Early 2009 MacBook backlight inverter problem?

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Level 1

5 points

Early 2009 MacBook backlight inverter problem?

My early 2009 MacBook is having a bit of trouble with the display backlight. Nowadays in order to get the backlight to turn on I need to fiddle around with the display until it comes on, then I have to keep it steady or it may go out again. I have traced the problem to the backlight, because when my screen blacks out if I look real closely or shine a light on it, I can see the stuff on the screen.

I know this can be fixed. I do not want to risk opening the MacBook to do so, because I could probably break something (this once happened when I attempted to repair a PowerBook G4; I wound up disabling the Wi-Fi.) I did hear from someone who had the same problem with the same model early this year, he took it to his nearest Apple Store, and even though it was no longer under warranty, it only cost $45 for the inverter to be replaced! (It also had a chipped palmrest and that helped with the fee too; mine has a somewhat chipped palmrest as well.) Does Apple really do something like that, or would I be better off with a local computer repair shop?

Plrease reply ASAP

MacBook, Early 2009 model

Posted on Aug 17, 2011 9:08 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 4, 2012 7:30 AM in response to Wiley207

Hello. I am having a similar problem. May I inquire as to what you ended up doing for the repair? Did you have to take it in to the apple store? If so how much did it run you? This problem sounds almost identical to mine. I appreciate any feedback and further help you can offer.

Thanks in advance.

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Answer 2

Wiley207 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 4, 2012 7:57 AM in response to LiveLaughTumble

Took it to the Apple Store back in August; it only cost $45 for the repair! I was surprised, especially since this is an OUT-OF-WARRANTY MacBook

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Answer 3

Jan 4, 2012 8:01 AM in response to Wiley207

Wow that's great! Just to clarify was it only the inverter that was replaced and is this linked to the backlight?

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Answer 4

jonsie7

Level 1

5 points

Jun 9, 2012 8:13 PM in response to LiveLaughTumble

The inverter regualtes the power to the back light, i had macbook 2008 inverter break on me and attempted the fix myself. £10 ($15) for the inverter on ebay and about an hour of my time. The reason its a tricky fix is because the inverter is in the hinge of the screen so the whole screen needs to be removed! as i put it back together i was silently praying that i had put everything back right!

it worked fien though! i no 2 year ago when the original owner of that mac took it to be looked at they quoted her £ 150 ($230) to have it fixed so its good to see the price has come down for you!

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Answer 5

lees mac

Level 1

0 points

Jun 12, 2012 8:40 AM in response to Wiley207

Hi, when you say backlight are you talking about he whole screen? Ive just fired up my MacBook and you get a sec of the screen and then black. I this the same issue?

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Answer 6

Tafftech

Level 2

298 points

Jun 13, 2012 12:52 AM in response to lees mac

shine a torch (flashlight) onto the screen. Can you see an image?

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Answer 7

mfinger1

Level 1

4 points

Aug 8, 2012 6:10 AM in response to Wiley207

the problem lies with the flourescent tubes that provide the backlighting. They are/have failed and can be tediously

replaced. Little more $ but less work to replace LCD screen. Is a shame. Guess just because it costs more, doesn't mean it's built better. CMT for 25 yrs.

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Answer 8

mfinger1

Level 1

4 points

Aug 8, 2012 6:26 AM in response to Wiley207

also while your under the hood. Remove your battery and reset the SMC. Upon restart, zap PRAM about 4 times to ensure clearing. Old trick, once might not cut it. Currently working on such unit. May have cleared "OS" issue?

Bug or feature? Apple almost appears to be denoting the resetting of SMC as almost a cure all to right a quirky OS. Just my thoughts. Others?

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Answer 9

Feb 8, 2015 10:57 AM in response to mfinger1

Great advice.

I had to let my 2009 MacBook reset PRAM 11 times before the screen would stay lit longer than 6 seconds. That 11th time was the magic number as it stayed lit about 10 seconds so I let go of the, hard to manage at once, 4 keys. Did a disk repair and Permissions repair and all seems well.

I'd forgotten the all inclusive first aid of resetting PRAM. Still makes me wonder from the previous posts, if I should go ahead and have the inverter replaced. Had something similar with a Flyback inverter or something like that go wrong with an eMac, years ago.

Thanks!

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Answer 10

Nov 11, 2015 7:50 AM in response to mfinger1

I don't believe this... I took my 2009 Macbook to a repair facility for this problem and had them tell me it was the mother board, and would cost upwards of $400.00. I checked IFIXIT, and that site said it might be the inverter, which costs $15 and a fairly difficult repair job I could do myself. Then I found this page, and tried your PRAM RESET solution. The Macbook has been working perfectly for about 20 minutes so far; we'll see. This is longer than the backlight has worked in a couple of weeks...

- - - - -

Now about 30 minutes later, backlight is still working, and I am restoring my last backup to the internal drive. So far, so good. THANKS A WHOLE LOT for your idea.

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