Screw on MacBook Air is loose

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Level 1

2 points

Screw on MacBook Air is loose

One screw on my Macbook Air 2013 was loose. Its only a few months old. When I finally got a pentalobe screwdriver and tried to screw them back in, it didn't work. There is no resistance at all, the screw will not tighten but fall out instantly (same thing with other screws, so the screw itself is fine). Right now it is held in place by tape.

Is there anything I can do without damaging warranty/glue? The only real solution I can think of is replacing the entire machine (which is probably not going to happen). This is because the screw is held in place by the upper chasis.

Minor complaint, I know, but it is annoying, especially with a 1700+€ device.

MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Jan 20, 2014 10:45 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 20, 2014 10:59 AM in response to kuerbiskopf

Its getting NO resistance because the screw isnt meeting the chassis hole with its threads, however it being stripped is possible.

what does "same thing with other screws", mean, its impossible to have all the screws stripped.....what do you imply by this statement?

Contact Apple for appt. for fixing your Air...., you have warranty coverage and nothing to ultimately to be worried about, easy fix.

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Answer 2

kuerbiskopf Author

Level 1

2 points

Jan 20, 2014 11:02 AM in response to PlotinusVeritas

I unscrewed the working screw in the working socket next to the loose socket/screw and tried the working screw in the not working socket. Did not work obviously.

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Answer 3

Jan 20, 2014 11:14 AM in response to kuerbiskopf

There would be no "working screw" vs. non-working

Those screws are hardened steel and nigh impossible to strip the screw threads on the screw itself without some good effort.

Screw lengths vary on the bottom plate of the Air.

There are only 2 possibilities,

1. stripped threads on that one chassis hole

2. or misalignment with same (easy to do, I know this first hand)...

Contact Apple for appt. for fixing your Air 😊

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