wslwang

Q: MBP retina 15" 2012 model Thunderbolt connector loose

I am not sure if anyone noticed. My MBP 15" retina 2012 model thunderbolt connector is kind of loose. It's hard to describe the feeling but if I connect ethernet connector while my computer on my lap, connector will be unplugged if I move a little. Not only this, I am unable to move my MBP a little if I have my 27" apple display connect to it. I never have this kind of problem with my old 17" MBP.

 

I took it back to apple store and had the connector board replaced. It plays just a little better but still having the same issue. I kind of tested 2 MBP in the store all happen the same. I was told there is nothing they can do about it in apple store. I wonder if anyone has the same problem.

 

thanks

 

 

Wesley

Posted on Jan 1, 2013 8:50 PM

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Q: MBP retina 15" 2012 model Thunderbolt connector loose

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  • by Shaluda,

    Shaluda Shaluda May 27, 2015 7:45 AM in response to yaschan
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Notebooks
    May 27, 2015 7:45 AM in response to yaschan

    @YASCHAN -

     

    Glad to hear that it's working out for you ... even though you stated that the ports are still about the same. It's a definite fact that the quality varies among these laptop parts. Something that I thought that would not be a factor in the Apple eco-system ... since people are paying a "premium" price for these products. In the Windows world, I expect it and accept it ... to a certain point of course.

     

    Hope you had AppleCare for this. AppleCare is a very wise investment should one decide to purchase an Apple product.

     

    Thanks for the update and hope it will not give you anymore disconnects!!!

  • by iAmSimplicit,

    iAmSimplicit iAmSimplicit Jun 23, 2015 1:57 PM in response to Shaluda
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 23, 2015 1:57 PM in response to Shaluda

    I'm suffering exactly the same issue with my rMacBookPro11,3 (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014) and finding it most inconveniencing. I usually use my MBP at the desk, connected to an Elgato Thunderbolt 2 hub. I have an appointment at the Genius Bar and I'm in contact with the Business services department. This problem is very aggravating, and I suffer sporadic interruption of the peripherals (1 RAID0, 3 HDD, Gigabit Ethernet).. I have an appointment at the Genius Bar for Friday, but I'm hoping the Business Services department will be sooner. This looks like a fairly well-known issue, but I'm gonna keep looking. What is the usual fix?

     

    --

    Isaac, Legal Leprechaun and Technical Analyst
    Simplicit Solutions Ltd, Solutions Architecture

  • by yaschan,

    yaschan yaschan Jun 23, 2015 6:01 PM in response to iAmSimplicit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 23, 2015 6:01 PM in response to iAmSimplicit

    I think the most usual and the only fix is replacing the logic board. In my case they did this and it solved the problem. The ports still wiggle but the wiggle doesn't break the connection. I believe this is the way how the ports are meant to work with Macbook Pro.

  • by iAmSimplicit,

    iAmSimplicit iAmSimplicit Jun 23, 2015 7:49 PM in response to yaschan
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 23, 2015 7:49 PM in response to yaschan

    I've got a short video clip on Vimeo demonstrating. Is this similar to your situation? The ports are performing nearly identical to that which you described, with the exception being that on the newer 2014 model the circuits may be powered/driven independently, so having one die does not necessarily coincide with the breakage of the other. Thoughts?

     

    https://vimeo.com/131612112

  • by Shaluda,

    Shaluda Shaluda Jul 25, 2015 5:55 PM in response to iAmSimplicit
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 25, 2015 5:55 PM in response to iAmSimplicit

    @ iAmSimplicit - Your video has no audio / sound ... but is to the point and appreciated.

     

    Since Apple replaced my Mother / Logic Board, the problem has returned.

     

    Just to make sure it isn't my (Apple) cable, I went to the Apple store and purchased another one ... except this time it's the shorter .5m version. Results are still the same for both ports. Slight tap and it disconnects ... then sometimes it'll reconnect automatically; and this is with either cable.

