iBook display comes and goes

[marz]

I've had my iBook dual usb for just over a year. Apple contacted me right before my warranty was to expire to sell me the AppleCare package, but I declined, then like magic (black magic) my display started acting all flakey.

It would go off and flicker on, and if I give it a nice *squeeze* in the lower left hand corner it will come back on.

So I figured since I was already out of warranty, and wanted to upgrade my HDD, and Mac Addict had a nice tutorial on upgrading your iBook's HDD, I'd take the risk and take it apart and possibly find the loose connection that was causing the display flakieness.

Well I got the HDD upgraded nicely (40GB from 10GB) but the display problem persists. I've read on Apple's forums that it's probably a problem with something called a "reed switch" that happens to lots of people but that Apple isn't recalling them. Also I see people have sent their machines that are still under warranty in, and wait a couple weeks to get them back and their problem still isn't fixed.

My question is: Now that I've voided any warranty I might have had by taking it apart to upgrade the HDD, what are my options for getting this thing fixed? I love my iBook and just want the display to stay lit while I use it.

Thanks for reading all this and if you've got any suggestions I appreciate it!

-Michael

 

[drash]

Originally posted by marz
It would go off and flicker on, and if I give it a nice *squeeze* in the lower left hand corner it will come back on.

My question is: Now that I've voided any warranty I might have had by taking it apart to upgrade the HDD, what are my options for getting this thing fixed? I love my iBook and just want the display to stay lit while I use it.
-Michael

Hmm, could be a reed switch and it also sounds like your backlight is going. I'd take a trip to MacResQ so see if they have a suggestion. HTH

 

[symphonix]

That's why my one is in the shop at the moment. The reed switch on the dual-USB iBook has shown a tendency to act up, I'm afraid.
It might be a while til I see my iBook again: I live in a small city with only one Mac techie, who no sooner checked my iBook in than got the flu ... I'm just going to have to sit tight.

I'm afraid it might be a little pricey to fix, but would probably cost less than the AppleCare package would have anyway. And since it will probably require a part to be replaced, you're going to need to take it to a pro.

 

[Skewer]

Why not just have the reed switch removed? All it does is make the unit goto sleep when you close it. That or just hit an electronics shop and get a replacement one.
I'd still look into a loose display cable. Apple certainly hasn't had a lot of luck with those over the years.

Tim