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Macbook Pro 2014-Retina Boot Problems

S

Seren1ty

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 28, 2019
10
1
Macbook starts up (fan spin every-time).
Macbook occasionally chimes. (after removing and replacing SSD a few times or after being off for quite some time)
Macbook does not output display to its built in retina display (I have reason to believe that this is cracked but still functional)
Macbook does output to Hdmi and on the rare occasion of a chime it shows the apple logo.
SSD becomes warm to the touch when mac does not chime.
Not exactly sure what could be wrong with it any ideas?
 
This will most likely be an SSD cable failing. It could be a board level problem but I would prefer to check the SSD cable running to the board first. Have you opened it up to take a look?
 
Audit13 said:
Tried a SMC and nvram reset?

Tried running out with the battery disconnected?

Was it exposed to liquid or physical damage?
Click to expand...
Attempted both resets with and without battery. I disassembled and rebuilt the entire motherboard region (cables screws etc) replaces fan bc broken flat cable. No add cable exists in this device.
As for damage I’m not sure. I found this outside a a house of the way home from work.
I checked the board for liquid damage theonly thing I could find was some shiny not liquid near the cpu/gpu (intergrated single chip its a 13 inch retina) however turned out to be some adhesive used on a heat shield originally.

I have access to all tools required for assembly and disassembly of this device with the exception of a heat gun.
As for corrosion around pins the closest thing I could find so far was a other hair or dust particle in one of the display connector to the built in display. Removed it with paper and tested connector with multimeter. However not exactly sure what the ohms reading should say per pin and such.
 
Audit13 said:
You have done everything I would have done. At this point, I think it's time to have it looked at by a board-level tech to check the traces, capacitors, and resistors for functionality.
Click to expand...
The fact that the device can occasionally boot (not fully but still) leads me to believe that the logic board is ok. Besides the built in screen connector and screen itself. Is it possible the SSD is damaged? If so how could I test it without another rig?
 
Seren1ty said:
The fact that the device can occasionally boot (not fully but still) leads me to believe that the logic board is ok. Besides the built in screen connector and screen itself. Is it possible the SSD is damaged? If so how could I test it without another rig?
Click to expand...
Try installing and booting from an external drive?
 
Audit13 said:
Try installing and booting from an external drive?[/QUOTE
Update: I have a OSX install usb created and It can boot from it. However, It doesn't get farther than the apple logo start up. I can press option on chime and get prompted which of the two drives to boot from and an option to connect to wifi. (Wifi works) The installer is not trusted fully so im attempting to make a new one from my mbp 2011.
Click to expand...
 
I'm going to attempt a high sierra.
[doublepost=1551462008][/doublepost]Here is a few photos of the motherboard. (display connector currently disconnected.)
 

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Looking at the pictures, I see what looks like residue from liquid exposure.

I recommend removing the logic board, cleaning all areas with pure isopropyl alcohol, and then try booting.
 
i have 70% think thats high enough?
[doublepost=1551463219][/doublepost]the boot menu after pressing option after chime
 

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I only use 99% because, with 70%, some of the remaining 30% will be water which is exactly what you don't want.

I have managed to "fixed" a few Airs by thoroughly cleaning all parts several times with pure alcohol.
 
new update there is a progress bar under the apple logo however after reaching 50% it shutdown
(cleaned exposed side of MB only so far with 99%)
 
I found the backlight (for the keyboard) connector had some corrosion on it short circuiting 2 pins. After cleaning it up it appears the backlight (which never turned on to start with) is broken. The device has the same behavior after cleaning both sides.
 
nothing is connected to the mbp besides the hdmi to a working monitor.
 
Is it possible you missed an area?

For the "as-is" air I am currently using, I had to clean it three times before I got it to boot properly. It partially worked after the first cleaning so I went over the entire board a second and third time. I also have all other boards a good cleaning too.
 
cleaned twice more same result. I'm thinking i should try this installer im prepping to see if i can get into recovery mode and run the diagnostic
 
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you need/ have you ran a diagnostic voltage meter thingee to check which chip is faulty on the logic board?
 
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