User profile for user: Mark73
Mark73 Author
User level: Level 1
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Bright spot, LCD pixels OK

Hi all,

My MacBook pro showed suddenly a very bright spot on the screen (just above the text 'van den'):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57660179@N04/5307076958/

No LCD pixels are broken. Too me this looks like a LED driver problem: One LED is powered at 100%. I think this should never happen, even on the most brightest screen mode. At the back of the screen, the Apple logo is a little 'bubbled' right on this bright spot. This could prove the problem of an overheated LED, right?

According to the Service Center this is 'user damage'. Today it has been send back to let them prove it is actually user damage.

Message was edited by: Mark73

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.0.x)

Posted on Dec 30, 2010 9:17 AM

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12 replies
User profile for user: eww
eww
User level: Level 9
53,052 points

Dec 30, 2010 9:27 AM in response to Mark73

The spot is caused by something pressing against the back of the LCD panel, not by an LED. The LEDs are all located along the bottom edge of the panel. I suspect that the sleep magnet, which is about the size and shape of a baby-aspirin tablet and is supposed to be affixed with an adhesive to the back of the LCD or to the inside of its outer shell, has come loose and slipped out of place, and that now it is being pinched between the rim of the Apple logo and the LCD. Does the machine still go to sleep when you close the display? If not, that would tend to confirm this theory.
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User profile for user: eww
eww
User level: Level 9
53,052 points

Dec 30, 2010 12:14 PM in response to Mark73

I suggest forwarding my message to the service center for their consideration. It's unusual for any Apple technician to dismantle the display assembly to see what's wrong with it — they normally just replace it (and, I presume, return it to Apple for refurbishing, though I don't know they do that). The display would have to be dismantled to discover the problem I've described, so it probably won't be found even if I'm correct.
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User profile for user: BSteely
BSteely
User level: Level 5
7,643 points

Dec 31, 2010 7:44 AM in response to Mark73

I once had a very strange thing happen and wonder if it could possibly apply here. I was washing my motorcycle and I left it in the sun to dry. Some water droplets sitting on the glass face of the speedometer ended up acting like small magnifying glasses concentrating sunlight onto the dial face of the speedometer. I later noticed small burn marks and blistering on the dark plastic instrument face.

I wonder if the MBP might have been left in a window where there was some element that could have caused concentrated sunlight to fall onto it? I only say this because of your comment about bubbling on the outside of the Apple logo and your belief it might be related to heat damage. As eww has pointed out, it can't be from an overheating LED because they are located along the display edge.

I realize it would be very unusual that this would happen, but I was surprised, too, when it happened to me from simple water droplets. So I leave it to you to think about where the MBP has been left sitting and if the above described scenario sounds possible in your case.
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User profile for user: S.U.
S.U.
User level: Level 6
9,601 points

Dec 31, 2010 12:56 PM in response to Mark73

eww and BSteely have put forth some interesting theories. You might possibly be able to check out the possibility that the sleep magnet came loose. I know they can, because this happened to my niece's original MBP.

You should be able to locate the sleep magnet using a metal paper clip. If it sticks anywhere in the vicinity of the bright spot, and not where it's normally supposed to be, that would be a powerful argument that it did in fact come loose and is now lodged in the vicinity of the bright spot. If that turns out to be the scenario, it doesn't seem to me that it should be considered user damage, since the user would not normally open up the display to move the sleep magnet around.

On the other hand, if the sleep magnet is still where it's supposed to be and not on the bright spot, then you may be looking at the type of scenario outlined by BSteely, and Apple might well consider that accidental user damage.

Not sure what you mean about the Apple logo being "a little bubbled". Could you post a picture when you get your Mac back?

Good luck on this!
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User profile for user: Mark73
Mark73 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jan 1, 2011 6:42 AM in response to Mark73

Thanks for helping troubleshooting! The 'speedometer' scenario is interesting but not likely the cause (famous last words). The next thing happened: I turned off the computer (the screen was still OK), closed it and put it in the cupboard. 15 minutes later my girlfriend took the laptop, opened it, started it up and the strange spot was there. Closing or opening could have caused the magnet to come loose.

With the 'bubbly' Apple logo I meant there's a little 'hill' in it exactly at the location of the strange bright spot (upper left of the white Apple logo). I do not know how thick that white plastic logo is, but I guess something has to press very hard to deform it. Maybe it is just a coincident and is it due to some inaccuracy in the plastic.

When the service center is not willing to fix it, I will try the paperclip and sleep test, good ideas! Maybe that will convince them.

btw, is this irreversible damage? Maybe the screen is OK when the pressure is gone? If so, I will try to fix it when the service center still refuses to repair it under warranty. It saves me a 500euro bill ...

Anyway, I will keep you informed about this story.

Thanks & best wishes for 2011.
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User profile for user: eww
eww
User level: Level 9
53,052 points

Jan 1, 2011 7:28 AM in response to Mark73

Pressing on an LCD with a fingertip causes a similar spot while the pressure is applied, but it goes away again quickly. I don't know whether or not it would go away as quickly if the pressure had been applied steadily for a long time, as it has been in your case. I've never tried that, for obvious reasons.
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User profile for user: Mark73
Mark73 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jan 14, 2011 9:46 AM in response to eww

Just a short update: Service center checked the sleep scenario, there's no problem with it. So in the end, their conclusion is 'user damage'. I asked to return it without repair. When I have it back, I will take the LCD cover apart and check what's causing that strange spot. Can't wait to solve this puzzle ...
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User profile for user: Mark73
Mark73 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jan 22, 2011 2:28 PM in response to nospeed411

Hi, today I got my laptop back. I took the LCD screen apart and found out that nothing is pushing from the back of the screen. When I have a close look at the apple logo and the LCD, it looks like its overheated locally. It's hard to take a picture of this, even with the bare eye you only see it under a certain angle. I am afraid a simple candle on my desk was the cause.

Another scenario would be that after closing the laptop, it remained on for some reason and it overheated the screen. To check this, I also took out the motherboard and had a close look, but no signs of melted material.

In the end it's indeed user damage I guess, but the strange thing was that it was not there at the moment I turned of the computer, and at first sight nothing to see from the outside.

Anyway, I ordered a new LCD from IFIXIT, which is way cheaper than replacing the complete LCD assembly.

Thanks for helping me, and for those who did not see it yet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAG39jKi0lI

Regards, Mark
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Bright spot, LCD pixels OK

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