Apple macbook pro 15 inch mid 2009 User Manual

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) — Symptom Charts — Mechanical Issues: Thermals and Enclosure 1112008-09-18
Mechanical Issues: Thermals and Enclosure
Reset/Power Button Stuck
Unlikely cause:  LCD, hard drive, optical drive
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Reset/Power Button Stuck
• System will not power on
• System sounds bootROM 
unlock tone during startup
• System automatically starts up 
repeatedly
1. Diagnose stuck button with SMC keyboard reset 
sequence
2.  Check for issue occurrence on battery and on AC 
power
3. If on battery only, check battery using Battery 
Diagnostic Utility
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. Reset SMC using keyboard 
3 keys and power-on key.   
MagSafe LED can verify SMC 
reset.  Momentary stop of 
battery charging will indicate 
SMC reset, orange LED will go 
green momentarily then return 
to orange.
YesKeyboard reset works while 
holding 3 keys and toggling 
power-on key, multiple press 
and release of power-on key 
works to show power-on key 
not stuck or fixed.
NoSMC keyboard reset not 
working, suggests power-on 
key is open circuit or stuck 
down.  Go to step 2.
2.  Remove battery and AC power 
for 30 seconds to perform a 
manual SMC reset.  Apply AC 
power.  Does power-on key 
work when pressed?
YesSMC restored from power 
removal sequence.  Power-on 
key now working properly.
NoPower-on key stuck or open.  
Go to step 3.  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) — Symptom Charts — Mechanical Issues: Thermals and Enclosure 1122008-09-18
3. Inspect keyboard flex cable for 
loose or damaged connections.    
 
Align and reseat the keyboard 
flex cable on logic board 
connector. 
 
 Does power-on key now work 
correctly?
YesCable reseat restored power-
on key operation.
NoPower-on key still appears to 
be stuck or open.  Go to step 
4.
4.  Remove two screws on metal 
cable cover to access keyboard 
connector. 
 
-Plug known good powered 
AC adapter. 
 
-Try to power system using 
power key 
 
-If no power, use conductive 
tool to short pin 5 of keyboard 
connector with ground on 
logic board as seen on image 
to the left. (Make sure you 
don’t touch any other pins on 
the connector.) 
 
-Does system power on? 
 
-If not, power on key may be 
stuck. Disconnect keyboard 
cable and try shorting pin 5 to 
ground. 
 
- Does the system power on? 
YesSystem powers on suggesting 
top case power on key circuit 
is open.  Replace top case for 
open power-on key.
X14
NoPower-on key circuit appears 
to be closed suggesting a 
stuck power-on key.  Go to 
step 5.
5. Disconnect the internal 
keyboard flex cable from logic 
board and use a conductive 
tool to short pin 5 of keyboard 
connector with ground on 
logic board (see image on left)
Make sure you don’t touch any 
other pins on the connector. 
 
