Popping Sound, MBP 2016

Macbook pro 13 without touch bar, early 2017 model. Was watching a youtube video when I heard a loud pop, followed by a shutdown and a puff of smoke coming from the top-right part of the laptop, either from the top function keys or from the right hinge area. The MBP is completely dead. I have taken the MBP to a certified apple service technician, and they have sent it off to apple. I will post again when I hear back. I do not know if this pop-smoke-dead problem is simply a more extreme version of everyone else's "popping" sounds, or if it is an unrelated problem. I hope that apple to fix my MBP 😟

Having the exact same issue! Went to the Apple store, they basically want to replace the logic board, which probably will not fix the issue. Plus, i will be without a laptop for 5-7 days. Called the Apple Online store and they basically said the same thing, replacement of the laptop is not possible without replacing the logic board first.

They said, they haven't had enough reports to know whats the problem. I think they should wake up, its their responsibility to find out especially when you pay >$3500 for a laptop!

I finally took my laptop in for a repair. It was shipped off to Apple and the "screen" was replaced. I've had my laptop back for about a week and the sound has not returned. The repair was covered by the warranty (no charge). I took my laptop in on a Thursday and had it back on the following Monday.

I just received my late-2016 15" MBP back from repair, and they also replaced the display. No more popping!

I also purchased the newest 2017 15" MBP with nearly identical build, and have not had any popping sounds since taking it out of the box.

Same issue here, Macbook Pro 2016 15". Plus, I have a lot of other issues with my brand new Macbook like:

- Issues with 2 USB-C Ports, they are too loose.

- The popping sound.

- Distorted sound when I play music up than 80% of the volume.

- Down corner right and left of my Trackpad don't work every time (no Mouse movement or vibration Feedback).

- And the major issue for me, the keys (V B N) are doing scratches at the screen, only these keys.

The "good part" of my case, is that in my country, this model are completely out of stock and the actual stock is of the 2017 Model. I hope that when I return my Macbook to review, give me a 2017 model.

I will posting updates of my case guys, but another person with similar issues?

On which side are your loose USB-C ports? I noticed it while using a third party USB A->USB C adapter on the right side of the machine. My SD reader would keep disconnecting with the tiniest movement and unfortunately corrupted a 64GB SD card. Furious, I was able to get an exchange for the adapters, but it's still causing the same issue. Then I noticed that the ports were looser on the right hand side, while it snapped perfectly when plugged on the left side.

That and the popping sound make me wanna take it back to Apple, but at the same time, I don't wanna end up without a computer for a week or two.

Hi,

Same issue on macbook pro 2017 13" with touch bar (France).

Popping sound is random and I can't reproduce the sound when i want.

It seems to come from speakers ( or maybe static electricity noise).

It makes a loud sound sometimes (rarely) but most of the times it looks like little interferences coming from speakers (they're hard to hear).

Most of the issues are related to MBP 2016, anyone else with 2017 ?

Thought i would chime in and share my experience. I purchased a 13" pro with touch bar a month ago now (Right when the new models were announced at WWDC). So this is the Kaby Lake model and NOT the 2016 model. Just a few days ago, (July 2nd to be exact) I noticed when i tilted the screen hinge past 90 degrees and then begin to close it, it made an awful popping sound. This ONLY happens when the notebook is in use and is undergoing tasks that cause the chassis to heat up. It does not happen when it is idle or "cold". I immediately knew this was related to thermal expansion and seems like a very similar issue that many people on this forum are reporting. The issue could have very well been occurring from day 1 but i would have never known because i almost never tilt the screen hinge over 90 degrees.

As soon as i noticed the issue, i contacted apple support via chat on their website. The representative was kind and said that he has seen reports of the same issue when doing a quick research on his end. He suggested that i take it to an apple store and report it to the Genius Bar. I didn't really want to but agreed and let him make the appointment for me. After seeing many people post that replaced parts and many trips to the apple store did nothing, i was just going to let it go until we have heard more concrete answers from Apple's engineers (i didn't want a refurbished machine nor did i want my machine to be taken apart several times with no resolution). I decided that i was just going to cancel the appointment and live with the popping sound if i was to tilt the screen more than 90 degrees, which i usually do not as mentioned.

