MBP Logic board failure

Hello. I bought my MacBook Pro 17" in the fall of '07 and never had any trouble (other than a burning hot base) until just recently. After reading all of the posts, I called apple, got a case number and took to an authorized Mac repair place. They were great. They ran the tests for the NVidia problems and told me that was the problem. It was repaired in a matter of days, new logicboard at no coat to me. I brought it home on Tuesday and, as of an hour ago, the screen is black again. F-Word!!! I love Macs, have been the most irritating Mac owner, scoffing at my friends with their viruses and lame pcs. So here I am and unsure of where to turn now. (please excuse any typos, I'm writing this from my iPad-which is having it's own issues)

Hi everyone. Wow, I feel like such a fool! I didn't know this has been an on-going problem for so many people for so long. My MBP broke down a month ago. I paid for a diagnostic test and took their word for it - logic board failure, tough cookie. but just yesterday, a friend told me about the nvidia graphics card problem. i did some research and found this forum.

My MBP (C2D-2.5GHz) contains the defective nvidia chip. It exhibits all the symptoms weeks prior to a complete break-down - video distortion, flickers, overheated base. this afternoon, i took it in to the local genius bar, and like so many of you have already experienced, they can't boot up the laptop for testing, so they won't assume responsibility. I called Apple Care. Same thing, in fact, the senor technician is 100% sure the GPU cannot be the cause of the failure.

I would like to raise a question regarding this issue. My laptop was purchased on Nov. 21, 2008. According to this article, http://gigaom.com/apple/apple-officially-admits-to-faulty-nvidia-gpus/, Apple officially acknowledged the GPU problem as early as July 2008. Why didn't they make this defect known to me at the time of my purchase? Or at the very least, why didn't they hook up the mystery box to check for a known defect before I fork out 3 grand?

I think I will address my grievance with some sort of consumer advocacy group here in Canada. I have never done this before. Any recommendations or suggestions?

I have a MBP 2008 experiencing the same problem. The little white light would go on but there would be nothing in the screen. I tried turning it off and then back off several times but I never got it to start. Tried to do the NVRAM reset af SMC reset as well, but with no luck.

I took it to authorized service center but they said it was not the NVidia card, but the logic board (not covered by Apple). According to this article, it could still be the NVidia GPU though: http://gigaom.com/apple/is-apple-blind-to-nvidia-related-macbook-pro-failures/?g o_commented=1

To all who have this problem... I have the answer after scowering the web attempting to fix my self there is no way to fully fix the logic board yourself (the nvidia graphics chip to be precise) now when I took the laptop (out of warrinty) to an apple retail store guess what... The guy tested it and it was not elligable for a free replacment! So I stormed out and when to a small indipendent Apple Service Provider on the outskirts of where I live and they have heard far to many cases of this particual 15" Macbbok Pro, so I left it with them and they diagnosed the board within an hour and confirmed I was elligable for a free upgrade. So it just goes to show guys this problem can be fixed for free even if you have no warrinty just take it to a service provider not an apple shop!!! Good luck, I would like to haear some success stories 😀

James White 94 - email me the address of your local shop and a phone number please.... 🙂
rockrawler@gmail.com. Thanks. I am done with this crap. And I am tired of hearing Apple's B.S. excuses.

THANKS!

My early 2008 MBP (2.4 Ghz Core 2 Duo, A1260) died last week. Refused to wake up from sleep. A week earlier I had this issue of display going dim all of a sudden and pink horizontal lines across the display. It used to come back up in a minute or two. Then one day only black screen. MBP not booting up. AASP asked to pay 800$ (33000/- IRS) for logic board replacement!!! I spoke to Apple care guy who said if Service provider gives them a report saying its a nvidia issue they will replace it for free. But service provider says MBP is not booting at all and they can not confirm nvidia issue. I am sure its the nvidia chip which is causing MBP to not start up but Apple care won't accept it!!!!!!!!! 1500 £ (UK Pounds) machine won't even run for 3 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shame!!

Well my only advice is do the following if you have no video response on your macbook pro:

1) Fully charge your MacBook Pro

2) Take out the battery and hold down the power button for 5 seconds.

3) Now insert the battery.

4) Power up the computer and immidieltly after the powering on press and hold down the following buttons to clear the PRAM by holding down Command, Option, P, and R.

5) This should result in hearing the apple bong, hold the Command, Option, P, and R until you have heard the computer restart 4 times (with the bong noise).

6) Now after step 5 release the keys you have been holding down, leave the computer for 2 - 5 minutes.

7) Now try pressing the volume buttons or the keyboard light adjusters, can hear the computer volume sound effect? If you can your MacBook Pro has the NVIDIA issue because it is has shown the computer is operating correctly just without video to the screen...

