MacBook Pro Repair - Model a1502 Early 2015 - (Logic Board?)

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Level 1

9 points

MacBook Pro Repair - Model a1502 Early 2015 - (Logic Board?)

My daughter's MacBook is dead, it will not turn on, no display, no sound. It was not dropped or abused in any way. The battery is just a few months old. We've tried 2 different chargers. The LED on the charger seems to act normal, green when you first connect it then turns amber, but never turns back to green as when fully charged. Resetting the SMC changes the LED on the charger to green and then it goes back to amber which appears to be normal but it still does not power on. I also disconnected the battery from the Logic Board and tried to power it on with just the charger and that did not work.

So, I'm trying to determine the approximate cost of this repair. It's a 5+ year old model and I don't know if it makes sense to fix it or pitch it.

I'm sure someone has been in a similar situation. Do all the symptoms point to the Logic Board? I've done laptop repairs in the past, back in my technician days, and I was thinking about ordering a Logic Board and installing it myself, but I'm out the cost if the board is not the problem. I have no problem mailing it in to a repair center as long as the repair is economically feasible. I chatted with an Apple representative and the cost estimate he provided for the logic board was insane.

Does anyone have advice or repair options based on your experiences?

I appreciate your help.

MacBook Pro 13″, 10.13

Posted on May 24, 2021 10:52 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

leroydouglas

Community+ 2024

Level 10

185,388 points

May 25, 2021 8:45 AM in response to John G 9

John G 9 wrote:

My daughter's MacBook is dead, <MacBook Pro Retina 13" A1502 - Early 2015.>

Does anyone have advice or repair options based on your experiences?

I appreciate your help.

In or out of warranty you can get a free over the counter 'Apple Service Diagnostics' test /assessment

Make an appointment for a "hardware issue"—

https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/

Outside the USA

https://locate.apple.com/country

From iOS device using the app to make a online Genius Bar appointment is easy:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/apple-support/id1130498044?mt=8

“Mac notebook, contact us and we'll send you a box you can use to ship it to an Apple Repair Center. We'll return your repaired product to you as quickly as possible. Depending on where you get service, you might be able to check the status of your repair online.” Start a service request https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service

Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line https://getsupport.apple.com/

or call AppleCare Support at 1-800-APLCARE (800-275-2273)

Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201232

Learn how to get your Mac fixed and how much it will cost.

https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service

Get your Mac ready for service - Apple Support https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209095

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Answer 2

HWTech

Level 9

56,942 points

May 24, 2021 8:00 PM in response to John G 9

Unplug the charger from the electrical outlet for a minute to reset the charger's internal circuitry.

Do you have access to another Magsafe power adapter to try?

The DC-In Board could be the problem.

I would disconnect everything except the fan. There are power on pads on the Logic Board when the keyboard is disconnected plus you don't need a display or SSD for this basic test. All that matters is does the fan spin up. Try it with just the DC-In Board & charger, then try it without the DC-In Board using just the battery (assuming the battery has a charge -- I miss the days of having a battery indicator light).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL1j_3LDaXI

You have to be extremely careful with used Logic Boards since they can contain a firmware lock or it may still be managed by the former owner's AppleID or by a school or business.

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Answer 3

John G 9 Author

Level 1

9 points

May 25, 2021 8:14 AM in response to HWTech

Thank you for the suggestions, even another power adapter has not worked. You bring up a risk that I didn't even consider regarding the firmware lock on the Logic Boards. So, I think at this point I'm going to send it in to be repaired.

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Answer 4

John G 9 Author

Level 1

9 points

May 25, 2021 9:22 AM in response to leroydouglas

I was on chat yesterday with Apple and the rep would not confirm that there would be NO fee for diagnosis if I elected not to have the unit repaired. And, the estimated cost of the repair for the Logic Board replacement was over $600! So there's no need for me to go to Apple. You would think that repairs would come less costly from Apple given their access to parts and ability to negotiate a low cost contract with a 3rd party repair center. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't want to play in that field, but that's OK, as I'm finding other sources that provide the services.

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Answer 5

John G 9 Author

Level 1

9 points

May 25, 2021 9:59 AM in response to SergZak

Yes, I understand that. My point above was that Apple has the volume and the clout to negotiate a contract with a 3rd party to do the board level repairs which they can then use the boards in their stores to resolve customer problems. It should not cost over $600 when other service providers can do it for a lot less.

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Answer 6

SergZak

Level 6

10,354 points

May 25, 2021 9:34 AM in response to John G 9

Apple doesn't repair anything such as logic boards if you take it in for a "repair". They will simply swap the defective logic board for a working logic board.

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MacBook Pro Repair - Model a1502 Early 2015 - (Logic Board?)

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