my macbook pro screen is separating from the case, how to fix

It's not a screw! Those referring to it being a screw please refer to iFixit and have a look. I did a full teardown of my 15" Macbook Pro 2009 and the screen back (Aluminium) has completely de bonded on the left hand side at the hinge area exactly the same as the two picture on this thread. This, 'to me' suggests a heat reaction problem, as the right hand side never suffers this issue. The glue is a browny colour that is completely hard to touch using a screw driver. I am in the process of re bonding it together using a mixture of 3M Vinyl primer and a very powerful sealant so I will report my results here if it works.

Bud its not the screw that caused the issue its the hole taking up 95%of the frame rail on the left side, as far as only doing so on left thats not true ive seen both sides split but primarily its on the left.....ive had over ten replaced by Apple this year alone ...Apple position is only effects late 2008 b.s same top case on 2009 and 2010. think they dont know?, i dont.

How i explained it is how it is rail was broke when you bought it as mac ages glue loses strength due to heat and gives up and top case disenegrates, your rebonding will work ive done that as well good for year tops apple should be replacing it free. Ive seen thousands of effected units and everyone has the split at same place , if it were adhesive causing issues there would be variation in the break

Add my name to the list. My computer has never been dropped and has a Speck hard case on it. I use it in my recliner on my lap most evenings. I don't travel with it and it always stays in the house. I noticed creaking the other night when adjusting the monitor angle and when I closed the computer noticed that the top didn't mate the bottom half. I looked and the left side of my monitor is separating from the hinge. I haven't looked into the computer to see what parts of it are failing, but I assume it's the same as everyone else's. I haven't tried the Apple Store yet, but I assume they will say it's out of warranty etc. Has anyone else had any luck with this?

Brian what year is your macbook pro assuming its a late 2008 or early 2009 your not out of luck , first take spec case off , then make appoinment at genius bar , very important to reference em209 bezel seperation quality program in note so tech can look it up.

if machine has no cosmetic damage aside from the seperation ( they can blame it on) your top case will be replaced

are you really insinuating it doesnt ...20,0000 rep points level 7 , me thinky you work for Apple, i can safely say ive seen over 1k from late 2008 and maybe 300 from 2009.Ive had at least ten replaced for myself and others in past two years.

Every Company has quality issues , even if they are made of Unicorn kisses it happens

My computer is a late 2009 early 2010 model. It does have a soft dent in the surface of the lid but not anything on any corners which would be caused by a drop. All corners etc are clean. Do you think they would deny the claim based on that?

If it's a 2009 you have a chance if it's 2010 nope they haven't owned that one has issue

The actual model is late 2009

then you have a good shot

Thanks very much for your help.

I took my MBP into the Apple Store tonight and the em209 quality program had expired. They said that the repair would cost over $500. He asked me to hold on and asked a supervisor about something. Aparently they have a deal where they can send the computer out to be refurbed if it's less than 5 years old for $310 and will fix anything that's wrong with the computer. (I went to Perimeter Mall Apple Store in the Atlanta area).

I figured I'd go ahead and do that since the Service Battery message just showed up on my MBP and they'd fix that too.

Thanks Morpheus for your help and advise.

Brian

I would like to know more about this issue, my Macbook Pro is having this very issue and it started only two days ago. Same model as you are all working with, 15", late 2009 unibody.

The screen on the lower right side is separating from the backing material. There are some visible signs of wear, and I have stickers on the case as well, and I'm wondering if I would have a reasonable claim if I took it to a genius bar.
Brian, the $300 refurb option is something that I can afford and I would love to know more about how you went about getting that service.

It looks like the Apple Store sent it to an Authorized Repair Center in Memphis, TN. They actually did more to my computer than what I had taken it in for. My display was separating and my battery was showing the Service Battery warning.

They replaced:

• My display assembly with a brand new one.

• New battery

• New hard drive (said it had some read/write issue)

• New logic board (said it had video distortion)

• New left fan assembly (fan dead)

• New top case with keyboard (said it had sticky keys)

Basically a new computer with my old bottom cover on it. (OK. Exaggeration, but not by much)

Even though the monitor repair wasn't covered under warranty (4 year old computer), I'm very satisfied with the extra level of care I got for the $310 plus tax. Came out to $327 and some change. The 11" and 13" are less to repair.

If it helps, the items listed on my repair estimate are:

I hope this helps.

Brian

And you went into the store with an expired warranty?
I have no current warranty for this computer and I feel that you have had an exceptional experience considering customer service in any regard.

He didn't get lucky depot repairs have been around for years , it's still pretty messed up he paid anything , depot repairs aren't covered for accidental or liquid damage . What they did was write and exception for the "accidental damage" and did the 310 depot repair for a 15 inch , the 13 and 11 are 265 plus tax . What they did was fix a bunch of other things and fix screen for 327.00, he got a good deal I guess but you can too. Kind of sad they sell apple care that expires in two years , when you can utilize depot at any time for same cost and you only pay if you need it .

Here is the deal with em209 apple has only this far admitted it was and issue on late 2008 15 inch pro and extended coverage for 3 years , did they announce this program ?, absolutely not if you knew about it you benefited from it . Thousands of people were effected by ( apple discussion trolls please call me on that statement , I've got pics of over 300 in mass alone that have walked in my shop). Here is the problem the defect is prevalent right up to 2010 . They were covering early 2009 if you complained enough.

The bezel issue is caused by a rail breaking by the lower left of screen behind glass. Ok let's pretend I'm psychic I'm going to tell you exactly where the break is.

1.) if your glass is popping off down by the left edge, grab your cell phone and pop out glass a little and take a pic about and inch up left rail you will see a wierd hole that covers 90 percent of the rail cracked on both sides , this is the problem . On the right side that same hole has and insert post and a screw , why ?. To strengthen the rail where two pieces join .

2.) overtime glue holding glass around screen weakens and loses bond . The two sides of rail start pulling apart torquing screen from right to left and lip down on right side if viewed from rear . It was inevitable what's ironic is same top case from 2008 to early 2010 , so this thread is going no where .

Post pics if you can make apple acknowledge it wasn't a one year deal .