Last night (July 5th), i received a call from an apple representative for their Engineering department. He explained that he and their team saw the issue and wanted to look more into it (not sure if it's because it's the new model or not). He then said they could replace my machine with a brand new machine but could not guarantee that the new machine would not have the same issue. I agreed to this of course. They are sending a new machine straight from the factory with expedited shipping and also sending me the labels to return this one to them. I am not sure if i will have the option to just get a refund for this machine or not since it seems likely that it will have the same issue (i am guessing not). I love this model of the MacBook pro but hate knowing it has a design flaw for such an expensive device.

Overall though, the customer service experience has been fantastic and i would recommend that if you do have a new model MacBook Pro that is doing something similar to this, don't just brush it off because you don't think there is a solution. Contact Apple and see what they can do. They must know this is a wider spread issue if they are willing to do things like this to find the answers.

I also have this issue. MBP 15 2016. Happens every time I open the lid after it's been closed for a period of time. Happens randomly as I use the laptop. Doesn't occur if I open and close the lid repeatedly. I might try to give Apple a call tonight. This is my first Mac so I really hope they fix it.

Hello everyone,

Problem SORTED!!! It's a design flaw with the new MacBook Pro. Also, the thermal aspect of the machine contributes towards the problem.

More info: - I bought 2016 MacBook Pro 15" model in Feb, and the problem started 2 months later, I got in touch with the support online and booked in for the check up. The guys from Genius Bar looked at it for a day and refused to do anything as Engineers from Apple have deemed this problem as "Cosmetic Issue". So, I couldn't argue much. The problem continued, and the laptop started making noise while the opening of the display panel and when display panel was touched or moved. The sound was getting louder day by day. So I booked in another check up and had to fight with guys from Genius Bar and kept telling him its a design flaw and problem is with the display. I was able to produce the noise at the store. After lengthy discussion and argument, they agreed to replace the display, and they told me, if the problem persists, they won't be able to do anything about it anymore. I had no other option other than accepting the terms, which was demeaning as a customer.

So, they took a week to get the display replaced and didn't had any courtesy to contact me for updates, instead, I had to call them to check the status of the repair.

They have replaced display and I noticed some damages to the display wire connector ribbons, from underneath the hinge. I was a bit suspicious about the workmanship since the laptop didn't make any popping noise, I didn't raise the issue.

The laptop was working fine for a week and heard few very quite popping sounds. After a week, I realised there was another problem with the laptop's display. I knew where it was coming from. It was actually from the damaged connect ribbons to display, caused during the repair by technicians from Apple store. I heard abrasive noise from the body, close to the "Macbook Pro" label on the display, every time I opened the display to max viewing angle. I could feel the vibration due to the abrasion. It felt as if the top body panel was lifted. I contacted Apple support immediately and booked int another check up session to the same store.

I went to the store and explained them the situation. I was able to reproduce the sound and showed how body vibrated during the opening and closing. They got back to me saying,

"

We understand your problem and can't do much about it.. blah blah blah.....

"

at the end they said

"

It's a problem with the Macbook Pro and you to leave with it forever!

"

I was furious with the customer service and incapability to accept the problem and to deal with it.

I am a mechanical and thermal engineer by profession and understand system quite well. I did this before going to Apple for the first time but didn't get around the problem and I thought there was a problem with the torsional spring in the hinges, which are hidden behind the display and I can't take them without splitting the display apart.

So, this time I started playing with the laptop and was trying to simulate the behaviour. After looking at the machine for hours, I confirmed it is a design flaw.

You can see the cables and antenna if you turn the laptop upside down and look around the hinge area. Antenna body has a gap through which the whole cable assembly passes by. The flat/horizontal section in this region has sharp edges on both sides, through which the display cable pass over. The display wire connector is pushed against the sharp end of the Antenna body, by the flat ribbon. The popping noise is a combination of how this whole assembly works together. Once the laptop has used for months, by which I mean, the display is opened and closed, regularly. The flat wire kinds of bends over the sharp edges and starts to leave some mark and forms some dents on the flat wire caused as the flat ribbon pushing the wire against the edge. I have noticed this in my display wire. Part of was which damaged during the repair, which was causing this abrasive sound and which made me look into the problem.

The noise during the opening of the laptop is due to the sudden release of the stuck cable onto the sharp edges and spring hitting the body, which is attached to the ribbon for retraction and screwed it onto the body.

