Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Macbook air m2 screen flickering while restarting

R

Ramana raj

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 26, 2023
6
0
I own a MacBook Air m2 I had display flickering issue when I restart the Mac for few seconds so I took it to Apple authorised service Store they say they is liquid damaged but I’m sure I haven't spilled any liquid on it 100 percent they say that the display connector pins are shorted due to liquid damage only 3 pins and corroded them (but I see no corrosion in the picture)so they are suggesting me to replace the entire screen for 600 dollars which is like half the price of the laptop I have attached the pic of the damage in the end of the mail I kindly request you to review the damage and suggest me some solution solution

State of the MacBook perfectly fine but only flickers while I restart
I would like your response as soon as possible since I will be visiting the Apple Store within 38 hours I kindly request you to do the needful.

Since it’s an 10 core you model I suspect that it should be power over load as it take more power than the regular version but the circular does the high lighted green circle in the image indicate power over overload or overheat or liquid damage? I’m so sorry for frequently messaging since I’m so nervous and couldn’t think any thing properly.so sorry for the inconvenience caused .


IMG-20231221-WA0000.jpg
 
Last edited:
I live in a very dry place in my state and i always keep the laptop in air conditioned rooms
Apple_Robert said:
Do you live in a very humid place? Has the Mac been in areas where there has been condensation ? If so, that could explain there being evidence of water damage inside your Mac.
Click to expand...
 
Ramana raj said:
State of the MacBook:perfectly fine but only flickers while I restart
Click to expand...
This sounds more like a software problem than a hardware problem. I say that because it only happens during a specific point in the boot process, and isn't ongoing after the machine is up and running.

Are you running a fully updated macOS? Have you tried running hardware diagnostics?

Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support

Apple Diagnostics, formerly known as Apple Hardware Test, can check your Mac for hardware issues.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
 
chabig said:
This sounds more like a software problem than a hardware problem. I say that because it only happens during a specific point in the boot process, and isn't ongoing after the machine is up and running.

Are you running a fully updated macOS? Have you tried running hardware diagnostics?

Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support

Apple Diagnostics, formerly known as Apple Hardware Test, can check your Mac for hardware issues.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
Click to expand...
I did the diagnostics it said it had some issue with the display so I took it to Apple authorised stores near by its a 10 core gpu model and I have ran heavy tasks in it it have reached temperatures of 100 degrees and above could that be the problem?
 
Apple_Robert said:
If you don't have an Apple Store close by, I would attempt to get another opinion from another AASS. If not, you can either live with it until and unless it gets unusable, or pay the price for repair.
Click to expand...
The Apple Store is saying I have to change it because it have the chances of affecting the mother board if the display is not replaced what should I do?
 
Ramana raj said:
I did the diagnostics it said it had some issue with the display so I took it to Apple authorised stores near by its a 10 core gpu model and I have ran heavy tasks in it it have reached temperatures of 100 degrees and above could that be the problem?
Click to expand...
Running at 100 isn't normally a problem. M3 Pro is always over 100 degrees.
 
I understand your reluctance to spend money on a new board. In my opinion, I think I'd just keep using the machine until the screen reaches the point that your normal interactions are affected. The chance of the logic board becoming affected seem low to me, though the technician at the Apple Store might be correct. By the time your machine becomes unusable, it might be time for you to upgrade to an M4 or M5 Mac.

Remember, this is just an opinion of a random person on the internet. If you can afford the $600 and are risk averse, nobody will fault you for replacing the screen.

There is a third option. You might be able to sell the machine online to someone who is willing to accept the defect. Then buy a new machine. This would probably cost you more than $600 though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Reggaenald
chabig said:
I understand your reluctance to spend money on a new board. In my opinion, I think I'd just keep using the machine until the screen reaches the point that your normal interactions are affected. The chance of the logic board becoming affected seem low to me, though the technician at the Apple Store might be correct. By the time your machine becomes unusable, it might be time for you to upgrade to an M4 or M5 Mac.

