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Possible hardware fix for MacBook random shutdowns

Swad

By Swad

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No word strikes fear in the heart of a MacBook owner like "random shutdown." (That's technically two words, but we're going for drama here...)

 

Equally as dramatic is a potential cure for this shutdown problem from the folks over at MacFixIt. One of their readers decided to take matters into his own hands and fix the problem himself. The result? No more shutdowns.

I found that if I take off the top case, the problem never happens. So I tried to see if it's related to the top case by loosen the screws to see if that fix the problem. At first it seems so random that I was unable to be certain which screw is causing the issue. Later I found out if I tighten the bottom, it sure to happen. So now I put a spacer (usually found in those stand-offs of those no name brand PCs, red in color, round, hard paper type) around the center post of the top case, tape it so it won't come loose.

 

After placing the Kapton Tape, I pushed the CPU to 100%. When the temperature reaches 85 degree, the fan will turn on at high speed and the temperature will lower back to about 77 degree. Tried many times, the computer did not cut off at all. Please note the red spacer on the Centre Post of the top case, the Kapton Tape on the edge of the top case where it touches the heat sink. I also taped the Trackpad/Keyboard cable just in case.

We've heard from several of you that you've been dealing with this exact problem. If you try this, let us know your results.

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Swad

That's what it sounded like to me - although the article wasn't really all that clear.

 

If someone here tried it (and I will if my macbook starts having the same problem), be sure to post detailed pics and instructions.

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Another User

I'm using my MacBook and it's a busy time now (work). but I'm planning to take my MacBook to service this week or next week.

 

I'll give them the article. who knows ;)....

 

I'm just tired of having a powerful computer that is hard to put on than fire :)

 

It's now @ 73c and running for 7hr45min from the morning... but it's hard to boot this machine :)

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retroz
I wonder if for some users it's a matter of the battery swelling and pushing this top case around.

 

 

Two other things can causes this:

Bad Memory, when it hits a bad execution, it will cause GPU (since it's linked to RAM) to shutdown.

The other is the GPU if it gets overheated, it will shut down, ala reboot.

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applemacman

I'm really surprised (at Apple, i guess) that this is such a HUGE issue. My Macbook (is it me, or is the only model doing this the 2.0ghz white?) started doing this about 3 days ago. I thought it might be an isolated incident, but when i googled the problem, I found dozens of hits leading to page after page of the same complain. Apple needs to officially address this problem asap.

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Urbz

sorry mash, don't have it!

 

Anyways, i recently dealt with an older hp pavilion ze4400 which had this exact problem.

I replaced the heatsink and fan (one unit) and applied some Arctic Silver 5, closed it all up, and it worked perfectly.

The problem, in my analysis and experience, has to do with heat. The one on the mobo that dictates what to do at certain temperatures. It also has to do with simply the heat produced by the processor and how efficiently it is being thrown out.

For example, the hp would get hot really quickly. It wouldn't burn up, but the fast increase in temp caused a shut down. The fan also wasn't being controlled properly. I managed to fix it by cooling everything down and getting new parts that did that.

 

Anyone who applied the extra processor thermal paste on the mbps still have this problem? I don't think so...

 

Just my two cents on a theory,

 

Urby3

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flyjar1

i know why this is happening. some guy the other day in germany found it out. im a little vague on the details, but its something to do with the wire to the cpu being to short, and when the notebook gets really hot, its fine, but then when it starts to cool, the wire shrinks or something and it comes in contact with another peice of metal,causing it to short and immediatly shut down. hope apple will fix this permanently because i was looking forward to getting one untilli heard about all of the people that this has effected.

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htdefiant

I had this problem. I used an Apple Support fix:

1. Shut off your computer.

2. Disconnect AC adapter.

3. Remove battery

4. Hold down power button

5. Reinsert battery

6. Reinsert AC adapter

7. Zap the P-RAM by holding down Apple-Option-P-R

8. Update firmware

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Another User

I'm now a week after the fix...

 

They've replaced my Motherboard but then it won't sleep (when you close the lid) because they've forgotten to HOOK IT UP!!!!

 

So I had to go again... this time I told them also about 2 issues I've discovered over the week I had it back...

The keyboard enclosure had some bumps with the connection to the body... and my internal screen (13.3) sometimes gets weird graphics when it gets back online (after Energy Saving). They haven't solve that one but they've replaced my keyboard/mouse enclosure.

 

 

 

It might be that cable or so but in addition to that the newer Motherboard runs a bit cooler -

65c - 73c when extensively used... (for example now I'm bouncing a mix under PTLE ... CPU @ 73% @ 2Ghz @ 67c)

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Another User
I'm now a week after the fix...

 

They've replaced my Motherboard but then it won't sleep (when you close the lid) because they've forgotten to HOOK IT UP!!!!

 

So I had to go again... this time I told them also about 2 issues I've discovered over the week I had it back...

The keyboard enclosure had some bumps with the connection to the body... and my internal screen (13.3) sometimes gets weird graphics when it gets back online (after Energy Saving). They haven't solve that one but they've replaced my keyboard/mouse enclosure.

It might be that cable or so but in addition to that the newer Motherboard runs a bit cooler -

65c - 73c when extensively used... (for example now I'm bouncing a mix under PTLE ... CPU @ 73% @ 2Ghz @ 67c)

 

Well I've just go the Random Shutdowns back... ;)

This is a BRAND NEW Motherboard with a serial number from late August!

Also the keyboard enclosure has been replaced on Thursday ...

 

I hope I'll get them to give me a new machine or something because I've already been there TWICE! (actually three as one time was to put the machine to repair)

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vandetta

I also faced this with my 1.83Ghz MB. I already report to Apple but now it's already 2 weeks no call from them calling me to gring my MB to them for the logic board replacement.. What I am doing now is if I don't want the RSS occur, I need to press the power button until beep sound came out before the ding sound. I need to do that everytime I want to turn on the MB.

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munky

I RMA'd my first MacBook because of RSS, and decided to wait and see if Merombooks came out. I also wanted to wait because shipping times for MacBooks here in the UK were showing consistently 7 days build time. This has recently dropped to first 5, now 4 days, so I ordered another MacBook today (base configuration 1.83Ghz white - I have my 2Gb RAM, 120Gb HDD and Tucano skin at home waiting and ready).

 

However, my order status now shows:

 

Estimated ship date: 3rd October

Estimated delivery date: 16th October.

 

I'm guessing therefore, that they're shipping direct from their factories in China. This should (hopefully) mean new models with a fixed heatsink (and hence no RSS).

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K4bren

Hope it works for some, while violating warantee, I'm sending mine in tomorrow. I was trying to burn a DVD of my Home folder (yes, it's only 4 gigs), and it shut down. Now it won't get past the Apple Symbol.

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