MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

[mitchw]

Hi, I have a 820-00239 board with liquid damage.
I have repaired it as much as I could, it had some shorted caps on PP3V_G3H line.
I discovered that I was getting power cycling USB-C ports, but one port was not cycling. I replaced the CD3215 for that port and now I am getting cycling on all of ports.

There is still only 5V on the USB-C and all ports are cycling. PP3V3_G3H is 3.3V, but there is no PPBUS_G3H. Also SMC_USBC_INT_L comes high for a split second and it then stays low.

Anything else what should I check?

The laptop starts and works on battery though

Thanks!

[mitchw]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

Correction: I found one port that does not power the USB-C tester if plugged in bottom side up. It is located on a side that wasn't hit by a liquid. But if I plug the tester the top side up, it power cycles.

Could this mean that I need to replace also that CD3215?

[mon2]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

On these logic boards, the design uses a small removable daughter board for the 2 * Type C connectors.

Each side of the case offers these 2 * Type C Connectors.

1) power down -> no battery. Carefully remove the daughter boards from their socket and inspect for any liquid damage on the contacts / sugar coatings, etc. We typically use Q-tip dabbed in alcohol to clean up the mess.

Then reseat back into the socket, carefully. Apply the seating screws for stability and test again.

2) as per @Piernov's documents, ALL ACE controllers (CD3215) must be working and communicating before the 20V is dialed up.

However, I do not think you are there yet since you are observing that there is no power on the Type C meter in one of the orientations. Are the contacts on the Type C connector blade clean? Consider to swab it with alcohol to remove any liquid spill, etc.

On the case you noted with no power, check the local fuse for each such Type C connector.

U3100 and U3200 are the Type C controllers (ACE Pri / Secondary)

Check fuses @ F3000 and F3001 and report the voltages on both ends of each fuse. Alternatively, power down and place meter in resistance mode.

Check the resistance of the above fuses to check if either one is blown.

[mitchw]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

Hi, no fuses are blown I did a lot of troubleshooting, and this is definitely not the first MacBook I tackled (but it is the first one with USB-C ports).
I found out that if I plug in the motherboard into the case with a semi charged battery, it will power on and charge the battery at 20V. The laptop works fine actually, touch ID works, touchbar works, Apple Diagnostics pass with no errors.

But if I try to power on the board with no battery connected, then it just power cycles on all except one USB-C orientation. So out of 8 possible orientations (4 ports), 7 are fine, 1 isn't lighting up the USB-C tester
I checked the CC lines on the suspect USB-C controller and diode mode measurements are fine on both CC lines. This CD3215 was hit by liquid (just barely) so there is a chance that is damaged.

The other side of the board was actually really bad with USB-C connector on the board actually having a hole and the cable for the USB-C ports was also damaged. I replaced everything (new CD3215, new connector, new USB-C ports/cable).

So I guess the board will be fine after replacing another CD3215.

[mitchw]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

Also, just a note for other users: the CD3215C00s that are being sold from China as new are junk, well at least in my case. They all look bit different from the originals, finish is not smooth and font is a bit different. Most likely fake chips. They will not power cycle like the original will. The 1.1V LDO will also not come on. Tried 5 of them and they all did the same. I took an used chip off the parts board and reballed it, that one worked fine.

[mon2]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

Wow!! Your notes about fake cd3215 is just scary.

I think that there are some good players on AliExpress but always check their reviews. It seems like the ones with perfect ratings are the parts that have been reballed.

This is almost hinting out for a test jig for the cd3215. A tool to confirm the part works before soldering onto the target PCB. Will study this topic.

On this note, we should perhaps create a list of suppliers who have shipped bogus parts in this forum??

Thanks for your updates. Very valuable.

I think one of the trusted suppliers who has been in the business a very long time is: Exin Era

US $2.99 | New CD3215C00 Chip with Stencil for Macbook Pro A1706 A1707 A1989 A1990 USB-C Port Controller IC CD3215COO Motherboard Repair
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mNiJshY

[mitchw]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

There are actually stories about fake CD3215s on other forums. I tried to get a refund from aliexpress, but they declined. It is hard to prove that the chips are bad. In my case they 100% are bad or fake. I will buy from Exin Era next time. Too bad I didn't know it before or I would still have $60 in my wallet

Anyway, today I discovered that I have problems with keyboard backlight. On first instance there were some keys that were overly bright, and few that were completely off. After few seconds the backlight flickered and then only few keys were dimly lit.
Also changing the backlight brightness doesn't work. If you turn it completely down the keyboard backlight turns off, but bringing it just a notch up it will again power on at full brightness, and it will stay the same if you bring it up to full power.

Anything that I can do about it?

Is there a foil underneath the keyboard like on the old MacBooks that I can change? Or would I need to replace a whole keyboard?

[mitchw]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

I replaced the CD3215 and now I get boot looping on all of the ports.
But there is still no PPBUS_G3H, and also the SMC_USBC_INT_L stays low.
No boot without the battery installed also...

What should I check next?

[mon2]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

Measure & post the voltage values for:

1) PP3V3_G3H

2) PPVIN_G3H_P3V3G3H

3) PPBUS_G3H @ D6902, pin # 1

4) PPDCIN_G3H_CHGR @ D6902, pin # 2

5) PPBUS_G3H @ F7000, pin # 2

6) PPVBAT_G3H_CHGR_REG @ F7000, pin # 1

7) PPDCIN_G3H

PPBUS_G3H is created by U7000. This component is a common point of failure. Post the above details for the review. Also possible that fuse @ F7000 is blown.