Remember, this is just an opinion of a random person on the internet. If you can afford the $600 and are risk averse, nobody will fault you for replacing the screen.

There is a third option. You might be able to sell the machine online to someone who is willing to accept the defect. Then buy a new machine. This would probably cost you more than $600 though.
Click to expand...
I agree with @chabig.

I would let it go until and unless it actually affected normal use and then get the new M3 Air when it released.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Reggaenald
chabig said:
I understand your reluctance to spend money on a new board. In my opinion, I think I'd just keep using the machine until the screen reaches the point that your normal interactions are affected. The chance of the logic board becoming affected seem low to me, though the technician at the Apple Store might be correct. By the time your machine becomes unusable, it might be time for you to upgrade to an M4 or M5 Mac.

Remember, this is just an opinion of a random person on the internet. If you can afford the $600 and are risk averse, nobody will fault you for replacing the screen.

There is a third option. You might be able to sell the machine online to someone who is willing to accept the defect. Then buy a new machine. This would probably cost you more than $600 though.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your opinion
 
1. I think you meant to say that you’re 100% sure there is NO water damage.

2. To test if this is hardware or software, try this with the lid closed and an external monitor. Maybe you start using this more like a desktop?

3. If this bothers you enough, spend the money. If Apple is saying this is a logic board issue, the problem might affect other stuff if left unpaired.

4. I’m not sure the route I’d take. If this was a mission critical machine, used for work, I’d probably get it fixed. If it’s just for watching Netflix, I’d probably wait it out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Reggaenald
That doesn't look liquid damaged to me. That just looks like the copper layer on the PCB spans multiple pins which is a common technique if you want to shove more current up a power rail or something. The circle on the left could be anything. Copper corrosion is almost always a green-ish colour and anything aluminium would start growing oxides. That is obviously not the case here.

I would take it back, go full Karen and scream at someone loudly in the store until they realise it's going to cost them more sales than it's worth not fixing your stuff for.

From what I can see it's probably just a marginal board or screen that passed through the QA check. That does happen and they should be replacing it immediately and taking it back and doing a full engineering analysis on it and updating their QA procedures to make sure no crappy machines get through with the same issue. They don't give any of their technicians any engineering training really so they have no idea what failure modelling is. To ship stuff back to the customer and tell them it's their fault hides any IFR scenarios. Of course that's how they end up with things like the butterfly keyboard disaster - terrible quality management from retail back to engineering. Looks like they're still learning.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Reggaenald
halledise said:
there's a lot to be said for forking out for 3 years of AppleCare+ on purchase of any new Mac.
a necessary evil these days …
Click to expand...
I don't like doing that but, I did with the new M3. If something goes wrong, $99 a year plus the following is a lot cheaper than straight out of pocket on a $3K+ Mac.

  • Unlimited incidents of accidental damage protection, each subject to a service fee of $99 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or $299 for other accidental damage, plus applicable tax1
www.apple.com

AppleCare Products - Mac

Learn how to set up and use your Mac computer. Get direct access to Apple experts for questions on using MacOS and iCloud, and connecting to printers.
www.apple.com
 
Depends where you are and what your consumer protection laws are. I'm in the UK and we are covered under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 for faults. This can be up to 6 years (!). In fact when I had a 6s with a screen fault they replaced the whole device after 2y with a new one under that with no charge to me.

Notably liquid damage claims will invalidate your AppleCare usually so it's pretty worthless using it for that.

Ergo I don't buy AppleCare. Over the last 5 years if I'd bought AppleCare I'd be down £700 or so. If anything gets smashed I'll probably just pay to repair it or if it's mega high value (studio display / phone) I will claim it on household insurance then dump it for another company the following year.

My father, generally an idiot, had one wonderful bit of advice, I live by: if you can't afford to replace it, don't own it!

Also surprisingly large amounts of suffering can be avoided by thinking and being careful :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: Saturn007
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back