Macbook Case Has cracked

Has anyone compared manufacturing information to see if there's a common date? This site will tell you.

http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html

Some rapid & not-well-vetted-theories:

01) Improperly calibrated (or just dirty) machine at one or two plants causing a thin spot there?
02) Improper handling of the MacBooks or their cases at one or two plants. Perhaps they all slide down a slightly off conveyer belt and bang into something at a turn.
03) Bulging Battery (take a photo of the inside, with battery removed!)
04) A common post-manufacturing cause such as a backpack all these MacBook owners use that has something at the bottom like a zipper, rivet or plastic “foot” that’s pressing into the MacBook when they set the bag on a hard surface.
05) Could the MacBook be asleep when in a bag on it’s side and the heat from the battery warms the plastic and makes it weaker, then gravity (since it’s on its side) causes the plastic to buldge and eventually crack?

There's also a screw in just about that spot. Could the battery swell and push against that screw?

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/86/images_large/10.jpg

Mine is a week 23 - and this seems to be a common date. It is Factory: 4H (China)and Production number: 1454 (within this week)

As to your theories so far I think 1 & 2 are possibles.
3) I have checked the battery and it does not seem to be bulging at all.
4) Mine stays at home most of the time. If out of the house then its in a sleeve and then in a proper padded laptop bag - I am sooo careful with it.
5) I turn it off if transporting so not sleeping

The most probable in my own opinion is that it is a fault in the injection molding causing a slight bump in the plastic - the screw behind it could possibly have an effect.

The old "Cube Cracking Saga" could be back again. I hope not - I just want to get it fixed and carry on with life !

I purchased a refurbished Macbook. It arrived this past Thursday, 10/26/2006.

It has begun to develop a crack in the left front corner on the palmrest; the crack runs from about 1cm in from the edge for about 3cm from left to right. I just noticed that crack this evening. Has anyone else had a crack on the palm rest?

Much to my surprise, this computer's display bezel is also faulty, and it is separated from the LCD.

I've purchased Apple refurbs in the past with no problems. I'm very surprised to have received one with two problems. Anyone having similar problems?



macbook Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Got my macbook back from apple, fixed.

They replaced: "app-605-0994 svc, top case w app-603-9510 assy, bottom case, m42"

The thing looks pretty good now, although the top case has a few minor scratches. They didn't ship the thing in the soft bag they had me put it in to send it in. Instead, it came back in a plain plastic bag (inside the box of course) -- so this led to a few little scratches.

The top bezel which was replaced doesn't sit exactly flush with the bottom case in all spots, most notably in the corner which was originally cracked. I'll take this however over the crack. Let's hope it doesn't happen again.

So in conclusion, if your macbook is cracking on its own, call apple and they will replace it for free.

I have a crack in the top case of my macbook - just above the where the IR sensor is. It is right where the small piece of plastic from the display bezel comes to rest on the top case when closed. It is about 1 inch long. Week 23.

I have yet to call Applecare about it - not sure if I'll bother.

mine is starting to crack too on the right corner above the IR.


i noticed that the top case is not aligned perfectly. It is actually crooked...

Update :

I have had no luck with Applecare.

I phoned them 27/10/06 and the initial reaction was that it was not covered and must have been my own fault. The adviser gave me his e-mail address so he could have a look at the discussions and photos and get back to me.

After about 8 e-mails to this guy chasing for a response and one month passing since my first notification - > NO RESPONSE

I have not bought Applecare yet - and with this sort of 'care' I am not sure if I will. I also do not want to pay a one off charge to phone to get them to fix a poorly manufactured machine - I though the 90 day free telephone support would be for help on using the thing and not for reporting 1 year warranty issues. It seems ridiculous to me.

Anyway, I am not sure it will get me anywhere but I have now written a letter to Applecare with copies of all my correspondence and hope this may get something moving.

I didn’t expect this type of struggle and don't really have the time for it. Its my 1st Apple computer and at this rate it will probably be my last.

Disappointing.... Great OS and Software but poor hardware.


Macbook 1.83 1G Ram 4H623 Mac OS X (10.4.7) 5G Ipod 60GB,.4G Ipod 40G. BSOD, P4 XP Pro Desktop. Very happy switcher 🙂

My 1st and Last mac. So many problems. Over heat problem. Discoloring of plastic. Shuts down more times then I care to admit.

Dealer wont refund. Started Paper work for small claims court.

I too have a crack on the top case of my macbook in the exact same place. Just where the display bezel hits the bottom when closed.

My white MacBook has a two inch hairline crack where the case meets the left side, directly above the headphone jack and the first USB jack. There is no support in this area and one of the screws apparently is not attached to the anything...there is alot of flexing thus resulting in the crack as described.

My MacBook never leaves my desk the crack occurred when i picked up the machine with two hands, trying to diagnose the mooing problem...I'm highly confident apple will take care of me, I've owned several Mac's and their customer support is best in the business!

http://static.flickr.com/139/325292512_e29a5f6b64.jpg?v=0

MacBook 2.0 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

I also have the same problem, on my iBook, on the left hand corner a VERY large crack, big enought that i can slip an index card right through... and underneath smack dab in the center, a dozen or so little hairline cracks around the center screw. Never went to go get it fixed because i heard apple wont do crap, if it doesnt affect the computers performance... yet they'll chew you out 1,400... anyhow...

Sorry for your misfortune. I had 1 bad Macpro too and it was resolved, but I highly doubt you will in small claims court with hundred of thousand plus of satified customers. Maybe you should call Apple's support instead of going to a dealer. Why only 1 post, just to complain?

Mine too just on top case above the ir sensor. Am sending it on monday for repair. Dont know if they will make me pay for it; I am now willing to do so cause I dont know how it happened

Actually I am having the same issue. I just noticed it tonight and even though I am very nice to my macbook, it happened. It looks like a design issue. It looks like the problem is that the area where it cracks is not supported underneath and when the lid is closed, the knobs on the lid rest right there. Thus any compression, even from picking the computer up can cause stress at that point and since there is no support behind it, it cracks. I'm actually going to head a an Apple store on Wed. to have it looked at, but they shouldn't make you pay for it. If you can't handle a notebook, then it might as well be a desktop.

So, My guess is that you are going to buy a Dell that is made with cheaper plastics and is twice as thick so that there is room for it to have a fan that runs constantly.

Seriously, you think you will get higher quality/design elsewhere?