Flipstick476

Q: Macbook Air - Intermittently Charging , Now not at all

Hi all,

 

I own a Macbook 13 inch air which I purchased in early 2012. My problem lies with the charging of my laptop.

 

The symtoms;

 

Macbook intermittently charges, but is now not charging at all

Mag connector is not showing any lights (being green or orange)

Laptop shows no charge increase with mag attached and no light

 

Took laptop into my apple store and they ran a 'diagnostic test' which showed everything as OK . I also noted that as soon as they plugged the laptop in the charger started charging the battery.

 

I then took my laptop home frustrated, after trying for the last week to get it to charge with no success. I plugged the laptop in and it started charging. Unusual i thought!

 

However now the same problem has came along again, with my laptop not charging and the mag light not glowing any colour.

 

Is this a hardware fault perhaps?

 

My software is up to date.

 

I have tried multiple known working plugs around the house.

 

The power adaptor is in excellent condition, it just sits in the same place and is never wrapped up etc and looks in perfect condition.

 

The power plug on laptop and mag are both clean.

 

Im really struggling to find any info as to what is wrong?

 

Any ideas?

 

Much thanks in advanced,

Flipstick476

MacBook Air, iOS 5.1.1

Posted on Sep 4, 2012 1:22 AM

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Q: Macbook Air - Intermittently Charging , Now not at all

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  • by Gallonallen,

    Gallonallen Gallonallen Jun 6, 2013 12:13 PM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jun 6, 2013 12:13 PM in response to Flipstick476

    In cases where the AC cord (thin one) is showing "strain relief" damage at either the magnetic connector or at the adapter brick your power cord may be covered at no charge.  Apple's site http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4127 states:

     

    "Whether your product is in or out of warranty, you can take your adapter to an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple Retail Store for evaluation and replacement if necessary. Pending the results of evaluation, you may or may not be eligible for a replacement adapter free of charge."

     

    This is only available in the US and is valid for three years from date of purchase of the power cord.  More information can be found at the MagSafe Adapter Settlement Page: https://www.adaptersettlement.com/

     

    I hope this helps some people

  • by Sgretola,

    Sgretola Sgretola Jun 7, 2013 7:33 AM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 7, 2013 7:33 AM in response to Flipstick476

    Hi all,

         MBA charger often not charging: light was randomly either green or red or off independently on  the charger

     

    PROBLEM definitely SOLVED

     

     

    After struggling for months I brought my MBA to an Apple assistance center. They found the FLEX CABLE (internally connecting safemag and motherboard) broken, and told me it happens often in MacBooks because of vibrations or even small bumps.

    Cost of the intervention (Italy): Flex Cable= 24 Euro + Labour= 60 Euro

     

    Hope it helps

  • by chelseaiphone,

    chelseaiphone chelseaiphone Jun 7, 2013 9:39 AM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 7, 2013 9:39 AM in response to Flipstick476

    Same problem here, and I have only had my mac air for over a month. From reading these posts, I see that the charger will prob work in the store, and I just recorded a video of it not working for my appointment.

     

    Given that there are 77 posts on this thread alone, the number of cases must be in the thousands. People pay a premium for apple products to avoid issues like this one. Apple, can you please have a representative respond to this thread and provide an explanation or solution for those suffering from this problem?

  • by Bowler_,

    Bowler_ Bowler_ Jun 9, 2013 12:39 PM in response to Je_Maintiendrai
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Jun 9, 2013 12:39 PM in response to Je_Maintiendrai

    Je-

     

    This particular MBA was purchased in late 2011 from the official Beijing Apple store, and that's also where I took it back to several weeks ago. I know that some parts of an MBA (e.g., the battery) have a 1 year warranty on them... not sure if other parts are longer, or if the whole thing is generally 1 year, or what. Aside from a beat up old iPhone 3G I bought used because its owner wanted to upgrade to a brand new iPhone 4 when that was coming out, this is my only Apple product, and I usually don't even bother learning warranty specs and just keep a machine until it quits running, then replace it.

     

    I've visited a few fake Apple stores in China, but other than, say, jailbreaking an iPhone, I don't think I'd trust these with any major work on a machine I didn't want going all buggy later on...

     

    Looks like the phone number for Apple in Thailand is 001-800-65-6957 - maybe give them a call and see if they can point you in the right direction.

