Macbook Pro A2442 820-02098 No image but has backlight

[Constantinos]

Hi all
I have a Macbook Pro A2442 with the 820-02098 from a friend which has no picture on the display, however, the backlight works.
He was streaming a football match on a questionable site, then the site crashed, and the problem emerged.
Initially, he sent it to apple, who quoted him £1323.95 to replace the display, lid angle sensor and top case.
Obviously, he decided against this and gave it to me so that I could have a crack at it.
From initial diagnostics, I connected to an external monitor, I first tried with a HP 22W monitor, and I booted into the boot menu setting with the lid closed, and it worked, however it didn't work when I booted up normally to MacOS.
However, it did work on my samsung TV. To some extent. While I could get in and sign in, every couple of seconds, the screen would glitch for a few seconds and go back. There were also some sounds.
The backlight for the screen does work, as when I go into settings to adjust the brightness, the brightness of the backlight does change.
So, it is definitely just the picture that is not working.
I disassembled the macbook and removed the motherboard to inspect for any liquid damage/corrosion but the board is spotless.
Also, it is clear that the logic board had not been removed.
I have good soldering skills, having fixed an a1466 backlight issue before and swapped out the capacitors and BGA chip.
I found the board view file and the schematic but I don't know how to diagnose too well or what to look for.
Looking online, there isn't anyone with a similar issue to mine, so I don't know the best way to approach this.
If anyone has any help to offer, it would be much appreciated
I will also attach a picture of the logic board

[mon2]

however it didn't work when I booted up normally to MacOS.

Meaning..that the lid was OPEN like in normal use and the display was quirky?

Not 100% sure but sounds like a flex cable issue. I would consider testing with another A2442 display assembly (Seven Puppy on Aliexpress is who we trust these days; had a defective out of the box experience with another vendor so had to return it back to China) but then there is the lid sensor that needs to be calibrated. Chat them to ask on these details.

Watch this video and review the landing page on how to calibrate the sensor yourself:

Macbook Lid Angle Sensor Calibration - LogiWiki

How to Calibrate a M1 M2 MacBook Pro, Air Lid Angle Sensor (Sleep Sensor) Without Programming Tool (youtube.com)

[a316]

any outcome? same with my a2442 - backlight yes, image - no, F1-F2 keys work for backlight up-down, external monitor works, monitor in macOS exists

tested with Lid sensor removed - same, with sensor, when lid close, backlight turns off, keyboard turns off, =sleeps.. everything is ok, except no image on screen. Oh when power on, after chime, very blurred apple logo is visible and loading bar also visible, when display mode changes to high resolution (login screen), nothing visible (this can be interesting - what is difference between maps loading screen mode and macOS login screen mode? tried to change screen resolution to repeat loading blurred visibility, but nothing visible on any resolution, any refresh rate, so why apple logo is visible blurre on loading screen?)

True Tone and camera exists in settings menu, camera works, True Tone can switcj on/off

something like when graphics card was dead on old Nvidia chip overheating cases...

external monitor is connected via type-c cdmi converter, or directly cdmi out, works as should work

anybody know what to read about this?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/14v00qSHmvI

it is video of MacBook restart with blurred logo

[rounin]

I encountered exactly the same issue.
If possible, could you please let me know how you eventually resolved it?

Thank you.

any outcome? same with my a2442 - backlight yes, image - no, F1-F2 keys work for backlight up-down, external monitor works, monitor in macOS exists

tested with Lid sensor removed - same, with sensor, when lid close, backlight turns off, keyboard turns off, =sleeps.. everything is ok, except no image on screen. Oh when power on, after chime, very blurred apple logo is visible and loading bar also visible, when display mode changes to high resolution (login screen), nothing visible (this can be interesting - what is difference between maps loading screen mode and macOS login screen mode? tried to change screen resolution to repeat loading blurred visibility, but nothing visible on any resolution, any refresh rate, so why apple logo is visible blurre on loading screen?)