However if there is no volume or signs of response from the computer such as keyboard back lighting then I am afraid you logic board is completly broken and is either over-heated on the past and there fore is not apples fault. Simple things such as leaving the laptop on your bed can do this...

If you have followed my steps and have had audio response from your computer do what I did and DO NOT! Go to an Apple retailer use google to find a 'Apple Service Provider' in your area this is essential! They will most likely do a test that may cost $30 or 20Pounds in my case. (I am from the UK) If the test is sucesfull you will get a complete logic board replacment free of charge even if your computer is out of warranty (mine was out of warranty. If all goes to plan your once dead macbook pro will be brought back to life I am using mine to help the rest of you guys now. 🙂

Good luck 😀

James Whitelegg.

Thanks James.

I tried your steps but in vain. Now only two fans run on logic board and nothing happens, no sound, no light sensors working. How do you rule out that faulty nvidia chip is causing the logic board to malfunction. I believe so.

Unfortunetly the NVIDIA issue was a fault within the chip and it never caused any damage to the rest of the logic board meaning 99% if you have the NVIDIA issue the computer is functioning as normal but with no video output to an external display or the computers built in screen. Its sounds like you have a much more serious problem with your logic board and unless you are coverd by Apple care it will cost more than the computer will be worth to repair 😟

MBP 13" core 2 duo 2.2 ghz 9400M

Screen started having lines and blacking out after upgrading to LION.

Tried SL again and after a few days I now have the black blobs at the bottom which stinks.

1 1/2 old and this happened? Seems way to often on here and other forums and isn't right we should have to eat a cost of logic board replacement.

Hi James, you seems to suggest there couldn't be a link between the faulty NVIDIA chip and failed logic board. But many on this forum and elsewhere have reasons to be skeptical.

http://gigaom.com/apple/is-apple-blind-to-nvidia-related-macbook-pro-failures/?g o_commented=1

How else to explain why a piece of hardware that we paid top dollars for could not last for more than 2-3 years? My old Toshiba Satellite from 10 years ago is still running!!!

@Gmeanie

I had the same issue prior to MBP death. The display used to get dimmed all of a sudden with pink horizontal lines flickering. It happened for a week and suddenly one day no display at all. This point is very clear for me to suspect that nVidia chip is causing logic board to malfunction. Logic board is powering up as two vent fans are running normal. AASP simply don't run the test as the MBP is not starting and refused to accept the fact of faulty video chip. From what I read on other forums, AASP must run the test and it should generate a code then only Apple is replacing the board for free. If there is no code no luck!! This means Apple has kept this repair very close in favour of themselves as well as nVidia.

@Twin Bennett

I agree with you. 1500 £ machine don't last for three years!!!!!! When there's a problem, its simply dead!!!!!

Is there no inverter in the LED screens?

Like you said I have really cheap laptops that are still going I usually throw them in the trash they are so old. But only got a 1 1/2 out of this MBP 13"

It is just way too often it is happening.

Go watch youtube with LION and watch how hotyour computer gets.

That is what did mine in I think and apple supplys the flash so it cant be my fault.

Without APP which is about 20% additional cost, Apple hardware is a risky purchase!!!!!

Hi,

I am hoping the wealth of knowledge here can help diagnose my problem.

I have an early 2008 MBP (A1260/Penryn) that largely has been trouble free. However, during the weekend prior, my screen went black. Specificially, MBP continued to operate, but the screen itself was black, with only the LED backlight illuminating. Using a MBA and a lot of trial and error, with iChat I was able to share screens and access the MBP--which confirmed that it still was working, just without the screen. I quickly updated my Time Machine backup shut the MBP down.

After reading about the NVIDIA failures, I took the MBP to my local Apple store, figuring mine was the next to have this happen. Unfortunately for me, the young fellow behind the Genius Bar told me that the NVIDIA graphics card was operating correctly. He ran a test using an external hard drive, and it passed each time. He then plugged into the display port an older Apple display, and after mirroring screens, showed me my desktop. When I asked him what then was the cause, he told me that, although not as common as other problems, the displays do fail and that I should have my LCD replaced. He said that for $400 (+/-), the MBP would be sent to a service center with which Apple has contracted and I would have the MBP within a week to ten days. I am quite technogically inclined, and since the MBP is out of warranty (AppleCare extended ended in June 2011), I figured I would see what my other options were.

After reviewing a service manual as well as a handful of repair guides online, I determined that I could replace the LCD with only a little effort. So, as of right now, I have an LCD on order. Of course, only after the order did I read this discussion thread. And further of course, even if I don't open the LCD, there is a restocking fee if I need to return it.

All of this being said, does my issue run closer to an LCD failure--since the MBP functions and it runs off an external display--or does my issue seem to be the beginning of a logic board failure?

Any and all help is appreciated. I really, really like my MBP, and hate to think that this could be the end of it.