MacBook Air A2179 No display backlight repair

MacBook Air A2179 No display backlight repair
Device	MacBook Air A2179
Affects part(s)	Motherboard, Display assembly
Needs equipment	multimeter, soldering iron, soldering station, thermal camera
Difficulty	◉◉◉◌ Hard
Type	Soldering, Part replacement

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Problem description

Identifying and solving backlight issues on the 820-01958 logic board, as well as similar boards from 2016-2020. A MacBook with no backlight on the display is experiencing an issue where the screen remains dark even though the computer is powered on and operational. This means that while the computer itself may be functioning, the display is not emitting any light, making it extremely difficult or impossible to see the content on the screen. Shining a strong light on the display at an angle might reveal that the content is indeed present, but the backlight is not illuminating it.

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Symptoms

• The display appears completely dark, with no visible content or backlight illumination.
• Occasionally, the backlight might flicker or flash briefly when the MacBook Pro is powered on or waking from sleep, but it remains dark after these brief instances.
• Connecting the MacBook Pro to an external monitor or TV results in a functional display on the external screen, confirming that the computer itself is working correctly.

Solution

Diagnostic Steps

Check for a short to ground on backlight output (PPVOUT__S0_LCDBKLT_F)

• C8469 or adjacent capacitors in the series is an appropriate area to measure, since it does not require removal of the system board.
  • If a short to ground is measured, unplug the display connector to rule out a potential short to ground within the TCON board or LED strip of the display.
  • If the short is persistent with the screen unplugged, proceed to the "Backlight output shorted to ground" repair steps below.

Test with Known Working Display

• If no short is found and there's no liquid damage history, test with a known working display.
• If backlight works, proceed to "Device has backlight output on a known good display, but not on the originally installed display" steps.

Check U8400 and its circuit

• Examine U8400 if corroded along with adjacent corroded components.
• Ensure that the backlight circuit has its input voltage (VIN) by measuring on BOTH SIDES of F8400 (Figure 3), which is the backlight fuse.
  • Voltage on both sides of the fuse should be equivalent to PPBUS_G3H.
  • The backlight fuse can blow in response to a previous short to ground in the backlight circuit, or due to the screen being plugged in without the battery disconnected.
  • Rarely, the backlight fuse can become open (blown) due to development of sulfur deposits on the fuses' filament , or due to micro manufacturing defects on the fuses filament.
  • If the backlight fuse is blown, check for a short on backlight output (PPVOUT_S0_LCDBKLT_F) and on backlight input (PPVIN_S0SW_LCDBKLT_F). If the fuse is blown, proceed to the "Backlight fuse (F8400) blown in the absence of a short to ground" repair steps below If voltage is normal on both sides of the backlight fuse, proceed to the next step.
• Check that the backlight circuit is being enabled. The screen will need to be connected for the enable signal to be sent out.
  • With the board on your bench, with a known good screen connected, measure voltage on pins 1 and 2 of R8442.
  • You should have ~3.3v. Low voltage on pin 2 of R8442 (Figure 4) is suggestive of an issue with U8400.
  • If you have 0v on pin 1 of R8442, the backlight circuit is not being told to turn on, which raises the possibility of a CPU issue, or an issue with the display cable/connector.
• Check the 5v inputs to U8400 (PP5v_S0_BKLT_D and PP5v_S0_BKLT_A)
  • PP5v_S0_LCDBKLT_D can be measured on R8444.
  • PP5v_S0_LCDBKLT_A can be measured on R8445.
  • Be sure to check voltage on both sides of the resistor. If voltage is lower on one side of the resistor, R8444 or R8445 is likely blown, probably due to a short within U8400.
• If EDP_BKLT_EN is missing, U8400 is NOT the cause of the issue.

Repair Steps

Backlight Output Shorted to Ground

• Identify and replace the shorted component.
• Check with and without the display connected. A short is commonly caused by a shorted capacitor.
• Inject 10v at 5 amps, thermally image the board, or use comparable short detection methods.

Device has Backlight Output on Known Good Display, But Not on Originally Installed Display

• Replace the display assembly.

Backlight fuse (F8400) blown in the absence of a short to ground

• Replace the backlight fuse with a fuse from a donor board or a compatible replacement.
  • 0603 package size, 3 amp, 32v fuse. Brand does not matter.

Before applying power be sure to double check for a short to ground. Check for a short to ground on backlight output and backlight input.