True Tone and camera exists in settings menu, camera works, True Tone can switcj on/off

something like when graphics card was dead on old Nvidia chip overheating cases...

external monitor is connected via type-c cdmi converter, or directly cdmi out, works as should work

anybody know what to read about this?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/14v00qSHmvI

it is video of MacBook restart with blurred logo

[abu2joury]

Hi there!
I have the same issue with very blurred display, almost indistinguishable image, but backlight kind of working, adjustable by fn+F1 F2, working well on external monitors, on an m1 pro A2442. The thing is the display was working fine when I opened the lid just a little bit, opening it more make the image disappear and blur to indistinguishable.
Did you manage to fix it? I would appreciate any hints towards a fix, what to check, etc, please...

[abu2joury]

I encountered exactly the same issue.
If possible, could you please let me know how you eventually resolved it?

Thank you.

I have watched your video, mine is the same. Did you manage to fix it?

[a316]

if you have this issue (a2442 blurry), this is what I can suggest for spend less money
1. always borrow known good screen assembly (swap from working a2442) to see where problem is
2. chinese lcd-s not always work without chip transfer (sequoia 15.2), lcd sometimes starts, after sleep/awake, randomly, and stops randomly, dont know why
3. apple screen assembly without chip transfer dont have truetone on sequoia 15.2

[MartZisto]

a316 Is the statement about chinese lcd replacements really true? How many have faced this, because I have not found this info anywhere else. I have two chinese replacement lcd:s, no damage in shipping but neither work on any of my a2442 models. I wanted to try them before replacing the ic:s as well, but do I maybe have to swap the ic:s immendiately? I will try the swap and report back.

[a316]

a316 Is the statement about chinese lcd replacements really true? How many have faced this, because I have not found this info anywhere else. I have two chinese replacement lcd:s, no damage in shipping but neither work on any of my a2442 models. I wanted to try them before replacing the ic:s as well, but do I maybe have to swap the ic:s immendiately? I will try the swap and report back.

mine was from "seven puppy" seller, and they accepted issue and sent spare lcd flex cable which as they say is "short circuited" some pins (dont say what pins) but it is not arrived yet, will report here when receive. this is for without ic transfer on 15.2 os. same as you, I not swapped ic yet, waiting for flex cable

[MartZisto]

a316
What a coincidence, I ordered from the same seller and got the same response. Super weird that the not original ic:s require a different flex cable to work. I will just swap the ic:s over. They told me that would work as well.

Question, what did you pay for the lcd? They seem to have raised the price now.

mine was from "seven puppy" seller, and they accepted issue and sent spare lcd flex cable which as they say is "short circuited" some pins (dont say what pins) but it is not arrived yet, will report here when receive. this is for without ic transfer on 15.2 os. same as you, I not swapped ic yet, waiting for flex cable

[a316]

a316

Question, what did you pay for the lcd? They seem to have raised the price now.

154$. yes now price raised, but 154 not yet works. let me know if ic transfer makes it work

[MartZisto]

154$. yes now price raised, but 154 not yet works. let me know if ic transfer makes it work

a316 I have performed the transfer to both my displays, and unfortunately not one of them have displayed a picture. Backlight turns on, so there should not be a issue. I would need some voltage readings from the display tcon board off a working unit to determine what is wrong.

The store seems extremely unhelpful, especially now as they switched stores.

[a316]

a316 I have performed the transfer to both my displays, and unfortunately not one of them have displayed a picture. Backlight turns on, so there should not be a issue. I would need some voltage readings from the display tcon board off a working unit to determine what is wrong.

The store seems extremely unhelpful, especially now as they switched stores.

yes - SEVEN PUPPY was good but now disappointed. why they switch store? because they have problems and dont want to risk reputation of old well known brand. what problem they may have? can be our lcd-s? sold many and got many unhappy customers? btw they no more sell our lcd alone for today


did you use seller modified flex cable and still no image??