     

    EDIT: Gallonallen's comment seems to confirm that Apple covers faulty parts, regardless of whether the machine overall is in or out of warranty. That's big of them. They've certainly earned my respect (and future repeat business, and recommendations to friends and family).

  • by anirudh582,

    anirudh582 anirudh582 Aug 2, 2013 8:01 AM in response to Bowler_
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 2, 2013 8:01 AM in response to Bowler_

    I have the same problem too. MBA charging only intermittently. Tried resetting SMC and PRAM and the problem still persists. Will try warming up the power brick like others mentioned, but I would like a fix for the root cause....

  • by Sgretola,

    Sgretola Sgretola Aug 2, 2013 11:47 AM in response to anirudh582
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 2, 2013 11:47 AM in response to anirudh582

    I can just tell you what solved your same problem in my case. I struggled for months and trying all the empiric solutions mentioned in this blog; I had also changed the Flex cable (connecting I/O Board and motherboard) just wasting my money.

     

    SOLUTION: changing the I/O Board (it's a small and cheap part carrying both power plug and left USB port) made it.

  • by anirudh582,

    anirudh582 anirudh582 Aug 2, 2013 11:52 AM in response to Sgretola
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 2, 2013 11:52 AM in response to Sgretola

    Oh. Ok. Will definitely try that if the problem persists for too long. Thanks very much for the suggestion Sgretola!

  • by jfkemper,

    jfkemper jfkemper Aug 2, 2013 1:45 PM in response to Sgretola
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 2, 2013 1:45 PM in response to Sgretola

    Hi Sgretola,

     

    Can you share some details about how you achieved the I/O board replacement?  For example, did you order it through Apple or another source?  Did you do the install yourself?  any tips would be appreciated.

     

    Jim

  • by anirudh582,

    anirudh582 anirudh582 Aug 2, 2013 1:50 PM in response to jfkemper
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 2, 2013 1:50 PM in response to jfkemper

    If you want to fix it yourself, here are some instructions:

     

    http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+MacBook+Air+11-Inch+Mid+2011+I-O+Board/63 10/1

     

    This is for a mid 2011 MBA. There are instructions for other models on ifixit as well.

  • by Sgretola,

    Sgretola Sgretola Aug 3, 2013 11:28 AM in response to jfkemper
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 3, 2013 11:28 AM in response to jfkemper

    Hi Jim,

         after I found the tip on internet, I just went to a Genius Bar in Rome. I paid 64 Euros for the spare part. Labor was for free, because of a previous intervention made in the same GB for the same problem which resulted to be completely ineffective.

     

    S

  • by jfkemper,

    jfkemper jfkemper Aug 3, 2013 10:40 PM in response to anirudh582
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 3, 2013 10:40 PM in response to anirudh582

    thanks fo the tip, anirudh582.

  • by jfkemper,

    jfkemper jfkemper Aug 3, 2013 10:41 PM in response to Sgretola
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 3, 2013 10:41 PM in response to Sgretola

    S,

     

    Thanks for your reply.

     

    J

  • by dawsonj,

    dawsonj dawsonj Oct 1, 2013 1:38 AM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 1, 2013 1:38 AM in response to Flipstick476

    I have this problem too on a 13" Macbook Air 2012 but I found if I put the charger plug the OTHER way (ie you block the left hand USB from being usable) the red light comes on again.  Very annoying.

  • by Je_Maintiendrai,

    Je_Maintiendrai Je_Maintiendrai Oct 1, 2013 7:27 AM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 1, 2013 7:27 AM in response to Flipstick476

    The problem is that the coating sparks off, if you look at those four little metal points, the coating disappears over time and the electricity doesn't flow correctly, reversing the plug works for a while, after that you have to eiter put weight on the plug or place something underneath to force it up so it connects.

     

    I ordered a thrid party 1/0 board on Ebay, replaced it, works like charm! Also bought a fake power supply coz the original one had melted due to the messed up flow of electricity. Get your ***** together Apple coz you charge hansomly for them productas.

  • by rgoldstein,

    rgoldstein rgoldstein Oct 16, 2013 7:57 AM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 16, 2013 7:57 AM in response to Flipstick476

    Same problem. Apple store charger worked. Then able to get mine to work by "uncoiling" the charger line a bit until light came on. But no confidence it won't reoccur. Seems like the fault is the charger, not the computer

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