Chosen Solution
Following a liquid spill on the keyboard I was taking down my macbook to clean it with rubbing alcohol. I’m lucky and it works but will need a battery replacement. Unfortunately I broke the plastic unit that the cable for the fan connects into while taking it off. I’ve put a red ring around what I’m talking about on the attached picture. I slotted the ribbon cable between the two rows of “gold metal prongs” (please excuse my terminology!). However I don’t think the fan is working as it spins for a few seconds then stops, then starts again a few seconds later. What is the best way to go about fixing it? Am I right in thinking that I just need to make sure there is a good connection between the metal? Many thanks in advance for your help, Collin.
@caa8 that is a FF14A-5C-R11DL-B-3H connector which is actually an SMC and is not soldered through the board. The connector is $2.00 part but will require some special skills to be soldered onto the board. It is not a through-the-hole connector. Connect with the people on here that do board level repair and see if they can assist you with that. My first call would be https://www.ifixit.com/User/2012410/TCRS… The broken tab actually put enough pressure on the cable and the connectors to enable it to make the connection. Without it there is no enough tension to properly close the circuit.
Can you flip the board over and take a picture of the same spot and circle it. I am curious the connector can be changed. The clip is to keep the fan plugged in so it doesn’t fall out. It needs it or the fan will come unplugged from vibration. A repair shop should be able to repair it with a donor board and take the connector off of the donor board and put it onto your board.