[MartZisto]

yes - SEVEN PUPPY was good but now disappointed. why they switch store? because they have problems and dont want to risk reputation of old well known brand. what problem they may have? can be our lcd-s? sold many and got many unhappy customers? btw they no more sell our lcd alone for today


did you use seller modified flex cable and still no image??

a316 I have no idea. I was told by them that swapping the ic:s would work. My understanding was that it would make it work then without the flex but I'm wondering if I need the flex anyway and just understood them wrongly. OR if them needing to send a flex cable was just an excuse to make time so that they dont need to take responsibility. Ali sent me my money back for one of the displays but if they wont work I want it back for both. Have you received the flex??

[a316]

a316 I have no idea. I was told by them that swapping the ic:s would work. My understanding was that it would make it work then without the flex but I'm wondering if I need the flex anyway and just understood them wrongly. OR if them needing to send a flex cable was just an excuse to make time so that they dont need to take responsibility. Ali sent me my money back for one of the displays but if they wont work I want it back for both. Have you received the flex??

yes, I got flex and it show image, but the problem is lcd heating up to 100 celsius at 1 point, I dont risk to finish repair because it will damage MB soon, so I opened dispute too, dont know how about Ali accept my issue or not

how do you think it is lcd fault or my fault? I dont think it is my fault

*** may be lcd does not start because apple detects at TCON board something wrong, and seller short-circuited (as they say) some pins of flex, and this short-circuit disables apple's checking, IMHO

[MartZisto]

yes, I got flex and it show image, but the problem is lcd heating up to 100 celsius at 1 point, I dont risk to finish repair because it will damage MB soon, so I opened dispute too, dont know how about Ali accept my issue or not

how do you think it is lcd fault or my fault? I dont think it is my fault

*** may be lcd does not start because apple detects at TCON board something wrong, and seller short-circuited (as they say) some pins of flex, and this short-circuit disables apple's checking, IMHO

a316 damn that makes me so mad. I really dont understand what is going on. I would not think you could have messed up just by inserting the flex. Exactly where does it get hot? If on the tcon board then I would assume whatever pins they short also short something else. I would really like to get my hand on the flex cable. Do you have any possibility to send high definition pictures of the flex and possibly also map what pins are shorted??? I might be able to short them on mine somehow

[a316]

a316 damn that makes me so mad. I really dont understand what is going on. I would not think you could have messed up just by inserting the flex. Exactly where does it get hot? If on the tcon board then I would assume whatever pins they short also short something else. I would really like to get my hand on the flex cable. Do you have any possibility to send high definition pictures of the flex and possibly also map what pins are shorted??? I might be able to short them on mine somehow

no visual difference on flex cable. need to work with tester to compare all pins of apple's flex with seller's flex. will do when have a time

it is getting hot directly glass. see picture where scredriver points

[MartZisto]

no visual difference on flex cable. need to work with tester to compare all pins of apple's flex with seller's flex. will do when have a time

a316 alright. I have to hope they sent me a flex cable but impossible to reach them. I am afraid they are no different, and then I will be out of luck. Will continue and try measuring voltages on the tcon board.

[a316]

a316 alright. I have to hope they sent me a flex cable but impossible to reach them. I am afraid they are no different, and then I will be out of luck. Will continue and try measuring voltages on the tcon board.

no, they are differemt, as apple's flex not show image, and sellers flex - shows, tried both on same seller's lcd

[a316]

a316 alright. I have to hope they sent me a flex cable but impossible to reach them. I am afraid they are no different, and then I will be out of luck. Will continue and try measuring voltages on the tcon board.

found seller's flex has spi_tcon_clk_conn shorted to ground, on JP600 side. apple's flex has 4,5Om same pin to ground, flex disconnected

it is like not flex, it likes has some parts inside

let me know if this helps

ps. spi_tcon_clk_conn connected to M1, be careful