Does system power on?
YesShorting pin 5 on keyboard 
connector to ground starts 
the system.   Replace top case 
due to stuck power-on key.
X14
NoGo to symptom table: No 
power/ not booting  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) — Symptom Charts — Mechanical Issues: Thermals and Enclosure 1132008-09-18
System Runs Hot
Unlikely cause:  LCD, hard drive, optical drive
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
System Runs Hot
• System feels very warm
• Fan(s) not working
• Fan(s) are full on
1. Verify the computer operating on a flat, hard 
surface and the vents are not blocked.
2.  Verify the computer is not running hotter than 
expected for normal operation. If possible, 
compare to a similarly configured computer.
3. Reset SMC.
4.  Inspect fan performance
5. Run thermal sensor test.
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. Is the system running as 
expected (compared to similar 
system)?
YesUse “Apple Portables: 
Operating Temperature” 
(Knowledge Base HT1778) 
to inform user it is operating 
normally.
NoGo to step 2.
2.  Are there runaway 
applications? See “Runaway 
applications can shorten 
battery run time” (Knowledge 
Base TS1473).
YesCheck with the vendor for 
compatibility and software 
update.
NoGo to step 3.
3. Fans are typically on at 
minimum speed.  Perform 
SMC reset or remove all power 
for 15 minutes.  Is the fan(s) 
running properly?
YesGo to step 5.
NoFan(s) not running or always 
running at full speed.  Go to 
step 4.  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) — Symptom Charts — Mechanical Issues: Thermals and Enclosure 1142008-09-18
4. Reseat fan connection to logic 
board or test a known-good 
fan.  Replace a fan that is not 
spinning or replace logic board 
that is not spinning a known-
good fan.  Is fan(s) working 
properly?
YesReseating or replacing bad 
fan resolved issue.  Replace 
logic board if it does not work 
with known-good fan.
X99    
or      
M18
NoGo to step 5.
5. Is the heatsink installed 
properly with no damage to 
heat fins?  
YesGo to step 7.
NoReplace missing screws or 
damaged heatsink. Go to step 
6.
6.  Is the system running as 
expected?
YesHeatsink installed incorrectly.  
Issue resolved.
X10
NoGo to step 7.
7. Heatsink thermal grease 
possibly missing or improperly 
installed during previous 
repair? 
YesReplace heatsink or install 
thermal grease.
X10
NoGo to step 8.
8.  Inspect and reseat connections 
to thermal sensors throughout 
the system, run test for sensor 
monitoring.
YesThermal module or other 
sensor reseat resolved issue. 
X99
NoReplace logic board if sensor 
error.  Go to step 9.
9. After logic board replacement, 
is the computer running as 
expected?
YesBad logic board.  Issue 
resolved.
M23
NoUse minimum configuration 
troubleshooting to isolate the 
issue.  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) — Symptom Charts — Mechanical Issues: Thermals and Enclosure 1152008-09-18
Uncategorized Symptom
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Uncategorized Symptom
Unable to locate appropriate 
symptom code
Verify whether existing symptom code applies to  the 
issue reported by the user. If not, document reported 
symptom and send feedback to smfeedback@apple.
com stating that a suitable symptom code could not 
be found.  
						

							© 2009 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.
 Apple Technician Guide 
Take Apart
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009)   
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) Take Apart — General Information 117 2010-12-15
Vertical Insertion 
(JST )
• Use black stick under 
cable to remove.
• Keep connector 
level to board when 
disconnecting and 
reconnecting.
• Press evenly when 
reconnecting or 
connector can be 
tipped up and not fully 
seated.
Examples:
• fan cable
• heatsink sensor
• left speaker on 
underside of board
Locking Lever
• Flip up lever 90 
degrees for cable 
removal. 
• Slide connector 
into receptacle. Use 
tweezers if necessary.
• Lock down lever after 
inserting cable.
Examples:
• IR/SIL flex cable
• keyboard flex
• backlight flex cable
General Information
Connector Types on Logic Board
On the logic board are six types of connectors, each requiring special handling. Make sure you 
read these tips before disconnecting and installing the connectors.  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) Take Apart — General Information 118 2010-12-15
Horizontal Install
• Pull connector, not 
cable, to remove. 
• Slide connector into 
receptacle on same 
horizontal plane as 
board.
Examples:
• MagSafe cable on 
underside of board
• battery power cable on 
underside of board
Thin, Multi-Pin 
Horizontal Insert
• Use fingernails or 
tweezers to remove 
evenly.
• Slide connector into 
receptacle on same 
horizontal plane as 
board.
Examples shown:
• LVDS cable with lock 
bar
• Camera/USB/AirPort/
Bluetooth display cable  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) Take Apart — General Information 119 2010-12-15
Replacement Caution: 
When connecting cables, 
make sure they are fully 
connected.
Replacement Caution: To 
avoid a short to the logic 
board, be sure to place 
EMI gasket on camera 
cable—positioned 
precisely where shown—
after cable is fully 
connected to logic board. 
Then, place black shim 
behind connector.  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) Take Apart — General Information 120 2010-12-15
Low-Profile Solid 
Platform Flex
• Use black stick and 
gentle rocking motion 
to release tension to 
remove cable.
• Keep connector level 
to board and press 
evenly on platform to 
install.
Examples:
• optical drive flex cable
• trackpad flex cale