Any estimate of how many open/close runs before they break or at least get loose?

I do not use my MBA a lot since my iMac is always the main machine but I really handle it with extreme care as if I was handling a nuclear bomb or so LOL

 

[NC MacGuy]

That is one scary picture

Any estimate of how many open/close runs before they break or at least get loose?

I do not use my MBA a lot since my iMac is always the main machine but I really handle it with extreme care as if I was handling a nuclear bomb or so LOL

Well I had/have two, it's usually daily use opening closing two-ten times a day for six months and you'll notice it getting loose. TBH, it's the first computer I've ever bought Applecare for and it was explicitly for this issue.

 

[still in school]

I got mine repaired and they DID NOT replace the entire top LCD panel they only replaced my hinges.

 

[slapguts]

This makes me so happy. Mine has been getting wobbly lately, and now makes a quiet clicking noise. There's an authorized service center two miles from me, maybe I'll take it in, see what they say.

 

[NC MacGuy]

I got mine repaired and they DID NOT replace the entire top LCD panel they only replaced my hinges.

Well that's comforting since I loved my display.

Are the hinges redesigned? It would be ridiculous to replace known crap with known crap. Both of mine needed replacement in less than a year. I'd hate to have to go through this drill every year until they do redesign them with something more "future-proof."

 

[still in school]

Well that's comforting since I loved my display.

Are the hinges redesigned? It would be ridiculous to replace known crap with known crap. Both of mine needed replacement in less than a year. I'd hate to have to go through this drill every year until they do redesign them with something more "future-proof."

I'm not sure but I hope so since they were able to figure a way to replace hinges only instead of the entire lcd

 

[pvmacguy]

Just dropped mine off yesterday at the apple store to have the hinges fixed the display was getting somewhat floppy.

 

[LAS.mac]

I'm not sure but I hope so since they were able to figure a way to replace hinges only instead of the entire lcd

I don't think they redesigned the hinges. At least, they look the same in rev. B and C.
And, as far as I know, the hinge issue is equally affecting the three revs.

 

[pvmacguy]

Just got my air back from having the hinges repaired, now they are nice and tight. But... The gray plastic right in front of the display they cracked a tiny part of it and its showing the pieces..

 

[Scottsdale]

Just got my air back from having the hinges repaired, now they are nice and tight. But... The gray plastic right in front of the display they cracked a tiny part of it and its showing the pieces..

This is the problem when companies have a lack of control. Think of what the repair tech would have done if his/her pay was dependent on the quality of work. What if he/she was required to photograph before and after shots using a camera and laser to test for all dents and etc (don't tell me it costs money because I have implemented such systems and they cost pennies per repair). That way the tech could be paid or called out when the customer receives shoddy work. It also allows companies to identify where in the process the repair went wrong or if it's a crappy part or inferior packaging during the shipping process or even a bad shipping company. When a company doesn't care, this is the end result.

The problem is it costs us, the shareholders, money as Apple has to keep working on something that should have been done right the first time.

I am so sorry to see such terrible "repair" to your MBA. Best wishes in Apple getting it right or just plain swapping it for a new one. This is wrong, you deserve better!

 

[pvmacguy]

The repair wasn't terrible, they fixed the hinges and they are great. But, I just noticed what happened to that piece when I opened the lid and thought it odd they wouldn't have noticed after the fix. But oh well I fixed that little issue myself. On a side note though, have you had your computer come back and had all your settings changed? IE: the wallpaper was changed. Dock preferences were changed. How I view files and applications in finder was changed.

 

[still in school]

yeah, there were a few random settings that were changed, like they set the default F1-F12 buttons...

What does a hinge have to do with that? I hope they didn't find my pRon stash

 

[coast1ja]

This should clear some things up!

From the Apple repair source page:

Symptoms
Learn what you can do if you experience one or more of these issues with the hinges on your MacBook Air.

Unable to close lid completely.

Broken or cracked plastic near one or both of the hinges.

More than one inch (2.54cm) of free play while opening or closing the lid.

Lid falls freely into closed position from a 30-degree open position. (From a closed position, open the lid approximately 30 degrees and let go.)


Products Affected
MacBook Air

Resolution
You can take your MacBook Air to an Apple-Authorized Service Provider or Apple Retail Store for evaluation and repair if necessary, even if your product is out of warranty.

If you previously paid for a repair for hinge-related issues that were not caused by accidental damage, you may be eligible for a refund. Contact Apple for more information.

Additional Information
If you plan to visit an Apple Retail store, make a reservation at the Genius Bar usinghttp://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/. (Available only in some countries.)

Service Provider Comments
In addition to the troubleshooting information provided in the public section of this article, use this information to assist in troubleshooting and to determine coverage for hinge-related issues:

If there is more than one inch of backlash (or free play without the hinge friction), the hinge should be replaced via display clamshell replacement.

From a closed position, open the lid approximately 30 degrees and let go. If the lid is unable to stay open from this position and closes shut, and if there are no signs of accidental damage or abuse, replace the display clamshell.

Probe to determine the issue is not due to accidental damage or abuse.
If there are signs of accidental damage or abuse, clamshell replacement is not covered under warranty.

