MacBook Pro A2338 Not Charging, .15A current draw at 20V

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MacBook Pro A2338 Not Charging, .15A current draw at 20V
Device	MacBook Pro A2338
Affects part(s)	Logic Board
Needs equipment	Hot Air Station, Soldering Iron, Solder Paste, Soldering Wick
Difficulty	◉◉◉◌ Hard
Type	Soldering

Problem description

MacBook logic board 820-02020 powers on and runs normally from a USB-C power supply and a charged battery but does not charge the battery. The system reports inconsistent power source status, and PPBUS remains at ~12.3V even with the battery disconnected.

Standard USB-C and charging components test normal, and replacing common charging-related ICs does not resolve the issue.

MacBook Pro A2338 - Detecting Battery Normally

MacBook Pro A2338 - Current Consumption

Symptoms

• Device boots and operates normally
• Runs from USB-C power supply without battery connected
• Battery percentage is visible and health data is readable
• System reports:
  • Power Source: Battery
  • Connected: No
• Battery does not charge
• Same behavior with a known-good battery
• PPBUS_G3H stuck at ~12.3V
• PPBUS voltage does not drop when battery is disconnected
• Device does not drain battery while PSU is connected

Solution

MacBook Pro A2338 - UD200 IC Location

MacBook Pro A2338 - Normal Battery Health Status

Diagnostic Steps

1. Confirm USB-C Input

• Measure:
  • 20V present at USB-C input
• Verify adapter negotiation is normal

✅ If 20V is present, USB-C controllers are functioning

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2. Verify Battery Detection

• Confirm:
  • Battery data visible (cycles, health, percentage)
• Test with a known-good battery

✅ Battery communication OK

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3. Measure PPBUS_G3H

• Measure PPBUS with battery connected
• Disconnect battery and re-measure
• Expected behavior: PPBUS_G3H should be between 12.6 V and 13.1 V

❌ Fault confirmed if:

• PPBUS remains ~12.3V with battery disconnected

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4. Eliminate Common Charging Components

If already replaced with no change:

• CD3217 (both sides)
• USB-C ROM
• Charging IC (ISL)
• Q5265

→ Charging path is not the root cause

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5. Interpret the Data

If all of the following are true:

• USB-C input is correct
• Battery communication is correct
• PPBUS does not respond to battery removal
• Device runs indefinitely on PSU

Then the fault is PPBUS enable/control logic, not charging hardware.

Repair Steps

1. Confirm the Fault

1. Connect USB-C power supply
2. Measure PPBUS_G3H
   • ~12.2–12.4 V present
3. Disconnect the battery
4. Re-measure PPBUS
   • ❌ PPBUS remains ~12.3 V → fault confirmed

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2. Eliminate Software Causes

1. Attempt Revive using Apple Configurator
2. Attempt Restore (only if data is not required)

No change confirms hardware-level fault

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3. Rule Out Common Charging Components

Verify or replace known-good:

• CD32xx USB-C controllers
• USB-C ROM
• Charging IC (ISL)
• Q5265

If PPBUS behavior remains unchanged, continue — charging path is not the issue.

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4. Identify the Root Cause

• UD200 is responsible for PPBUS control and regulation
• A faulty UD200 can:
  • Hold PPBUS active at ~12.3 V
  • Prevent battery charging
  • Cause incorrect power-source reporting

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5. Replace UD200

1. Remove logic board
2. Apply controlled heat and remove UD200 IC
3. Clean pads and inspect for damage
4. Install known-good UD200
5. Inspect joints under microscope

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6. Post-Replacement Verification

1. Reconnect battery
2. Measure PPBUS_G3H
   • Voltage should now respond to battery connection
3. Connect USB-C adapter
4. Confirm:
   • Power source switches to Adapter
   • Battery begins charging
   • PPBUS rises appropriately during charge