Apple macbook pro 15 inch mid 2009 User Manual

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 31 2010-12-15
Symptom Charts
Follow the steps in the order indicated below. If an action resolves the issue, retest the system 
to verify. Note: A compilation of Quick Check tables is available at http://service.info.apple.
com/QRS/en/quickreference.pdf.
Note: There is no silkscreen text on final production logic boards. The photos shown with test 
points are from pre-production units and are solely for reference.
Startup and Power Issues
No Power
Unlikely cause: display assembly, speakers, optical drive, hard drive
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
No Power / Dead Unit
• No power
• No image
• No startup chime
• No fan or hard drive spin
• No reset sound from optical 
drive
• No sleep LED activity
• No light if Caps Lock pressed
• Non-operational
1. Verify AC power presence with MagSafe LED 
indicating on or charge state.
2.  Verify battery status as being partly charged, 
charging with AC power.
3. Reset SMC.
4.  Run Battery Diagnostic Utility.
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. Isolate peripherals as cause. 
Disconnect all peripherals and 
external devices and verify unit 
starts.
YesSuspect peripherals as cause. 
Reconnect each one at a time, 
verifying unit operation as 
external device is reinstalled.
NoGo to step 2  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 32 2010-12-15
2. Reset SMC (remove all system 
power for 1 minute), and verify 
unit starts. Can system start up 
after SMC reset?
YesCorrupt SMC state preventing 
power on.  Issue resolved with 
SMC reset.
NoGo to step 3
3. Will system power up with 
battery only?  Check battery 
level LED indicator for status 
of battery charge or battery 
use error.   Inspect battery 
connector for burn marks or 
damaged pins if substituting a 
known-good battery to verify 
starting on battery. 
YesSystem can start up from 
known-good battery -- 
customer battery possibly at 
fault or needs to be charged.  
Continue to verify customer 
battery then AC adapter use 
and battery charging. Go to 
step 4. 
P11
NoSystem will not power using 
known-good battery only. Go 
to step 5
4.  Customer battery may be run 
down, or not recognized. 
Verify customer battery in 
a known-good system is 
recognized and accepting a 
charge.   Confirm customer 
battery is not consumed nor 
defective.
YesBattery is recognized, 
charging and health is good.  
Return to test unit with 
customer battery and AC 
adapter power. Go to step 6.  
NoReplace customer battery 
for not charging (P10) or not 
recognized (P11).  Customer 
to purchase a replacement 
battery if consumed.
P10     
or      
P11
5. Inspect battery cable 
connection at logic board and 
reseat if necessary.  Replace 
cable if found damage or 
burned.  Can the system power 
on from a charged battery with 
battery cable inspections or 
replacement?
YesBattery power restored, return 
to test unit with customer 
battery and AC adapter 
power.    Go to step 6. 
NoLogic board is expected to 
power on with battery only.  
Inspect and test power on 
key.  Go to step 10.
6.  Inspect MagSafe power 
adapter.  Verify AC adapter is 
correct wattage, compatible 
with product and works on 
known-good computer.  
YesPower adapter is good, go to 
step 7
NoRelease stuck pin or replace 
adapter due to wire damage, 
not working or burned pins
P14
7. Inspect MagSafe port on 
computer for physical damage, 
debris or metal fragments 
attracted to magnetic 
connector. Is MagSafe 
connector clean and free from 
defects? 
YesGo to step 8
NoClean port assembly. Replace 
MagSafe board if necessary.
X03  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 33 2010-12-15
8. Verify adapter status LED 
turns on green then orange 
indicating power and battery 
charge in progress.              
A green LED can indicate a full 
battery, removal of battery or 
battery not recognized. 
YesSystem starts and has power.  
MagSafe LED indicates power 
is flowing to logic board.   
Verify customer battery will 
also charge.  Review battery 
health to ensure customer 
satisfaction. 
 
 
 
P11
NoAC power is down or battery 
is not charging.  Go to step 9
9. Verify power from adapter is  
present on logic board.  
Remove system battery, use 
AC power only.  Reseat or test 
known-good MagSafe cable to 
achieve power for logic board. 
  