If the clutches can still hold the display as you open it up to different angles, but the display can open up almost flat (180 degrees), it is likely a result of accidental damage or abuse.

If the customer claims that the cracked hinge was caused by accidental damage, please set up a mail-in service part Tier 2 repair. In regions where mail-in dispatch is not available, the repair should be billed to the customer.

If there are no signs of accidental damage and the computer is under warranty or covered by an AppleCare agreement, replace the display clamshell as a warranty repair. If the computer is outside of warranty or not covered under AppleCare, select symptom code Z09, MBAir Hinge Cracking.

If the computer is being dispatched to an AppleCare Repair Center with other repairs, select symptom code Z10, MBAir Hinge Cracking (Multiple Issues). By selecting the symptom code Z10, if the computer is out of warranty, the repair will be subject to flat rate fees for the non-warranted, non-top case issues to be repaired. If the computer has accidental damage that was not quoted appropriately when the dispatch was setup, a requote will be necessary.
In US and Japan, dispatch repairs to the depot when possible.

 

[pvmacguy]

yeah, there were a few random settings that were changed, like they set the default F1-F12 buttons...

What does a hinge have to do with that? I hope they didn't find my pRon stash

Because I just got my air back from the hinges being replaced and I was commenting on the repair job that they did.

 

[elppa]

As others have mentioned, next they should own up to the grey lines issue and not claim it is a property of a thin display (even though VAIOs don't exhibit it, despite having thinner displays) or the other BS they tried to fob me of with.

 

[Wotan31]

"Finally own up to"?

Just because yours broke 6 months ago doesn't mean there's some cover-up conspiracy to deny the flaw. Any large manufacturing corporation is going to do extensive failure analysis and look at failure modes, failure rates etc. before acknowledging a problem or issuing a recall. They need to figure out if it's a design defect or a manufacturing defect or just one particular component supplier that's having problems. If it's a component supplier, they need to work out a fix with them. If it's a design flaw then Apple engineers need time to develop an appropriate and effective fix. If it's a manufacturing flaw then they need to work a fix with the Chinese who are building the things. They won't make any official acknowledgement or statement until they've got all their ducks in a row.

Silly how some folks expect the world to turn on a dime.

 

[Scottsdale]

"Finally own up to"?

Just because yours broke 6 months ago doesn't mean there's some cover-up conspiracy to deny the flaw. Any large manufacturing corporation is going to do extensive failure analysis and look at failure modes, failure rates etc. before acknowledging a problem or issuing a recall. They need to figure out if it's a design defect or a manufacturing defect or just one particular component supplier that's having problems. If it's a component supplier, they need to work out a fix with them. If it's a design flaw then Apple engineers need time to develop an appropriate and effective fix. If it's a manufacturing flaw then they need to work a fix with the Chinese who are building the things. They won't make any official acknowledgement or statement until they've got all their ducks in a row.

Silly how some folks expect the world to turn on a dime.

At up to $3099 spent for an MBA in the last 19 months, Apple should repair these things and turn on a dime... we're not talking a $199 netbook! They are getting gobs of money, and if something isn't right, it needs to be fixed ASAP!

 

[VS007]

I got mine repaired and they DID NOT replace the entire top LCD panel they only replaced my hinges.

Well that's comforting since I loved my display.

Are the hinges redesigned? It would be ridiculous to replace known crap with known crap. Both of mine needed replacement in less than a year. I'd hate to have to go through this drill every year until they do redesign them with something more "future-proof."

After the repair, I have a refurbished display and there are few lighted spots on screen, thankfully on the top bar where you have date, wifi etc, hence it is not visible.

After two weeks of tightness, I have started noticing a slight play of about 1-2 mm.

 

[still in school]

Because I just got my air back from the hinges being replaced and I was commenting on the repair job that they did.

LOL the question wasn't meant for you... It was directed as to why they had to shift a few settings around while fixing my hinge.

 

[HiFiGuy528]

Can we buy the part and install ourselves? I don't trust Apple to not scatch or mess up my perfect Air. Anyone know the part number?

 

[coast1ja]

I talked to a friend of mine at an Apple authorized repair center about this, and he said that they have to replace the entire screen assembly because the aluminum behind the panel is actually part of the hinge. When they order the parts from Apple, the hinge assembly is actually the entire screen assembly with the hinges built in... This could explain why it took so long for Apple to acknowledge the issue, as it's not a cheap fix!

 

[shearm]

Repair was easy

For what it's worth, my Macbook Rev. A was fine until about two weeks ago, when the hinge finally gave out -- it looked exactly like all the other pictures.

I took it to my Apple store on Saturday, they took one look at it and said it would be repaired no questions asked.

They sent it out Monday, it was repaired Tuesday and I picked it up on Wednesday.

The "genius" that I dealt with said that the plastic bar across the middle of the screed and the plastic tabs you see at the two hinges are exactly the same, but he claimed that the metal pieces inside the hinges have been redesigned and strengthened. I have no way of knowing, but just passing along.

Also, in my case they did not replace the entire screen assembly. I know because i have a very small ding at the top, left corner that is still there after the repair.

I hope everyone else's repair goes as smoothly.

Cheers.