scratching sound when opening

[Kross]

When I open the macbook air I hear and feel a scratching sound. like metal on metal. I've narrowed it down by feeling and looking that it is coming from the left hinge.

I've tightened every screw on the bottom. What else can I try. it only makes the sound when I am first opening the laptop. It stops scratching probably when the lid reaches a 15 degree angle from the base. It's not bad, and most people wouldn't notice it. I've never dropped the laptop and always take great care of it. But it's driving me wild. Any recommendations? Anything else to tighten? can I take apart the damn thing?

- Kross

 

[ert3]

tightening screws might have been a bad idea.

looks like you have something caught in there.

Vacum? Air pressure?

Or just ignore it as I doubt its that bad of a problem

 

[Kross]

I've tried it all. I can see in there and there is NOTHING in there. I've tried everything I can think of. it's really not that bad of a problem but man it pisses me off everytime I open the thing.

 

[AstroHouse]

Just a thought...could it be the HD? Occasionally, I hear mine "crackle". Although I can't feel it.

 

[johnzoidberg]

Have you always had this problem, or is this a recent development?

 

[f1vespeed]

I had a similar problem, mine made a sickly snapping noise as though some part was splitting. I took it back to the store and they replaced it because it was only a week or so old when the problem arose... maybe you can get them to swap it our

 

[queshy]

mine scratches too when I open at that angle. Been there since day 1. Perhaps i should try loosening the screws? It's annoying but doesn't bother me enough to seek repair/swap from apple.

 

[Kross]

I had a similar problem, mine made a sickly snapping noise as though some part was splitting. I took it back to the store and they replaced it because it was only a week or so old when the problem arose... maybe you can get them to swap it our

yea mine is more than 30 days old. I got it from MacMall and don't want to pay the rediculous shipping charges for an exchange. I wonder what the policy is on defective hardware though from the manufacturer? As far as I can tell it's been doing this sense I got it, just took me a week to notice. I know it doesn't do this with my friends notebook either. It sometimes makes that popping noise when closing too... like the tolerances are off on that left hinge design. Does anyone know if the manufacturer will work with me on this?

 

[Kross]

update: got an appointment tomorrow at the store.. the guys on the phone at Mac said that they will probably replace it. We'll see.. I will post tomorrow after the appointment.

- Kross

 

[Kross]

Resolved

Problem fixed. It was actually the edge of the laptop and not the hinge. It apparently had been bent down. The mac "genius" just took a plastic shim and bent the edge back up, no more scratching sound! Excellent. Thanks guys for the words of wisdom. Hope this article helps someone out in the future

- Kross

 

[applemax]

I had a squeaking MacBook hinge - best way to get rid of it completely?

Dental floss. No joke. Floss the hinges as you would with your teeth, just a little bit and the squeaking should go.

 

[queshy]

Problem fixed. It was actually the edge of the laptop and not the hinge. It apparently had been bent down. The mac "genius" just took a plastic shim and bent the edge back up, no more scratching sound! Excellent. Thanks guys for the words of wisdom. Hope this article helps someone out in the future

- Kross

Could you please elaborate on this? I would like to try it myself!

 

[Kross]

Could you please elaborate on this? I would like to try it myself!

sure sure... with the macbook air closed, you'll notice the back left edge of the monitor side is bent or curved downward. With this riding in my bag all the time the bend apparently was bumped hard and bent it in, or curved it more than normal. In doing so... when you opened the laptop the edge would RUB hard against the main body creating a scratching sound....

With the macbook closed you could compare the gap between both sides and notice there was less of a gap in the bent side between the body and the monitor. Therefore confirming one side was bent in more than the other. With the laptop closed, a small shim of ANY KIND (preferably something to NOT scratch the metal surface) was placed into the gap and pried towards the bend with the purpose to bend the curve out a little.

The short version is: laptop got bumped and bent the top left edge in more than normal. Stuck a shim in and bent it back out. Presto... no more scratching-rubbing sound when opening closing.

hope this helps

- Kross

 

[queshy]

sure sure... with the macbook air closed, you'll notice the back left edge of the monitor side is bent or curved downward. With this riding in my bag all the time the bend apparently was bumped hard and bent it in, or curved it more than normal. In doing so... when you opened the laptop the edge would RUB hard against the main body creating a scratching sound....

With the macbook closed you could compare the gap between both sides and notice there was less of a gap in the bent side between the body and the monitor. Therefore confirming one side was bent in more than the other. With the laptop closed, a small shim of ANY KIND (preferably something to NOT scratch the metal surface) was placed into the gap and pried towards the bend with the purpose to bend the curve out a little.

The short version is: laptop got bumped and bent the top left edge in more than normal. Stuck a shim in and bent it back out. Presto... no more scratching-rubbing sound when opening closing.

hope this helps

- Kross

thanks for the reply. unfortunately this was a problem from day 1 for me.

are you referring to where the back of the lid touches the gray rubber on the back of the mba?

also, how much prying did he have to do?

I tried it and it didn't work...perhaps i didnt do it hard enough?

 

[Kross]

thanks for the reply. unfortunately this was a problem from day 1 for me.

are you referring to where the back of the lid touches the gray rubber on the back of the mba?

also, how much prying did he have to do?

I tried it and it didn't work...perhaps i didnt do it hard enough?

Look for the battery charging spot for reference of how I have the laptop positioned. The battery charging spot is in the bottom left of the picture, you can just see where it starts to indent. The guy put a shim in the corner space and pried the bend up. He pried pretty hard from what I could tell, but I really can't speak to the exact pressure he put on it. All I know is that it worked. Does this give you a better idea of what I'm talking about?

- Put the shim in the black space at the corner in the picture.. pry towards the monitor, or up if you have the laptop sitting on the table ready for use...

 

[queshy]

thanks so much!!! I will try it and get back to everyone...