     

    I setup another appointment to take it in to Apple this coming week. This is not only frustrating, but quite disappointing ... especially for a premium priced product. My 13" MBA (2012) TB port is so snug that I can literally pull the laptop across the table without it disconnecting.

     

    Will report back to of what Apple does this time.

     

    P.S. - Looking forward to the new TB3 connector (USB-C based) ... hopefully appearing later this year.

  • by Shaluda,

    Shaluda Shaluda Aug 26, 2015 12:59 PM in response to Shaluda
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 26, 2015 12:59 PM in response to Shaluda

    Update:

     

    OK, so I took my RD-MBP to the Apple store and explained to the Apple "gene-less" person about this ongoing Thunderbolt port problem. I demonstrated with my portable Lacie Rugged TB drive and Apple cables (both the 6ft. and 1ft.) how it would disconnect while plugged in to the TB ports of my RD-MBP if the cables were even breathed upon ... on the laptop side of course.

     

    The (Apple) store associate then took my laptop to the back to have another associate confirm this issue. About 5 minutes later, the associate returned and stated, that yes, there is a problem they were able to replicate repeatedly, and therefore decided to order me a new replacement ... a new 2015 version of my laptop.

     

    Two and half weeks went by and I finally received an email and voice mail that my new RD-MBP was ready to be picked up. As instructed by the Apple associate, I wiped my SSD clean before returning it to exchange for my new one. (And yes, I did backup everything, de-activated any software that needed to be, etc...)

     

    The first thing I did when I got home and unwrapped my new laptop was that I plugged in the Apple TB cables into the laptop TB ports. They were definitely snugger fitting that my previous laptop. Still a bit of "wiggling", but no where near as much as before. I connected my Lacie Rugged TB drive and tested it thoroughly ... wiggling it, moving the laptop around on the table, rubbing a USB cable against it ... no disconnects ... so far.

     

    And yes, I purchased AppleCare for this as well. And a suggestion here when purchasing / receiving a new Apple product that qualifies for AppleCare: You don't have to purchase this immediately. You can wait a bit as most Apple products carry a limited time warranty anyways. So check when that expires ... and then purchase the AppleCare about a month before. That way, you're actually covered a bit longer than if you purchased it right away.

     

    Summary: So far, so good. But oh what a hassle!!!

     

    I still think that upcoming TB3 ... that supposedly will be utilizing the new USB-C connector ... will be a much better solution in regards to a more secure fit, wider compatibility with various peripherals, not just TB devices and of course even faster transfer speeds.

  • by ED.Wildsau,

    ED.Wildsau ED.Wildsau Apr 28, 2016 5:03 AM in response to wslwang
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 28, 2016 5:03 AM in response to wslwang

    Same problem here with both TB contacts. They worked fine for about 3years but now its getting to a point where you cant use it anymore.

     

    I am fed up with Apple and anyone who thinks this is only recently going down the drain or its just one product:  you are wrong.  First I had the video issue with the retina 2012 15" now the TB's... almost 4000$ spent on crap quality thanks.  The iphone 5s i bought has the power button issue, the time capsule 1st Gen was a disaster, thousands of them dying after only 1-2 years including mine.  I have no other companies products I experienced so much ****. Basically everything I bought has issues thats not a coincidence anymore thats just simply a proof that your quality *****. The current time capsule is the exception to the rule though its only 1 year old, I am just waiting for something to happen. Oh yeah and btw thanks for the first El Capitan update which ruined my entire software. Got stuck in the booting forever nothing you could do. Lucky the timemachine was there to safe my *** after spending whole day to get back where I was before...

     

    As soon as MS has a proper copy of the Timemachine you wont see me using any of your crap again ever. The only reason everyone still thinks Apple is great is you dont get all the faulty sh.. thats going all together. And of course there is the deny deny deny policy...

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