YesLogic board has power 
adapter energy to start 
system.  MagSafe cable reseat 
or replacement resolved issue.  
If still no system power on 
indications, go to step 10
X03
NoAC adapter power not going 
to logic board power supplies.  
Replace logic board.  
 
M21
10.  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? 
YesPower on key works fine, issue 
resolved. 
Power on key works after 
keyboard cable is reseated. 
Issue resolved.
Power on key was stuck, had 
to disconnect keyboard cable 
to be able to power on by 
shorting pin 5 to ground.   
 
Replace top case for stuck 
power on key.
 
K05
NoNo logic board power on 
when shorting keyboard pin 5 
to ground.   
 
Replace logic board.M01  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 34 2010-12-15
Won’t Start Up
Unlikely cause:  display assembly, speakers, fan, camera, microphone 
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Power but No start up
• No startup chime, some video 
activity, Apple logo, startup 
spin dial
• Startup chime with possible 
beep tones.
• Fan, hard drive spin or optical 
drive reset sound 
• Sleep LED is on , blinking or 
went out
• Caps Lock LED toggles when 
pressed
1. Reset SMC.
2.  Verify startup process passes initial memory 
checks – no beep errors or flashing sleep LED 
indicators. Display activity is starting up. 
3. Clear PRAM. Verify starts up from user drive.
4.  Connect known-good external bootable device 
and press Alt key during startup then select 
external startup device to bring up system for 
diagnostics.
5. Verify presence and status of user hard drive. Use 
Disk Utility to repair drive and file permissions.
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. Reset SMC and Clear PRAM to 
set default startup device to 
internal hard disk drive (HDD).
YesUser hard drive bootable, 
issue resolved default 
settings.
NoCustomer system not starting 
up, go to step 2
2.  Is system indicating a memory 
error with repeated sleep LED 
1 or 3 flash sequence and beep 
tones if sound is enabled?
YesTroubleshoot memory issues, 
go to step 3
NoContinue with startup 
sequence verification go to 
step 4   
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 35 2010-12-15
3. Reseat customer memory 
and/or swap in known-
good memory to isolate bad 
memory and replace defective 
parts.    
YesCustomer memory defective 
and replaced. Continue to 
verify startup process.  Go to 
step 4
X02
NoShould known-good memory 
fail in one or more slots, 
replace logic board.
M07
4.  Hold the Alt (Option) key 
during startup and verify there 
is a bootable hard drive shown 
in Startup Manager.  Choose 
customer hard drive.  Does 
start up from this drive work?
YesSystem starting up from 
customer hard drive. Startup 
issue resolved 
NoCustomer hard drive not 
present or does not start up 
from this drive. Continue to 
find bootable device.  Go to 
step 5
5. Insert product OS install disc 
in optical drive. Install disc 
is bootable and should be 
present in Startup Manager.   
Can system start up from OS 
install disc?
YesStarts up from optical drive - 
customer hard drive not yet 
bootable, go to step 8
NoComputer has no internal 
bootable devices.  Test 
external startup devices, go 
to step 6
6.  Boot from a known-good 
bootable copy of product OS 
on a USB drive or network 
server to start up and verify 
internal mass storage devices 
are available using System 
Profiler and Disk Utility.  
YesSystem started up from 
external device and reports 
data regarding internal SATA 
devices. Go to step 7
NoNo startup devices available. 
Replace logic board 
M02
7. Troubleshoot optical drive 
and optical drive cable with 
cable reseat and known-
good part substitutions.  Is 
there a defective optical drive 
component to replace? 
YesCable reseat solved issue. 
Continue to verify hard drive 
issues, go to step 8 
Defective optical drive cable 
found and replaced.  Continue 
to verify hard drive issues, go 
to step 8 
X03
Defective optical drive found 
and replaced. Continue to 
verify hard drive issues, go to 
step 8 
J03
NoReplace logic boardM19  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 36 2010-12-15
8. Use Disk Utility loaded from 
OS install disc to verify if hard 
drive is available on device list.  
Is customer hard drive listed in 
Disk Utility?
YesCustomer hard drive available 
for inspections and repair.  Go 
to step 10. 
NoHard drive not present, 
troubleshoot hard drive and 
cable. Go to step 9.
9. Troubleshoot hard drive and 
hard drive SATA cable with 
cable reseat and known-good 
part substitutions. If customer 
hard drive, is there a defective 
hard drive component to 
replace? 
YesReseat of SATA cable now has 
customer hard drive visible in 
Disk Utility, go to step 10
Defective hard drive SATA 
cable found and replaced, 
now has customer hard drive 
visible in Disk Utility, go to 
step 10
X03
Suspect customer hard drive 
defective, attempt OS restore, 
go to step 10
NoKnown-good hard drive and 
known-good hard drive SATA 
cable used, still no hard drive 
present. Replace logic board
M19
10.  Boot system with Shift key 
down. Does it work?
