How to Replace MacBook Pro 15 Left Thermal Sensor Tutorial
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 25 Steps
Hey there, awesome fixer! Just a heads-up, keep your workspace neat and tools organized to breeze through the repair. If things get tricky, don’t hesitate to hit up the pros at schedule a repair. Happy fixing!
This nifty sensor keeps tabs on your gadget’s inner warmth to make sure it stays cool under pressure!
Step 2
– Unscrew the trio of identical Phillips screws holding down the memory door. Let’s get that door off and see what’s inside!
Step 3
– Gently lift up the memory door just enough to get a good hold on it, then slide it toward yourself and pull it free from the casing. Easy peasy!
Step 4
– Unscrew the two 2.8 mm Phillips screws chilling near the latch in the battery compartment. Let’s keep those screws safe—they’re tiny but mighty!
Step 5
– Unscrew the following 6 screws:
Step 6
– Unscrew the four 3.2 mm Phillips screws on the port side of the computer. It’s like uncovering hidden treasure, but instead of gold, it’s techy goodness!
Step 7
– Twist your computer by a cool 90 degrees and unscrew the two cheeky 3.2 mm Phillips screws hiding at the back. It’s like a little treasure hunt!
Step 8
– Give your computer a little twist and turn it 90 degrees. Next up, let’s unscrew the four zippy 3.2 mm Phillips screws from this side of the computer. Almost there!
Step 9
Hold your horses! Don’t just rip off the upper case like it’s a band-aid. It’s still connected to the logic board with a sneaky little ribbon cable.
– Start by lifting the rear of the case and gently work your fingers along the sides to loosen it. Keep moving around the case, releasing it bit by bit. Once the sides are loose, you might need to gently wiggle the case up and down to detach the front part. Be aware, there are some sneaky plastic clips hiding that need to be unclicked.
Step 10
– Unplug the trackpad and keyboard ribbon cables from the logic board, peeling off any tape that’s in the way.
– Lift off the upper case and set it aside.
Step 11
– Unplug the zesty orange SuperDrive ribbon cable from the logic board, peeling off any tape that’s in the way.
Step 12
– Alright, let’s get those pesky screws out! You’ll be removing the following 4 screws:
Step 14
– Unplug the hard drive and ExpressCard connectors from the logic board’s left side. You’re doing great!
Step 15
– Slide the iSight and display data cables off the logic board like a pro, peeling away any tape that dares stand in your way!
Step 16
– Unhook the eight connectors by sliding a spudger under each cable and giving it a gentle lift. It’s like disconnecting little digital seatbelts!
Tools Used
Step 17
– Unscrew the shiny silver T6 Torx screw that’s keeping the ground loop cozy against the display data cable and the casing. It’s just a little twist and shout!
Step 18
– Unscrew the lone T6 Torx screw that’s playing guard to the clear plastic shield covering the right ambient light sensor.
– Gently lift away the clear plastic shield to unveil the right ambient light sensor.
Step 19
– Gently lift up the snazzy orange Kapton tape that’s holding down the right thermal sensor cable to the logic board. Let’s keep things neat and tidy!
Step 20
– Time to unscrew the next 15 screws!
Step 21
– Keep one hand on the logic board and with your other hand, give the left fan a gentle lift from its snug home. Oh, and there’s a sneaky strip of black tape clinging to the fan and the heat sink—peel that off gently as you lift the fan.
– Just pop the fan right above the Airport card, no need to take it out of the computer completely. Keep it cool and close, just how it likes!
Step 23
– Gently hoist the left side of the logic board and unplug the snazzy gray and black power cable from its cozy spot beneath the board.
Step 24
Alright, let’s get that MacBook Pro back in tip-top shape! First things first, let’s tidy up by cleaning off that old thermal compound. Check out our groovy Guide to Applying Thermal Paste to get those processor and heat sink surfaces ready for action!
– Grab the logic board gently on the left side and the slim section, then swing it out of the lower case like you’re opening a treasure chest.
