Fixing 13" 2013 MacBook Pro keyboard connector

[OllieFallon10]

Hi all,

I got a 2013 MacBook Pro for $30 and wanted to repair it, i.e transfer the logic board from a working one with a broken screen and SSD to the $30 MacBook Pro with a working screen but missing logic board. I swapped it over and after 24 hours of charging, luckily the battery came to life after being discharged for 3 years. The actual machine works flawlessly, temps are amazing (for Intel mac standards) and I'm running Sonoma with OCLP. The keyboard is being weird, some keys just don't work and randomly the control key locks on when pressing on a key nowhere near the control key, meaning the machine is unusable because macOS constantly thinks I want to do a shortcut. This behaviour was the same in Big Sur, the latest supported version for this mac. See the screenshot for keyboard test. I tried putting a piece of paper where the connector inside usually goes, in case the up and down pins are touching and it either makes it slightly better but breaks other keys or breaks it even more but so far I've restored it to what it used to be. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[diego.caraballo]

Hi all,

I got a 2013 MacBook Pro for $30 and wanted to repair it, i.e transfer the logic board from a working one with a broken screen and SSD to the $30 MacBook Pro with a working screen but missing logic board. I swapped it over and after 24 hours of charging, luckily the battery came to life after being discharged for 3 years. The actual machine works flawlessly, temps are amazing (for Intel mac standards) and I'm running Sonoma with OCLP. The keyboard is being weird, some keys just don't work and randomly the control key locks on when pressing on a key nowhere near the control key, meaning the machine is unusable because macOS constantly thinks I want to do a shortcut. This behaviour was the same in Big Sur, the latest supported version for this mac. See the screenshot for keyboard test. I tried putting a piece of paper where the connector inside usually goes, in case the up and down pins are touching and it either makes it slightly better but breaks other keys or breaks it even more but so far I've restored it to what it used to be. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

It seems that you have 2 complete machines.
Use the other topcase. You have a faulty keyboard on this one.

 

[OllieFallon10]

It seems that you have 2 complete machines.
Use the other topcase. You have a faulty keyboard on this one.

Yes, well I did. I gave the other MacBook back to apple because it had a broken screen and very expanded battery after I swapped the logic board. Welp, shouldn't have done that ugh. Oh well, thanks for your help either way.

 

[diego.caraballo]

Yes, well I did. I gave the other MacBook back to apple because it had a broken screen and very expanded battery after I swapped the logic board. Welp, shouldn't have done that ugh. Oh well, thanks for your help either way.

Complete topcases for this model sells around $30 on eBay.
If the only issue with your Mac is the keyboard, maybe it's a good investment.

 

[OllieFallon10]

Complete topcases for this model sells around $30 on eBay.
If the only issue with your Mac is the keyboard, maybe it's a good investment.

See the problem is, I'm not sure if it's the connector on board or the top case. Plus, getting batteries out on MacBook's is a challenge in itself. I might try swapping the logic board with the one from the broken screen and battery. Although last time I tried, it wouldn't even charge in the new chassis, but when returned to its original broken screen and battery chassis, it worked fine so I'm not sure why it doesn't work in another chassis.

 

[OllieFallon10]

Complete topcases for this model sells around $30 on eBay.
If the only issue with your Mac is the keyboard, maybe it's a good investment.

Here's the front and back photos of the keyboard connector. I can't see any issues with it visually.

Back (where the connector connects)

Front

 

[diego.caraballo]

See the problem is, I'm not sure if it's the connector on board or the top case. Plus, getting batteries out on MacBook's is a challenge in itself. I might try swapping the logic board with the one from the broken screen and battery. Although last time I tried, it wouldn't even charge in the new chassis, but when returned to its original broken screen and battery chassis, it worked fine so I'm not sure why it doesn't work in another chassis.

You can find complete topcases with the battery attached.
Statistically speaking the chances of a faulty keyboard are 10 to 1 vs a failed logic board (connector or the circuitry that “read” the key presses).

Of course, there’s a risk of other issue. So those $30 are a bet in some sense.

 

[OllieFallon10]

You can find complete topcases with the battery attached.
Statistically speaking the chances of a faulty keyboard are 10 to 1 vs a failed logic board (connector or the circuitry that “read” the key presses).

Of course, there’s a risk of other issue. So those $30 are a bet in some sense.

I'm pretty sure it's unfortunately the connector on the board because if I put a piece of paper where the keyboard connector usually goes in, and wiggle it and then plug the keyboard connector back in, usually some keys that weren't working before start working again, vice versa with keys that were working not working anymore.