YesGo to software 
troubleshooting article
NoGo to step 11
11. Use Disk Utility to repair 
customer hard drive  and 
repair permissions if system OS 
found on hard drive.  Is hard 
drive bootable after software 
repairs?
YesOS on customer hard drive 
repaired, issue resolved. 
NoHard drive not bootable, 
perhaps missing OS, go to 
step 12
12.  Use Disk Utility to partition 
customer hard drive with one 
GUID partition then restore 
Mac OS from product OS install 
disc.  Is hard drive bootable 
after OS install?
YesCustomer hard drive now 
starts up from new OS image, 
issue resolved 
NoReplace hard drive.H02  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 37 2010-12-15
Intermittent Shutdown
Unlikely cause:  hard drive, optical drive
Troubleshooting Shutdown Causes
Your computer’s system log may record why it shut down or went into sleep mode. Reviewing 
SMC codes in the system.log of the Console application may provide some information about 
why the event occurred.
To review SMC codes in the system.log in Console:
1. Open the Console application. Console is located in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder.
2.  Select Open System Log under the File menu.
3. Using the filter in the upper right corner, search for “Cause.”
4.  Use the table below to interpret the cause and review the suggestion if shutdown was 
unexpected.
Example: Entry found “Jun 6 18:06:28 localhost kernel[0]: Previous Shutdown Cause: 5”
By looking for the code 5 in table below, you will discover that computer shut down was 
caused by user selection of System Menu option “Shutdown…”
Depending on the cause reported, the shutdown could be fixed by using the Quick Check 
table, or the Deep Dive troubleshooting.
Shutdown 
Cause 
Number
CauseSuggested Fix
3
Forced shutdown: Normal behavior, 
if power button was pressed for 
more than 4 seconds.
If shutdown was unexpected, check 
top case (for power button stuck or 
shorted cable).
5
Normal shutdown: Normal behavior 
if software initiated shutdown/
restart.
If shutdown was unexpected, check 
Energy Saver setting in System 
Preferences.
-2
Power supply disconnected: Normal 
behavior if power source was 
removed from computer with no 
battery.
If shutdown was unexpected, 
check power cord/power supply 
(for intermittent failure or bad 
connection).
-60
Battery fully drained: Normal 
behavior if unit was left asleep on 
battery for too long.
Charge battery.
0
Battery/Power disconnected: Normal 
behavior if battery was removed 
while system was on and no other 
power source connected.
If shutdown was unexpected, check 
battery/power supply.  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 38 2010-12-15
Shutdown 
Cause 
Number
CauseSuggested Fix
-61
Watchdog timer detected 
unresponsive application, shutting 
down the system.
Troubleshoot for stuck application, 
startup item and any loading 
preferences (Mac OS X Server Energy 
Saver).
-62
Watchdog timer detected 
unresponsive application, restarting 
the system.
Troubleshoot for stuck application, 
startup item and any loading 
preferences (Mac OS X Server Energy 
Saver).
-3
Multiple temperature sensors 
exceeded the defined limit..
Run Apple Service Diagnostics to 
check which sensor went beyond 
expected thermal limits.
-71
SO-DIMM Memory temperature 
exceeds limits
Swap memory module and check 
with known-good one to confirm 
issue is with memory; also check fans 
and air flow.
-74
Battery temperature exceeds limits.Swap battery and check with known-
good one to confirm issue is with 
customer battery.
-75Communication issue with AC 
adapter.
Check MagSafe connector/adapter 
plug/cable.
-78Incorrect current value coming from 
AC adapter
Check AC adapter plug/cable.
-79Incorrect current value coming from 
battery
Check battery and battery connection 
to logic board.
-86Proximity temperature exceeds 
limits.
Check thermal contact with heatsink, 
fan connection/activity.
-95Temperature exceeds limits.Check thermal contact with heatsink, 
fan connection/activity.
-100Power supply temperature exceeds 
limits. 
Check fans and air flow.
-101LCD temperature exceeds limits.Check LCD panel and environment 
temperature.
-103Battery cell under voltage detected.   Check battery.  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 39 2010-12-15
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Intermittent shutdown
• Powers off during startup
• Powers off with desktop use
1. Verify battery charge status
2.  Check AC adapter MagSafe connector and 
connection with system 
3. Reset SMC and PRAM
4.  Start up with shift key down for safe mode
5. Startup from known-good bootable device
6.  Check system.log info for shutdown cause
7. Run AHT /ASD for sensors + thermal test
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1.  Identify shutdown code 
recorded in system log file. 
Open the system.log file with 
console application.  Search 
for occurrences of “previous 
shutdown cause” return codes. 
Verify system log looking for 
codes that indicate abnormal 
shutdown events. 
Yes-Intermittent power means 
checking battery health , AC 
source and MagSafe cable 
seating ; go to step 4 
 