[mitchw]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

Hi,

1) PP3V3_G3H is 3.40V

2) PPVIN_G3H_P3V3G3H 4.8V

3) PPBUS_G3H 0.1V

4) PPDCIN_G3H_CHGR 5.0V

5) PPBUS_G3H @ F7000 0.1V

6) PPVBAT_G3H_CHGR_REG 0.1V

7) PPDCIN_G3H 5.1V

The laptop actually started few times when I plugged it though the USB-C hub, I got 20V and no power cycling. But directly plugged (just the USB-C cable), it won't start. But it starts and works when I connect it into top case with battery present.

[mon2]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

Ok. PPBUS_G3H is not working but you have the proper PPDCIN_G3H rail going into the U7000 circuit.

Remove all power. Meter in resistance mode (2k should be ok).

Red meter probe on F7000, pin # 2. Black meter probe to ground.

What is the reading ?

Is the F7000 fuse still in tact and conducting between pins 1 & 2 ?

[mitchw]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

On the F7000 I get about 180K to ground.
F7000 is not blown.

[mon2]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

Good resistance on the rail but U7000 is not working.

What is the voltage of Q7030, pin 1-2-3 ?

Remove all power. Meter in resistance mode.

Check the mosfets @ Q7030 (dual mosfet) & Q7040 for shorts.

Check the resistance between:

source & drain
source & gate
gate & drain

If the resistance is too low - it is blown. Repeat for both mosfets inside the single package.

Repeat the testing for the other mosfet.

Louis has a video on the replacement of U7000 (ISL9239) - worth a view:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBAZCUShuU4

[mitchw]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

Well, not to be a smartass, but the laptop actually works fine when the battery is plugged in. It will also properly (fast) charge it and it will switch to 20V. So I guess U7000 is most likely fine. My guess is still on CD3215 or on communication with the SMC and CD3215.
I checked the Q7030 pins 1-3 and there is 5.1V. Also there are no shorts on Q7030 and Q7040.

One interesting quirk, actually discovered that one of the CD3215s was bootlooping quite a bit faster than others. I timed it and all of the "good" CD3215s bootloop exactly every 6 seconds, but the one (one I already replaced) loops at every 4 seconds.
Also the diode measurements on 1.1V LDO line on that particular CD3215 is 0.534, but all others are exactly 0.545. It might not mean anything, but it is something.
I might try to replace that CD3215 when I get some from China, if I don't fix the board in the meantime.

[mon2]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

Review this webpage and post your results:

https://logi.wiki/index.php/CD3215_Bootup_Sequence

And

https://youtu.be/6yVUEXRonHc

[mitchw]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

I was right, the CD3215 that was looping every 4 seconds instead of 6 was the culprit. Actually not the chip itself, but the 2 1M resistors (R3208 and R3209) were reading almost 5M. The cap nearby (C3200) was shorted initially so most likely the water also compromised the two high ohm resistors.

The board is now fixed. Boots on every port, voltage goes to 20V immediatly

Things I should add:
- none of the CD3215s that I replaced were bad. I put the original ones back and they work fine
- the one CD3215 that was wasn't cycling in the first place, the real problem was broken solder on the connector that connects CD3215 to the USB-C ports. USB_TB_CC2 line wasn't making contact to the connector. I removed a good CD3215 and replaced it without reason. The problem persisted, and went away when I resoldered the connector
- it is important to check all the LDO outputs for shorts before condemning the CD3215s
- CD3215 can fail, but not always like some websites might tell it
- High ohm resistors are very prone to failure when there is liquid present. On the exact same board there was also a open 1.3M ohm resistor in the SSD NAND enable circuit, but that was one of the first things I replaced. I should have checked these 1M resistors in the first place

[Arshad alam4659]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

Hiii I have a a1706 this mb has no power pls help

[mon2]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

@Arshad alam4659, best to start a fresh thread. Start with measuring PPBUS_G3H voltage @ F7000 (fuse) - check both sides.

[Xenoaeuriix]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

@Arshad alam4659, best to start a fresh thread. Start with measuring PPBUS_G3H voltage @ F7000 (fuse) - check both sides.

Hi, I am new here, and probably the reason I cannot find the option to create a new post. I have MBP 2017 touchbar A1706 820-002839-A. This MacBook is my extra and I let it be borrowed by a student for the semester while waiting for her own laptop. I was not able to send the charges to her right on time and when the laptop was sent back to me it is no longer powering nor charging no sign of life at all. The battery has been removed prior to testing it out.

The MacBook won't turn on.
I have purchased a USB C power meter to check and found that it is taking 20.18V 0.0048A

I have read your previous reply and removed the F7000 and tested both sides while plugged in the side that says batter shows 13.13V while the other side that says PPBUS_G3H does show 0.0V

Tested resistance of both sides after removing the power supply and got 5-6Mohms on the side that says battery and 0.00 shorted on the ppbus_g3h side.

I tried to hook it to 1v 2A to inject voltage to ppbus_g3h but I cannot feel or find anything that goes hot or at least a bit warm also there is no obvious sign of damaged components.

I hope someone can help me here and guide me on what I need to do I have most of the tools that I would need to get it fixed I just don't know what to do. Thank you in advance.

[Xenoaeuriix]

Re: MacBook Pro A1706 820-00239 no power

PS the short is somewhere after the F7000.