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Keyboard - Ribbon Cable 2013 MacBook air anyone?

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nitecapt

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 14, 2009
18
0
New York
I replaced the touchpad on my Mid 2013 MacBook Air and in the process messed up my touchpad to keyboard cable. It's a kind of unusual cable which folds in on itself making installation tricky. There are two cables coming off the touchpad. This is the wider of the two and I can't find it anywhere nor do I know the part number.
It's referred to as the touchpad - keyboard cable.
Can anyone tell me where to find this part?

Thanks
Ray
 
Audit13

Audit13

macrumors 604
Apr 19, 2017
6,906
1,845
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Is it the cable that the yellow arrow is pointed at? If yes, that would be the cable coming from the keyboard. As far as I know, that cable can't be replaced by an end-user. It would be simpler to buy a replacement keyboard.
 

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nitecapt

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 14, 2009
18
0
New York
Nope, my computer is different the cable can be pushed in to a connection at both ends. I wish I could take a picture, but may be I will take it apart again and do so.
 
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nitecapt

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 14, 2009
18
0
New York
No...you were right the first time. I just watched the video. It's a new keyboard or a new laptop. I am inclined to go for the second, but getting the first backed up may be difficult since it turns on and nether the keyboard nor the trackpad respond. Any idea?
 
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nitecapt

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 14, 2009
18
0
New York
I see them online at various prices, I am going to try re-setting the cable tonight and then if it doesn't work I will get the keyboard
I may not have properly lifted the ribbon cover where it goes in
 
N

nitecapt

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 14, 2009
18
0
New York
Audit13 said:
You are very welcome. We're all here to help and learn from each other.
Click to expand...
Well, I am back. I decided to try and check to see if I connected the ribbon cables properly and I may not have. Can you explain the purpose of the plastic mechanism which looks like a locking mechanism for the ribbon? It would appear that the ribbon on the keyboard cable goes well below that in an area that looks like it has 4 small rivets on a bar. I should have taken a photo but I am not sure I can get it, I may have gotten the keyboard ribbon right but try as I might I can't seem to get the smaller ribbon. are there any tricks you could suggest. I searched youtube for a video with a closeup of someone replacing the ribbon with very poor success. Again. Thank you!
 
Audit13

Audit13

macrumors 604
Apr 19, 2017
6,906
1,845
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
nitecapt said:
Well, I am back. I decided to try and check to see if I connected the ribbon cables properly and I may not have. Can you explain the purpose of the plastic mechanism which looks like a locking mechanism for the ribbon? It would appear that the ribbon on the keyboard cable goes well below that in an area that looks like it has 4 small rivets on a bar. I should have taken a photo but I am not sure I can get it, I may have gotten the keyboard ribbon right but try as I might I can't seem to get the smaller ribbon. are there any tricks you could suggest. I searched youtube for a video with a closeup of someone replacing the ribbon with very poor success. Again. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Are you referring to the black plastic part that flips up to release the cable the down to lock in the cable? It's there to keep the cable in place. I recall breaking off one of these plastic pieces in the past. The fact that this piece was missing did not affect the Macbook functions in any manner.

It sometimes helps to use a pair of plastic tweezers to guide the cable into place. If you have metal tweezers, you can use them yoo but I suggest placing a piece of electrical tape to prevent the metal from scraping or scratching the ribbon. Another thing that may help would be a piece of double sided tape attached to the tip of a slotted screwdriver.
 

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nitecapt

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 14, 2009
18
0
New York
Audit13 said:
Are you referring to the black plastic part that flips up to release the cable the down to lock in the cable? It's there to keep the cable in place. I recall breaking off one of these plastic pieces in the past. The fact that this piece was missing did not affect the Macbook functions in any manner.

It sometimes helps to use a pair of plastic tweezers to guide the cable into place. If you have metal tweezers, you can use them yoo but I suggest placing a piece of electrical tape to prevent the metal from scraping or scratching the ribbon. Another thing that may help would be a piece of double sided tape attached to the tip of a slotted screwdriver.
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1540948278][/doublepost]I'm so frustrated at this point i can't even seem to figure out where it goes. It shouldn't require much force to get it in, yet it seems that it does. Does it slip between the black plastic part that flips up to release the cable the down to lock in the cable?
Or does it go below the other bar that appears to have 4 little dimples in it? Either way, I've been struggling for about an hour. Seems like it has to start perfectly straight and not just one end and then tilt the cable in. One side of the cable seems to have an indent and the other a small bump.

Sheesh.......you know I'm from NY and we get pretty impatient here :)
 
Audit13

Audit13

macrumors 604
Apr 19, 2017
6,906
1,845
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
nitecapt said:
[doublepost=1540948278][/doublepost]I'm so frustrated at this point i can't even seem to figure out where it goes. It shouldn't require much force to get it in, yet it seems that it does. Does it slip between the black plastic part that flips up to release the cable the down to lock in the cable?
Or does it go below the other bar that appears to have 4 little dimples in it? Either way, I've been struggling for about an hour. Seems like it has to start perfectly straight and not just one end and then tilt the cable in. One side of the cable seems to have an indent and the other a small bump.

Sheesh.......you know I'm from NY and we get pretty impatient here :)
Click to expand...
Hi,

Breathe slowly and calmly...okay, the cable goes into a slot below the gold contacts. Yes, it must be almost perfectly aligned. It may help to use tweezers and a bright light shining on the connection point.
 
N

nitecapt

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 14, 2009
18
0
New York
Audit13 said:
Hi,

Breathe slowly and calmly...okay, the cable goes into a slot below the gold contacts. Yes, it must be almost perfectly aligned. It may help to use tweezers and a bright light shining on the connection point.
Click to expand...

OK, I just took a break to watch some nonsense TV and Now I'm going to head back to the table to spend more time. I have been immersed in electricity lately having just installed a 3 gang box with those USB charging ports built in and a light dimmer.
I just don't know which to do first.!
 
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