Looking for ideas/tip for daughters MacBook Pro A1706 13 in Touch Bar.
The below have all failed so far:
Thank You.
MacBook Pro (2017 – 2020)
These Apple USB-C model laptops are extremely hard to troubleshoot since there are no reliable auditory or visual indicators to indicate whether the laptop is powering on. The only indicator can be feeling the heatsink get warm or hot, or if the laptop gets far enough in the power on/boot process that the Caps Lock LED can be lit by pressing it. Just because there is no video on the display or noticeable backlight, it does not mean the laptop isn't powered on because that model is known of bad display cables. Did you try connecting an external display?
Yes, this model should be able to power on even if the battery is disconnected. However, that is as far as you will be able to go since without the battery (or just without the keyboard/trackpad connected) the system will be extremely slow. One laptop took several hours to boot to the login screen when the Trackpad was disconnected....battery was working fine (Filevault was enabled, so it should have reached the login screen within a minute at most).
Even when these laptops are working normally, they tend to have power on issues partly due to a Logic Board issue as best as I can tell. Sometimes just performing an SMC Reset can cause power on issues....yes, the thing which is supposed to fix that issue can cause it as well with these USB-C models.
Did you disconnect the battery flex cable as well as the battery BMU screw?
Did you try reconnecting them both to see if it could power on with the power adapter? Let it sit for an hour with the power adapter connected as well. I once had one of these laptops spontaneously power on after about 15-20 minutes. The battery flex cable can be difficult to seat properly, plus you must make sure the latch is locked in place. Some batteries have the flex cable soldered on the other side while others may have a second connector...if the other end of the flex cable goes into a connector, then make sure it is properly seated.
Did you try using each of the USB-C ports? Even try rotating the connector of the USB-C charging cable 180º upside down in case the USB-C ports are half bad. Also disconnect the power adapter from the electrical outlet for a minute to reset the power adapter's internal circuitry.
Do you have a larger power adapter to try? Don't use any adapters/hubs/docks to connect the charging cable since they may prevent the full power of the power adapter from reaching the laptop.
Try checking the contacts of each of the USB-C ports on the laptop (both top & bottom) to see if you notice any signs of corrosion or burn marks.....usually they will be at the extreme back of the ports. While I've gotten good at checking these ports, many times I will still miss seeing the damage to the port because it is very hard to see clearly.
Also check the Bottom Case and around the edges of the laptop for signs of liquid residue and corrosion. Also check the Logic Board as well. Both liquid residue & corrosion can be very hard to detect even for an experienced tech since it may only be the size of a single pixel if it is on the pins of the very small components.
You can try disconnecting the keyboard, internal display, Touchbar cables (there are two), and one I/O Board. If no power on, then disconnect the 2nd I/O Board & reconnect the other one. If everything is disconnected, then the only way to tell if it powers on is by noticing the heatsink getting a bit warm. However, powering on does not mean booting or even functional.
More than likely the Logic Board has failed. Whether the SSD is Ok is unknown unless you find someone who has the Apple device to connect to the lifeboat connector. FYI, that device is not compatible with the M-series Macs....at least it was not compatible in 2020/2021 unless a macOS update or firmware update changed something.
These Apple USB-C model laptops are extremely hard to troubleshoot since there are no reliable auditory or visual indicators to indicate whether the laptop is powering on. The only indicator can be feeling the heatsink get warm or hot, or if the laptop gets far enough in the power on/boot process that the Caps Lock LED can be lit by pressing it. Just because there is no video on the display or noticeable backlight, it does not mean the laptop isn't powered on because that model is known of bad display cables. Did you try connecting an external display?
Yes, this model should be able to power on even if the battery is disconnected. However, that is as far as you will be able to go since without the battery (or just without the keyboard/trackpad connected) the system will be extremely slow. One laptop took several hours to boot to the login screen when the Trackpad was disconnected....battery was working fine (Filevault was enabled, so it should have reached the login screen within a minute at most).
Even when these laptops are working normally, they tend to have power on issues partly due to a Logic Board issue as best as I can tell. Sometimes just performing an SMC Reset can cause power on issues....yes, the thing which is supposed to fix that issue can cause it as well with these USB-C models.
Did you disconnect the battery flex cable as well as the battery BMU screw?
Did you try reconnecting them both to see if it could power on with the power adapter? Let it sit for an hour with the power adapter connected as well. I once had one of these laptops spontaneously power on after about 15-20 minutes. The battery flex cable can be difficult to seat properly, plus you must make sure the latch is locked in place. Some batteries have the flex cable soldered on the other side while others may have a second connector...if the other end of the flex cable goes into a connector, then make sure it is properly seated.
Did you try using each of the USB-C ports? Even try rotating the connector of the USB-C charging cable 180º upside down in case the USB-C ports are half bad. Also disconnect the power adapter from the electrical outlet for a minute to reset the power adapter's internal circuitry.
Do you have a larger power adapter to try? Don't use any adapters/hubs/docks to connect the charging cable since they may prevent the full power of the power adapter from reaching the laptop.
Try checking the contacts of each of the USB-C ports on the laptop (both top & bottom) to see if you notice any signs of corrosion or burn marks.....usually they will be at the extreme back of the ports. While I've gotten good at checking these ports, many times I will still miss seeing the damage to the port because it is very hard to see clearly.
Also check the Bottom Case and around the edges of the laptop for signs of liquid residue and corrosion. Also check the Logic Board as well. Both liquid residue & corrosion can be very hard to detect even for an experienced tech since it may only be the size of a single pixel if it is on the pins of the very small components.
You can try disconnecting the keyboard, internal display, Touchbar cables (there are two), and one I/O Board. If no power on, then disconnect the 2nd I/O Board & reconnect the other one. If everything is disconnected, then the only way to tell if it powers on is by noticing the heatsink getting a bit warm. However, powering on does not mean booting or even functional.
More than likely the Logic Board has failed. Whether the SSD is Ok is unknown unless you find someone who has the Apple device to connect to the lifeboat connector. FYI, that device is not compatible with the M-series Macs....at least it was not compatible in 2020/2021 unless a macOS update or firmware update changed something.
Here you go: If your Mac doesn't turn on - Apple Support
Thanks. No luck. Really puzzled that it does not power on even bypassing the battery. Worse part is drive is part of the board she has no backup/cloud. Seems next to impossible to find a lifeboat port tool to extract the data. Really sucks her data is most likely there and ok and there is a port to get it but no open use tools to get it.
Portable Macs need a battery. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it must be present.
Like most recent Macs, that one incorporates integral and nonremovable flash memory.
I realize it's too late now, but backups are essential: Back up your files with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support
John as seen in this video below some models can be booted with no battery installed and/or connected.
Trying to find the correct sequence for the A1706 as the power on then connect power source is not working or if there is a way I can volt meter the power rails to find an issue
https://youtu.be/0nVMJ3w-bm4?si=PuPsa4ilfPSqDm8t
It would help if you were to describe the problem you're trying to solve.
It does not power on.
MacBook Pro A1706 Power Issues
