Early 2015 MBA Help.

[amgff84]

Good evening! I hope everyone is doing well in these tough times.

I was recently given some old MacBooks. One 2010 MBP that needs a few things, and one 2015 MBA. The MacBook Air had suffered some corrosion due to a spilled drink. The MBA is in excellent shape but I don't want to spend a bunch of cash to replace the logic board as I already have more desktops, laptops, phones, and tablets in this house than I need. However, this device could replace my mint 2008 MB Unibody that I use almost everyday. After cleaning it up I was able to get it to display on an external monitor, but the backlight was dead. Given the corrosion, I wasn't sure if I should start there, or on the backside where the controller was... Plus, I don't have the equipment at home... nor do I have any access to schematics. So I tossed it and started looking for a replacement. It looks like all the way back to 2013 MBA logic boards are similar, but I am looking for an exact match. Cost is a concern, so I could get a 2013 for 90 or the 2015 for 300. Any thoughts?

 

[Nbd1790]

I'm not sure about a 2013 logic board running inside a 2015 housing. I would imagine that these logic boards are coming with SSD's? If there was liquid damage, I would imagine the SSD might have an issue as well. If the 2015 board includes the SSD, the price may be worth it. But keep in mind, I just recently picked up a mint condition top spec MBA for $500. Depending the specs of the 2015 model, it might be worth it to invest in a fully functional unit if you have a need for it. Regardless, any work that you do to the 2015 model will make it ineligible for any future repairs from Apple themselves. I'd also recommend getting a quote from Apple, as the repair cost may only be a bit more than getting a new logic board and doing it yourself.

Good luck!

 

[amgff84]

I compared the logic board on eBay and a 2015 logic board, and it appears that all connections, shape, and dimensions, are the same. It also seems that it will accept a gen 4 ssd, however I doubt it. We will see, and I will update. The logic board still has decent intel graphics and a haswell cpu so it's a major win if this works out. Just in time for the girlfriends birthday. Best part, the logic board was only $100. So... We'll see lol.

 

[4sallypat]

DO let us know if the logic board swap works out.

I have a 2012 MBA that I wanted to upgrade the logic board as I have some leftover 2013, 2015, and 2017 SSD.

 

[amgff84]

DO let us know if the logic board swap works out.

I have a 2012 MBA that I wanted to upgrade the logic board as I have some leftover 2013, 2015, and 2017 SSD.

will do!

 

[amgff84]

Logic board swap worked out well. 2013 board in a 2015 MBA with 2015 SSD. However, I shorted something on the board due to a bad display connection and I am back at square one. 2013 on the left and 2015 on the right. Direct fit. This means you could also upgrade a 2013 to 2015 specs.

 

[Macdctr]

Have you tried looking at the ifixit.com web site? They have comprehensive DIYs there and a good parts list. From there you can check out eBay for the parts you need and get them cheap to restore your MacBook Air. Then instead of using Apple's slow storage drive you should upgrade to NVMe M.2 storage and Syntech adapter and improve drive performance by as much as 3x over Apple's storage drive. The 2013-2017 logic boards all are upgradeable to NVMe M.2 storage.

 

[Audit13]

For the mid-2013 to 2017 13" MBA, all components are completely interchangeable. Same for the mid-2013 to 2015 11" MBA.

I believe the short is in the LVDS cable which caused a permanent short on the 2013. If that is all that's wrong with both boards, they can be fixed by a competent repair shop that does board-level repairs. This will probably involve bypassing some of the video connections on the logic board connector by soldering fine copper wires between LVDS cable and a couple of alternate video connection points on the logic board. Replacing the LVDS cable would solve the problem but the probability of damaging the LCD during the cable replacement are very high.

 

[Macdctr]

For logic board repair look up Louis Rossmann. This guy is a magician when it comes to logic board repair. I don't know what his price for repairs are but if I had to repair any of my logic boards, I would send mine to him to repair. This guy has all the necessary equipment and knowledge to repair Mac logic boards.

In fact here is the link...

Macbook logic board repair case - power cycling due to PP5V_S4 short - Rossmann Repair Group Inc.

One of the things I've taken pride in for many years is doing Macbook logic board repair at our store in Manhattan, rather than sending it out to another

www.rossmanngroup.com

 

[amgff84]

For the mid-2013 to 2017 13" MBA, all components are completely interchangeable. Same for the mid-2013 to 2015 11" MBA.

I believe the short is in the LVDS cable which caused a permanent short on the 2013. If that is all that's wrong with both boards, they can be fixed by a competent repair shop that does board-level repairs. This will probably involve bypassing some of the video connections on the logic board connector by soldering fine copper wires between LVDS cable and a couple of alternate video connection points on the logic board. Replacing the LVDS cable would solve the problem but the probability of damaging the LCD during the cable replacement are very high.

And for about the same cost as paying some repair shops, I can replace the display and board with used parts. I just can't see myself spending about $250 for the rest of the components. This will bring in the total cost to $350, and for that I can buy a 2013 MBA.

Thanks for the response though, hugely appreciate your input.
[automerge]1586837123[/automerge]

For logic board repair look up Louis Rossmann. This guy is a magician when it comes to logic board repair. I don't know what his price for repairs are but if I had to repair any of my logic boards, I would send mine to him to repair. This guy has all the necessary equipment and knowledge to repair Mac logic boards.

In fact here is the link...

Macbook logic board repair case - power cycling due to PP5V_S4 short - Rossmann Repair Group Inc.

One of the things I've taken pride in for many years is doing Macbook logic board repair at our store in Manhattan, rather than sending it out to another

www.rossmanngroup.com

I watch Louis often, I just don;t have the same tools as he does, or the space to put them. I could probably make do with what I have, if only I could find a way to get board schematics when I need it.

Thanks for responding, your help is appreciated!

 

[Audit13]

And for about the same cost as paying some repair shops, I can replace the display and board with used parts. I just can't see myself spending about $250 for the rest of the components. This will bring in the total cost to $350, and for that I can buy a 2013 MBA.

Thanks for the response though, hugely appreciate your input.

You are welcome.

Yes, the cost will probably be around $250 to repair the board. I use a local repair shop and they charge a flat fee of $300 Canadian with a guarantee of being fixed with a 1 year warranty or no charge. I've used this shop several times and I've learned a lot from their tech.

 

[2984839]

Interesting to know that the 2013 and 2015 boards are interchangeable. Thanks for posting this