-Sleep means running sleep 
sensor test; go to step 7 
 
-Overtemp means checking 
for clogged heatsink, shorted 
sensors cables or defective 
fan; go to step 8
Nosystem.log lists only normal 
shutdown codes, no codes 
related to heat sensors or 
power concerns.  Go to step 2
2.  Reset SMC and clear PRAM; 
then monitor system 
performance to verify if 
system shutdowns cease.  Are 
shutdown symptoms and 
events gone?
YesShutdown cause related to 
SMC or PRAM resolved by 
changing to default settings.
NoShutdown event still occurs. 
Go to step 3.  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 40 2010-12-15
3. Start up from product OS 
install disc or from an external 
hard drive with product Mac 
OS.  
Are shutdown symptoms and 
events gone while starting up 
from this known-good Mac 
OS?
YesShutdown events cease on 
known-good OS.  Reinstall 
Mac OS on customer hard 
drive and  update OS with 
latest version and check 
if bootROM updates are 
available.
 
 
 
 
NoSymptoms unchanged - go to 
step 4
4.  Check system running on  
battery only.  Use known-good 
charged battery.  
Verify that shutdown/reset/
sleep issues disappear when 
known-good battery is used 
without AC adapter.
YesRecharge customer battery 
and retest. Check for 
customer battery health in 
Apple System Profiler or run 
battery testing utility, and 
replace if reported battery 
health is reported bad or 
consumed.
P09
NoSymptoms unchanged - Go 
to step 5 
5. Check with known-good AC 
adapter source only 
Remove battery and use 
known-good AC adapter. 
Does the shutdown/reset/
sleep issue disappear with 
known-good adapter?
YesFaulty adapter. Replace 
customer AC adapter if AC 
cable and duckhead were 
confirmed faulty.
P14
NoSymptoms unchanged - Go 
to step 6
6.  Check if power removed error 
reported “improper shutdown 
detected” in system.log 
If shutdown error is related 
to power removed shutdown 
cause, run ASD and check for 
overvoltage sensor failure 
reported.
YesIf voltage or current sensor 
failure confirmed in ASD 
w/known good DC and 
batteries, replace logic board. 
 
MO8
NoGo to step 9