Faint click/tick sounds near the trackpad area

I am scared of opening and fixing this myself but thank you so much to everyone involved in the fix and documentation of the problem, I thought I was going insane! I will take this all to the genius bar and show them this thread, the youtube video, that fix page, and let them see it the problem in real time with my laptop. They can fix it themselves too, I'm not touching the insides of this thing.

Hi everybody,

same problem here on a brand new macbook pro i7; same clicking sound, like a glass creaking. I heard the sound randomly when I touched lightly the macbook pro, i tried any part, even touching and moving the screen. The noise was there.

I followed a suggestion found on the net: just untightened all the 10 screws on the back of the macbook pro. Then I have re-tightened then, but by using a crossed pattern (first bottom left corner, then upper right corner; then bottom right corner and upper left; then center left and right; then bottom-center left and top-center right; finally bottom-center right and top-center left).

And now the awful cracking sound is gone. The problem is totally solved (for now, I hope for good).

Actually, my guess is that the sound was produced because of some mechanical stress on the bottom plate, due to a not suitable screw-tightening pattern (maybe on my unit they have used serial tightening instead of a cross pattern). Generally speaking, the wider and the thinner a metallic plate, the more critical is matching the alignment.

Full credit to the guys who figured this out first.

Hope this helps.

all my best

Let us know how long this lasts for you. I removed and re-secured the bottom plate and after about three days, the noise returned.

My wife has a Core2Duo (Fall 2009) model of the 15" MacBook Pro and hers has never had this issue.

ok i'll let you know.

Hi,

unfortunately the noise is back since last afternoon... but it is much less strong then the original noise.

I guess there is still some residual stress on the back plate.

I hope it does not get worse.... frankly, I find this design flaw quite disappointing for such an expensive laptop.

I removed and retightened the backplate per your suggestion (twice) and the sound does come back after a few days or after moving the laptop around and stressing the back plate.

I agree with you about how this shouldn't be happening with a $2000+ laptop. My wife's MBP from last fall doesn't have this issue.

I called Apple Care and they haven't heard of this issue before according to the rep. I spoke with. I will call again until they can resolve it with a new back-plate, etc. It's hard to demonstrate/replicate while on the phone or at an Apple Store.

Hi everybody!

I have the same problem with my 1 week old MacBook Pro. Just wanted to know, if there are some new developments? Any new responses from the Apple Service concerning this issue or any other way to ged rid of this sound than removing the grounding connector?

Thanks for the help!

Mike

PS: Another thing that came to my mind: Does anyone know how common this issue is?

Message was edited by: Andalore

john+apple wrote:
The part also makes contact with a metal structure underneath. That has a rough surface, like a file. I suspect the sound may be caused by the metal arms of the part rubbing on this rough metal surface.

I fixed the problem by temporarily removing the part and using a flat-blade screwdriver to scrape the rough metal surface below it. This is soft metal and the screwdriver smoothed out its rough file-like texture. I then reinstalled the part and have not experienced the sound any more in the past month!

However, there is a risk to this solution, that metal filings will be dislodged and remain in your computer and eventually cause a short. I created a strong vacuum by duct-taping 1/4" rubber tubing to a vacuum cleaner and used this to clean up any loose filings.

John

But don't you waste your warranty by scraping inside you're MacBook? Doesn't anybody demonstrated the problem at a genius bar?

I think I will try my luck at Gravis (Authorized Apple Reseller here in Germany)! I don't even dare to open my new MacBook on my own, because I am afraid of scratching the surface!

I have exact same problem: http://www.youtube.com/user/noreftako
Returned for already 3 times and they still have not been able to fix it.
They replaced the motherboard, disconnected the DVD connection cable but still not fixed.
You have any update on yours? Got is replaced or what?

i am having the exact same problem - took it into get fixed - they replaced the HDD saying that it was that - alas the problem is still there and it's back at the shop

i'd love to find out what it is - it's driving mental!

Sorry to bump this thread but I would like to know if anyone has solved this problem through Apple? I just bought a 15" Core i5 MBP and I have the metallic plink sound as well. This is what I've noticed, when the computer is sitting on something that creates static cling I will hear the plink sounds when I run my hands over the trackpad or when I'm typing which in this case makes me lay my palms on the computer which also creates static. Also when I played TF2 on it the MBP heated up and the plinking sounds were very easy to recreate. All I had to do is run my hand back and forth on the bottom plate and the sounds were really annoying.
I'm scared to remove the bottom cover and take out that little grounding piece that some people were recommending because I'm afraid in the long run damage may occur, there's a reason why it's there which is why I don't want to remove it. I'm surprised not to see many posts about people complaining about it. So, anyone with a proper response or fix from Apple about this, please post?

Message was edited by: DPJ

Have this same "plink" pinhead-on-glass high-pitched sound occurring randomly from the left of the trackpad (I think?) on i7 with SSD. More frequent when the machine is hotter, on my lap, and pass my hand on left side edge. But still happens when the machine is 3 feet away on a stand at the office. Wife is getting a good laugh from this. Love to have a fix. Not helping writer's block...

Does not appear to have been fully answered after all. Anybody from Apple care to weight in?

i have exactly the same problem (but more on the top of the book, near/around the trackpad!!!)... my macbook pro 15'' i5 (bought may 2010) was four times in reparation by mcshark (official apple retailer in austria)

firstly the exchanged the hd drive 7200rpm
secondly the exchanged the 7200 to a 5400 rpm (they said, its not so loud...)
thirdly the exchanged the speaker assembly and the logic board
and at the last reparation the exchanged the topcase... it's two days ago...

we are talking about a time of four month, were my macbook pro is just in reparation...

the noise is still there... of course not so loud such as it was at the beginning but loud enough...

do someone has a helpful reaction from apple...???

could it be, that this is a design failure?? or construction failure??

please help....!!!!!!!!!

why is this question already marked as: "This question is answered" ???? when its true, what is the solution for this nerving problem...?????