The heat released by the machine also helps to deform the structural integrity of the plastics around the wire.

I hope Apple soon be able to correct this design flaw!

All the best guys!

<Edited by Host>

Hello

Sorry for my level of English, I speak Spanish.

Due to my language difficulty, I was unable to share my opinion about it. I always had doubts about the connection tapes of the screen, as explained by macBookPro2016TROUBLE. I had thought that these tapes were tightened due to expansions by temperature changes. This is why sounds can be played back sometimes by slightly moving the screen or pressing it through the back, under the Apple logo. I have once mentioned that the new design eliminates two screws from the lower MBP cover, which allows this zone to be less rigid, thus allowing for volume variations of materials due to thermal causes. For these reasons I assumed that it could be solved over time with some minor wear and tear with normal use.

The explanation of macBookPro2016TROUBLE is very credible and I totally agree. Maybe that's why some users have solved the problem with the screen change, but that does not necessarily solve everyone's problem.

I would like macBookPro2016TROUBLE to explain to me in more detail and with an image showing the place where did a fillet/rounding the sharp edges on Antenna with a nail file. Do you think that with continued use the fault can be worse? In the future can you break the connector on the screen?

Greetings.

Hey macBookPro2016TROUBLE thanks for your explanation. Can you make some pictures or videos to help others solving the problem ?

I don't what to give my device to the apple personal, they will just make the issue more terrible.

Shame on Apple.

Hi Hector,

I waited more than a week to write this post. I wanted to confirm that I don't hear any more popping noise before writing on this forum. And therefore, I thought to share my repair experience.

I was thinking about putting some images or a video. But, I dont want to open my laptop again and go through the process, but I will just get the images of the part list and may be able to walk you through the procedure, soon Obviously, this may mean the warranty may be void. So, users need to be careful while repairing the laptop, so that they dont damage any other parts.

I have mixed views about the fault, I think more then millions of people have bought the Macbook pro 2016 model, comes with new hinge design and only less than 1% of them reported the issue (I think)?. Display wire ribbon doesn't come on the way to exhaust of the fan, so dramatic degradation of the display wire ribbon due to heat may have less chance? It very difficult to say, without knowing much about the property of the material, then we can look into fatigue life, thermal flow point of the material to predict some kind of behaviour. However, it the cable is sticking on the sharp edge of the antenna, may pull the cover off, may wear off over a period of time and also thermal degradation might impact the design. But when? I cant say. I believe Apple Engineers must have looked at the design details very well. However, they have made mistakes in the past by selecting poor material & design in the past for their own greed to save money and improve the issue in the next models. Thus forcing consumers to buy the product again.

A similar design ribbon connector wire is used in Macbook (I think), and I dont think any user of Macbook have reported such problem? However, other aspects did change. So I am quite not sure about this.

I will post the images very soon..

regards

Hi macBookPro2016TROUBLE, thanks for your explanation.

It is true that it should be clear that home repairs involve loss of warranty.

I apologize for the misunderstanding. The idea is to understand exactly where the problem is and to solve it. Everyone decides whether to go to the Apple Store or dare to do it at home. I dare to think that you could use some lubricant so the tape will not get stuck on the edge of the antenna.

I agree that millions of people can have the problem but very few report it. I do not want to take my MBP to the Apple Store because I have already asked them and they do not know the problem. I do not want them to make useless repairs.

I'm waiting for the pictures.

Thank you.

<Edited by Host>

macBookPro2016TROUBLE,

As someone who's been diligently following this thread, thank you for your thorough explanation. It's nice to have what seems like a viable explanation after months of questioning.

I definitely don't have as much experience in this field as you do, so bear with me. If the issue is indeed the heat/friction interaction between the antenna and surrounding wires, is this something that will eventually cause appreciable damage to the computer's functionality, or is it "cosmetic" in the sense that it doesn't threaten an aspect of the computer to a point that renders the computer in need of repair? Will this become a problem over time?

If you look back in the history of this thread, I believe several posters mentioned that their popping sound went away after several months. Is this caused by the friction between the antenna and the wires eventually becoming "smooth" through repeated bending/passing over? I.e. did you speed up this smoothing process by rounding the antenna with a nail file? If so, it seems that many of us can be confidant that the popping will eventually go away–fingers crossed!

All the best!