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Macbook Pro 2010 Mid 13inch ( A1278 ) Troubleshooting

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    Macbook Pro 2010 Mid 13inch ( A1278 ) Troubleshooting

    Got this model from my friend who couldnt get it to work and repair cost too much.

    Symptoms:
    - Fan working, hdd spinning, external dvdrw working, charger light green and normal beep sound when booting up.. but kinda slow bootup.
    - After beep either flashes white for second and then turns black with some degree of brightness, 2nd option it turns full white without apple logo or anything.
    - SMC bypass or restart/ pram restart does nothing. SMC bypass just makes fan go 100% speed and same symptom.
    -Somewhat worked few weeks ago, could boot to single user mode, it recodnized hdd and install disc on external dvdrw.. but couldnt install it.. kernel panic before it could load anything when i press disc.

    Tried:
    -SMC bypass, pram reset, cleaning board with alcohol and brush and swap thermal paste, no corrosion or liquid spill signs only slight burn marks on few places, should be normal. Reseated everything couple of times, also no component seem to be missing or bulging.
    - swapping ram sticks and slots, without ram gives normal beep beep beep no ram detected, and when i put stick on slot2 it gives same error so it isnt working. Recommended pc3-8500 is not working somehow, and i got this far by using pc3-10600 ddr3 ram stick on slot1.. only this way i can boot it to white screen.
    - dont have another charger to test but im using pretty new 60w magsafe with L-shape connector
    -External monitor plugged in i get white screen / black screen so no issue on lcd

    I tried 3x baking / heat gun method on some below 50$ mobos and that never worked for me.. could it be issue is somewhere else than graphics card? thats my last choice to start trying this baking/heatgun method again.

    I have cheap digital multimeter and a1278 schematics.. but im total noob with measuring voltages etc, any suggestions?
    thx in adv


    edit: actually my charger seems to have T-shape and not L-shape. But it seems to fit it perfectly still. Gonna get L-shape connector cable in few days to test it though.
    Last edited by goodguy91; 08-17-2015, 05:48 AM.

    #2
    Re: Macbook Pro 2010 Mid 13inch ( A1278 ) Troubleshooting

    Here is A1278 schematic
    Attached Files

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Macbook Pro 2010 Mid 13inch ( A1278 ) Troubleshooting

      Hey,
      Anyone have suggestion if problem source can be traced or its dead GPU?
      I can also take pictures of motherboard both sides if needed.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Macbook Pro 2010 Mid 13inch ( A1278 ) Troubleshooting

        Hi easiest first make sure you are using the correct oem adapter ...no fakes ...with the fakes some china junk rated 85 watts and it's a 65 watt and are not filtered right ..also the battery could make it run slow so remove it and retest .Start dare
        Techman1025

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Macbook Pro 2010 Mid 13inch ( A1278 ) Troubleshooting

          Hey,
          Without battery it boots up to this white/black screen with AC power, with battery connected it wont power at all. So either battery is also dead or someting on motherboard.
          I tried also charging up the battery for few hours but it still doesnt boot at all with it, when i press battery button on side of laptop all 5 lights are blinking with green color.

          I will get L-shaped original 65w magsafe (which should be correct for this model) in few days, currently im using copycat 65w T-shaped magsafe.
          Can i read somehow voltages from this magsafe?
          there is 5 pins ... middle one looks like somekind of control pin.
          1 and 5 ground 2 - 4 pins should be 16.5v
          So i put black wire from multimeter to pin 2 or 4 and red one to ground pin?
          thx

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Macbook Pro 2010 Mid 13inch ( A1278 ) Troubleshooting

            ah no need to measure it anymore, borrowed authentic magsafe and it still has same problem, how should i proceed with measuring voltages?

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Macbook Pro 2010 Mid 13inch ( A1278 ) Troubleshooting

              Anyone would be kind enough to give me this model boardview a1278?

              Edit: found it already, will upload file here also and boardviewer
              Attached Files
              Last edited by goodguy91; 08-19-2015, 04:55 PM.

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Macbook Pro 2010 Mid 13inch ( A1278 ) Troubleshooting

                Checked few components on PPVCORE_S0_CPU without battery and got 0.98v, on schematic it rates as 1.25, tried same with smc bypass trick and fan full speed.. now somehow it goes up to stable 1.05v. still too low could this be problem?

                Magsafe gives 16.5v output stable.

                Checked few components on PPVCORE_S0_MCP and having 0.93v ( should be 1.05v )

                This one ( PPDCIN_S5_S5 ) i have stable 16.5v, should be rated 18.5v
                Any suggestions?

                PP1V05_S0 = cpuvtt looks good at rated 1.05v

                EDIT; Exact specs A1278 EMC : 2351 macbook pro 13inch model
                Last edited by goodguy91; 08-20-2015, 04:16 PM.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Macbook Pro 2010 Mid 13inch ( A1278 ) Troubleshooting

                  Originally posted by goodguy91 View Post
                  Anyone would be kind enough to give me this model boardview a1278?

                  Edit: found it already, will upload file here also and boardviewer
                  thank you very much dear

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Macbook Pro 2010 Mid 13inch ( A1278 ) Troubleshooting

                    Hello,

                    These Macbook Pro 2010 Mid has Problems with Nvidia MCP89? Graphic, reheat (Reflow) will not work you have to change a BGA or CHIP!

                    Symptomes are: Black Screen with Backlight, BEEP CODE, GRAPHIC LINES....

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Macbook Pro 2010 Mid 13inch ( A1278 ) Troubleshooting

                      hey,
                      I reflowed it later on but didnt help for symptoms, am too noob for reballing, i will try change chip when have tools for it.
                      Is changing chip btw permanent cure for it or will it fail again after some time anyway? thx

                      Comment

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