Cold causes faults on MacBook Pro

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Cold causes faults on MacBook Pro

My 2019 MacBook Pro sits by a window, usually plugged in. On a cold morning -- not freezing, but perhaps 50-ish by the window -- when I open it up it often exhibits faults. Sometimes, the fan roars and it crashes. Other times, apps just get a lot of errors. I had the machine in to the Apple store a month ago, and they found no mechanical problems. Maybe I'm dating myself, but in the old days I'd look for s solder crack. Anybody else having this issue?

MacBook Pro Apple Silicon

Posted on Jan 25, 2023 8:00 AM

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Answer 1

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Limnos

Level 10

418,933 points

Jan 25, 2023 8:06 AM in response to MacBookProColdFault

See this document about the operating temperature of Mac notebooks - Keep your Mac laptop within acceptable operating temperatures - Apple Support

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Answer 2

babowa

Level 9

78,429 points

Jan 25, 2023 4:04 PM in response to MacBookProColdFault

Arguing with other users is not helpful. We've given you the recommendations - that is all we can do. My personal opinion: Leaving sensitive electronic equipment in the cold overnight is not a good idea. If you wish, take it up with Apple support.

https://www.techtarget.com/searchdatacenter/definition/ambient-temperature

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Answer 3

Limnos

Level 10

418,933 points

Jan 30, 2023 8:22 PM in response to MacBookProColdFault

It could be something like a solder crack but maybe nothing so obvious. Testing equipment is very difficult and they may not have a place with identical conditions to you. if it wasan older Mac I'd say checkfor things like loose RAM, but with a 2019 model I suspect everything is glued or soldered into place.

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Answer 4

Jan 31, 2023 5:53 AM in response to Limnos

Thanks for confirming I’m not crazy suspecting a solder crack. The Apple store (only a few blocks away) ran a diagnostic test before and didn’t find anything. But … the test was NOT on a cold morning. Since solder cracks are not out of the question, I might schedule another visit first thing on a cold morning.

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Answer 5

babowa

Level 9

78,429 points

Jan 25, 2023 8:06 AM in response to MacBookProColdFault

Have you tested the problem after letting it sit somewhere NOT exposed to temps lower than operating temps (minimum 50 degrees)?

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Answer 6

Jan 25, 2023 8:38 AM in response to MacBookProColdFault

50 degrees would seem well within the operating parameters.

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Cold causes faults on MacBook Pro

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