Popping Sound, MBP 2016

I am having this same issue, on a MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018). Tested by waiting for it to heat up and then pressing on the metal area in front of the macbook pro logo and it popped. Hearing it all the time as my computer is constantly heating up and cooling down. Very annoying. Also I am having issues with LOUD cracking and buzzing of my speakers when volume is high. Has anyone had both of these problems, I am wondering if this is covered by the one year warranty?

Well earlier this morning I heard a crackling sound right under the battery over the screen while I was in class I have a MacBook Pro mid 2012 2.9Ghz Intel Core i7, I had just recently changed the battery and am afraid that the new battery is giving problems. Every time I put the computer on the side I hear the crackling sound like going from one end to the other end and when I flipped to the opposite side it does the same thing again. What can this problem be?

I am having this issue with a 15" 1TB model.

My theory is the adhesive behind the panel is unsticking as it warms up and settling again upon cooling down. It happens to me when I power down the unit too.

What is the repair for these units?

It's strange how naive Apple can be about these things. Whilst realising they must keep an open mind, the popping noise from the early MacBook Pro 2016 models is well documented. Mine has had it from the start but I decided I could live with it. It's heat related and only bothers me when I think about the price versus this sort of issue! I can't really afford to be without the machine but if I thought the whole thing was going to die I still have a John Lewis extended warranty.

Reading endless comments here describing 'Genius' bars as not knowing what the problem is suggests they may be doing a 9-5 job on the product. I have asked quite a few Apple Store employees about their own Apple equipment only to find they own very little and it's often quite dated. Unless you really live and take an almost unhealthy interest in the products then it's going to take a lot of training to identify these issues.

During my last visit to an Apple store we played role reversal where I told the assistant all about the value of the now defunct Airport Express. They simply had no idea about the wider picture. I have found the same on support calls. Very helpful language but often not a deep understanding of the product.

This is not really a serious criticism. It's the same across many complex areas such as musical instrument manufacture. There are really only a handful of people who fully understand acoustics in relation to instrument design. Finding the right person is key I would suggest.

As far as I’m aware, these issues affect

MBP 13 2016

MBP 13 2018

MBP 15 2016

MBP 15 2018

TouchBar models seem disproportionately represented.

Based on the current 2380 people that have clicked “I have this problem too”, it would be nice to think that Apple is working on a solution and not continuing to sell these lemons.

Can someone start a poll like they did for the previous MacBook with the screwed up display? I have at least 5-6 serial numbers of MBP 13 TouchBars that I can add to the list of computers that have defects under the description of this head. If we get a list going they might start taking us seriously!

Honestly, right now I’m assuming they’re just going to keep selling these popping MBPs since maybe a good proprotion of people can somehow live with this defect (or can’t be bothered/don’t have the time to fix it/don’t do audio/video work).

After about 3 repairs and 5 exchanges (and countless wasted hours), I finally have one that’s working properly and I’m holding onto it for dear life, but I truly emphatise with all of you going through these issues.

To those facing these issues, I’d strongly recommend starting an online poll to take it up a notch. We’ve been talking on this forum for too long and there hasn’t been a squeak from Apple.

My wife has a MBP 13 2018 and I have to say that, so far, it feels a lot better than my 15" 2016 in every way. No pops, better keyboard and a faster response despite half the RAM.

Reading the responses here, I'm hanging on to my mine rather than seeking a perfect repair. Even repairs and new models can replace the problem with another sooner or later. I've looked at every make of laptop and, regardless of price, there always seems to be one issue or another. I've given up trying to find an ideal model and just get on with work!

As this sound can also be heard when the computer is turned off, I think thats because of the aluminum body. This sound is mostly heard in a short period of time after the computer is turned on (and is getting hotter). I think thats because of the aluminum casing. Of course it can be heard a few moments after shutdown, too (Where the system starts to cool down). Or while working with the mac especially when the system starts to get warmer due to a heavy process. I think this is similar to the scenario in which my bedroom's window (which is made of aluminum as well) makes similar sounds in sunny winter afternoons and thats because the window is cold and in the afternoon sunlight hits directly to my window and makes it warmer. 🤔

Thanks for this feedback. It sounds like the most likely explanation. I may take mine in at some point but I can't afford to be without it for a long period. How long did they take to turn yours around if i may ask?

Thanks for this feedback. I may find a period when I can spare it for a week and follow this up. There has to have been a fundamental flaw for it to have affected so many machines. I’m hoping my wife’s 2018 model will have had it sorted.

I can confidently say that having the display replaced has corrected the popping noise. As we can all agree, the noise is a hollow popping sound that appears during heating up and cooling down period of the unit. The easy way to think of it is like a hot tin roof making noises as it heats and cools down during the day. In this case my belief is that panel internally must be glued down and the adhvesive is just lifting.

If you have warranty, get it done. Have fun!!!!!

Mine just started this week. Slight pops every now and then. You buy a "Ferrari" (as Steve Jobs called Apple products) and you get a Chevy. If Jobs were alive he would be kicking *** and taking names. As for the Genius Bar I have never been impressed. Apple employees at the Apple store are there to sell iPhones and iPads. They can do the same at Target or Best Buy. Their problem is having been called a "Genius", we expect too much from them.

I am having the same issue on my touchbar MBP 2017 15in. I can replicate the popping noise by pressing on the back of the screen in the middle at the bottom. My 1 year warranty is up but is there any way I can have them fix the issue without having to pay for it? My computer has never been dropped or anything and has 0 damage to it. So this is clearly a hardware issue along with the fact that there are currently 52 pages in this thread of people having the same issue.

They should still fix it even though its out of warranty.. Has anyone had it resolved with the same situation as me without having to pay?

Hi.

I have the same problem mbp 2016 13". I called to apple and said methat i have to paid if if there is a bad piece. pufff. Why??? My mbp has never had a hit.!

There are 52 pages of this post and several users who report the same problem. ¿When will the apple people officially respond to this massive problem?

In my opinion and as an apple brand, they must incorporate this defect into the service program because it is more than one mbp that presents this problem.!

PanchoMac

You are right - they should admit the issue. I think, perhaps, part of their hesistence to do so would be the large influx of people wanting new parts for their MBPs from some that do not have a genuine issue with their computers.

Even the weeding out of false claims could be costly as this may involve a great deal of manpower to perform necessary diagnostical tasks.

That said, this shouldn’t be barrier to their admission of liability, as clearly, there’re design flaws in these iterations of MBPs.

I’d like to invite someone here in this thread with some IT or engineering background to sum up the problem concisely and with some technical detail.

I could thereafter follow-up with some action.

Thanks peeps.

To be honest, social media has been a PITA for companies. While consumers may see this is a convenient way to "out" a company or get their attention, it also forces a company to remain hush until issues are addressed if needed. Don't expect Apple to "admit" anything. The second a company says the tiniest thing to a customer it ends up all over the web which causes a lot of backlash. Due to so much entitlement from consumers using social media it's in a company's best interest not to "admit" anything. They will work with each customer's problem individually. Also not everyone has this issue, so admitting something makes no sense.