Apple MacBook 13-inch

Category: Laptop Repair and Service

Contents of this article

Battery removal
Top case removal
Keyboard removal

DISASSEMBLING PROCEDURE

Battery Removal

Tools
# Clean, soft, lint-free cloth

Preliminary Steps

Warning: Always shut down the computer before opening it to avoid damaging the internal components or causing injury. After you shut down the computer, the internal components can be very hot. Let the computer cool down for 30 minutes before continuing.

Procedure
1. Shut down the computer.
2. Wait 30 minutes to allow the computer’s internal components to cool.
3. Unplug all external cables from the computer except the power cord.
4. Unplug the power cord.
5. Put on an ESD wrist strap.
6. Turn over the computer and place it on a soft cloth.

7. Use a coin to release the battery latch. Turn the coin a quarter turn clockwise to unlock the battery.
Caution: To prevent scratches or other cosmetic damage to the bottom case, use only a coin to unlock and lock the battery.
8. Lift out the battery from the battery bay.

RAM Door (L-Bracket)

Tools
# Soft cloth
# ESD wrist strap and mat
# Magnetic Phillips #0 screwdriver
# Black stick (Apple part number 922-5065) or other nonconductive nylon or plastic flatblade tool
Preliminary Steps
Before you begin, remove the battery

Procedure
1. With the computer closed and upside down on a soft cloth, touch a metal surface inside the battery bay to discharge any static electricity

2. Loosen—but do not try to remove—the three captive screws along the RAM door.

3. Holding the long end of the L-shaped RAM door, pivot it out from the battery bay. (If necessary, use a black stick to tilt it up and out of the battery bay.) Be careful not to bend it.

Replacement Note: Before replacing the RAM door, make sure that
# Hard drive pull tab is not exposed
# Cards are fully inserted
# Memory card levers are fully down before replacing the RAM door Replacement Note: Check that the replacement RAM door has a rubber cushion to protect the hard drive opening and two EMI gaskets to protect the memory card openings.

Top Case (with Keyboard)

Tools
# ESD wrist strap and mat
# Magnetic Phillips #0 screwdriver
# Magnetic Phillips #00 screwdriver (preferably with a long handle)
# Black stick (Apple part number 922-5065) or other nonconductive nylon or plastic flatblade tool
# Access card (Apple part number 922-7172) to open the top case
# Clean, soft, lint-free cloth

Preliminary Steps
Before you begin, remove
# Battery
# RAM door

Procedure
Caution: To prevent scratches or other cosmetic damage to the computer housing, use a soft cloth as a protective layer when removing and installing the external screws.
1. With the computer upright, remove the two identical 5.5-mm long shoulder screws from the right side of the computer. Replacement Caution: When installing these top case screws, do not press on the area over the slot drive. The slot-drive bezel could be damaged with too much pressure.

2. Important: Notice the two screws at the left side of the computer. Although they can be removed, they exist for cosmetic purposes only and do not require removal. If they are removed, however, be sure to reinstall the two identical 3-mm long shoulder screws at the corner near the ports. Do not use longer screws.

3. At the back of the computer, remove the four #0 Phillips screws (two at each side) near the display hinge--
# Two 12-mm long shoulder screws that are closest to the hinge
# Two 8-mm long shoulder screws at the back corners of the computer

4. Turn over the computer, and on the outside of the bottom case, remove the three #0 Phillips screws:
# Two 14-mm long screws near display hinge
# One 11-mm long at center of bottom case
Replacement Caution: Do not put one of the longer screws in the center screw hole or it will damage the logic board.

Replacement Caution: When installing the three bottom case screws, install them in the order shown.

5. Notice the long row of #0 Phillips screws at the front edge of the battery bay.
6. Important: Remove only the four screws shown. Remove the 3-mm long identical screws as follows:
Starting at the corner closest to the battery connector, skip the first screw, then remove the second, fourth, seventh, and ninth screw.
Tip: To help remember the screw sequence, think of it as “2, 4, 7, 9 loosens the top case every time.

7. In the battery bay, remove the two 6-mm long identical screws that are on both outer sides of the battery connector. Do not remove the two screws that are closest to the battery connector.

8. In the battery bay, use a long-handled screwdriver to remove the three #00 Phillips screws at the inner edge of the battery bay near where the RAM slots are located:
# Two identical 3-mm long screws
# One longer 4.5-mm long screw at the corner of the battery bay nearest the battery connector

Because this is a recessed area, the screwdriver has to go in at an angle. Keep the screwdriver in line with the screw head as much as possible.
Replacement Caution: When installing these three screws, an incorrect installation could cause the reassembled computer to wobble in use. To prevent a wobble symptom, use light pressure to hold the top case onto the assembly when installing the screws.
9. Open the display to a 90-degree angle or wider.
10. Warning: Inserting a tool too far or performing this step too quickly could break some of the snaps that secure the top case. Be especially careful with the left front corner of the top case. Starting at the left corner and working in a counter-clockwise direction, use an access card tool to open the gap along the front of the top case, around the perimeter, and to the right side above the optical drive slot.

11. With the top and right side gap opened, tilt up—but do not remove—the right edge of the top case. This motion releases the remaining snaps between the top case and bottom case, and the slot-load bezel clips become loose as the top case is tilted up.