tomosullivan
Level 1 (4 points)
Notebooks

Q: MacBook keeps powering off randomly and won't turn on again for over an hour

My Macbook Pro Model: A1398 keeps powering off after 5-10mins (if i'm lucky) and will not turn on again for over an hour. I've had this problem since November last year but just as I was about to get it fixed it started to work again and I had no problems for 3-4months. Now it has started to do it again.

It doesn't seem to be a battery problem because it does it when it's plugged in and when it's not. After it has died and I try to turn it on again I can see that power is going through the laptop because my external hard drive will light up for a moment before going off. Last time this happens it gradually got better and my laptop would stay on for 5mins to 20 to 30 and then it just fixed itself.

I will note that I have dropped the MacBook and a quarter of the screen is black and then a month or two after that is when the problem started.

Any help at all on this would be greatly appreciated!

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4), Model A1398

Posted on Apr 16, 2016 8:31 AM

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tomosullivan

Q: MacBook keeps powering off randomly and won't turn on again for over an hour

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  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Apr 16, 2016 8:44 AM in response to tomosullivan
    Level 8 (35,242 points)
    iPad
    Apr 16, 2016 8:44 AM in response to tomosullivan

    Macs will exhibit that behavior if they overheat. It is possible the drop damaged a cooling fan or a cooling fan's control sensor. My son had overheating problems on his MBP after a drop. The cause turned out to be a tiny bit of plastic that chiped off the battery housing and jammed the fan blades.

     

    Apple Diagnostics will spot a failed fan or fan sensor. Instructions here:

     

    Using Apple Diagnostics - Apple Support

     

    If you cannot run Apple Diagnostics because the computer shuts down, you will need to take the computer for Apple for evaluation. With the damaged Retina screen issues too, you may find repair costs extremely high.