Apple macbook 13 inch aluminum late 2008 User Manual

MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Display 71 2010-06-15
Deep Dive: Vertical/Horizontal Lines
CheckResultActionCode
1. Horizontal lines may be related 
to a failing RAM module. Verify 
if video issue only happens 
AFTER the Apple logo and the 
spinning wheel has appeared.  
YesIssue only happens AFTER 
Apple logo and spinning 
wheel appears. Go to step 2.
NoIssues happens since startup. 
Go to step 5.
2.  Start with shift key down 
(safe mode) to disable system 
extensions. Verify if...

MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Display 72 2010-06-15
7. Substitute a known-good 
display assembly module to 
test logic board LVDS video 
output. Is normal video 
restored?
YesReplace display assembly 
module.
L05
NoReplace logic board.M04
Deep Dive: Non-uniform Brightness
CheckResultActionCode
1.  Determine if brightness 
uniformity issue is visible after 
display has warmed up for 15 
minutes.
YesGo to step 2.
NoDisplay backlight can take 
several minutes to stabilize. 
2....

MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Display 73 2010-06-15
Defective Camera / Built-in iSight Not Operating Correctly
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Defective Camera
• Camera not detected
• No green LED for camera
• Excessive blooming
• Poor white balance
• Poor focus
• Green image
• Image distortion
1. Check for Software Updates.
2.  Verify camera lens and glass panel are clear of 
contaminants.
3. Ask customer about their lighting. Foggy image 
can be due to off-axis lighting. Low...

MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Display 74 2010-06-15
Blank / No Video
Unlikely cause:  power adapter, speakers, optical drive, hard drive, fan, microphone, top case, 
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Blank / No Video
• No video
• No backlight
1. Check brightness setting
2.  Attach known-good supported external display. 
3. Boot from Mac OS X install DVD that came with 
computer.
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. Verify boot chime present 
when system restarted. 
Reset SMC and...

MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Display 75 2010-06-15
6. Verify LCD video works with a 
known-good display assembly. 
YesReplace display assembly.L03
NoGo to No Video symptom 
code flow.
Backlight Issue / No Backlight
Unlikely cause:  power adapter, battery, speakers, optical drive, hard drive, fan, microphone, top 
case, 
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Backlight Issue / No Backlight
• Display not illuminated
• Flashing, unstable, or non-
uniform backlight
• Poor backlight at some...

MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Display 76 2010-06-15
4. Swap memory with known-
good memory to determine if 
video issue is ram related..
YesReseat or replace defective 
memory
X01
NoGo to step 5
5. Inspect LVDS connectors and 
cable under magnification for 
pinched cables and damaged 
or bent pins. Do any of the 
connections appear to be 
defective?
YesDefective LVDS cable. Replace 
display assembly.
Defective LVDS connector 
on logic board. Replace logic 
board.M25
NoIf...

MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Display 77 2010-06-15
2. Verify display listed in the 
System Profiler’s Graphics/
Displays device tree is not 
disappearing intermittently  
(refresh System Profiler to 
observe).  
YesPower and LCD panel ID are 
OK.  Go to step 3.
NoGo to No Video symptom 
code flow.
3. Backlight flickering may be 
related to EMI foam gasket 
shorting some pads on logic 
board or some pins from LVDS 
connector. Follow Take Apart 
instructions to remove the EMI...

MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Display 78 2010-06-15
Mechanical/Physical Damage
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Mechanical/Physical Damage
• Broken glass
• Broken hinge
• Stripped screw/head
• Stripped screw boss
• Dent or scratch to chassis 
1. Determine damage caused by user/technician 
environment, accidental damage, or abuse.
2.  Inform user/technician the failures are not 
covered by Apple warranties.  Refer to  
http://www.apple.com/legal/warranty
Cosmetic Defects
Quick...

MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 79 2010-06-15
Mass Storage
Hard Drive Read/Write Issue
Unlikely cause: LCD, speakers, fan, camera, microphone
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Hard Drive Read/Write Issue 
Bad Sector/Defective 
Drive Formatting Issue
• Cannot save documents
• Read/Write error message
• Hang when accessing or 
saving data
1. Boot from Install DVD. Verify S.M.A.R.T. status of 
drive using Disk Utility.
2.  Repair disk using Disk Utility.
3. Erase disk and...

MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 80 2010-06-15
4. After reseating hard drive SATA 
and logic board connections, 
does known-good hard drive 
boot to desktop?
YesReinstall user’s drive, go to 
step 2
NoSuspect hard drive SATA 
cable, go to step 5.
5. Replace hard drive SATA cable 
and retest with known-good 
hard drive.
YesReinstall user’s drive, go to 
step 2.
X03
NoReplace logic board.M19
6.  Did user’s hard drive start up 
successfully?
YesIssue resolved. 
NoRepair...