MacBook Air (15-inch, M3, 2024) Audio Board

Before You Begin

Warning

Read Battery Safety and follow workspace and battery handling guidelines before you begin.

Remove the following parts before you begin:

Tools

  • Adjustable torque driver (10–34 Ncm)

  • ESD-safe tweezers

  • Nylon probe (black stick)

  • Torque driver (blue, 0.65 kgf cm)

  • Torx Plus 3IP 44 mm half-moon bit

  • Torx Plus 5IP 50 mm bit

Refer to a full list of tools required for all repairs.

Important

If you remove the audio board, you must install a new one.

Removal

  1. Use the black stick to tilt up the foam pad on the audio board connector cowling (1).

  2. Use the blue torque driver and 3IP bit to remove the 3IP screw (923-08925) from the audio board connector cowling (2). Remove the cowling and save it for reassembly.

  3. Use the flat end of the black stick to lift the end of the audio board flex cable off the connector.

  4. Use the flat end of the black stick to lift the end of the lid angle sensor flex cable off the connector.

  5. Gently peel the audio board flex cable from the top case.

  6. Use the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to remove the two 5IP screws (923-08924) from the audio board.

  7. Spread the tips of the ESD-safe tweezers and slide one tip under the lid angle sensor connector to loosen the adhesive.

    • Note: The adhesive under the lid angle sensor connector is very strong.

  8. Tilt up the audio board and remove it from the top case.

  9. Use the black stick and ESD-safe tweezers to remove any residual adhesive or remaining pieces of the lid angle sensor connector from the top case. Layers of the lid angle sensor connector may delaminate during removal.

Reassembly

  1. Remove the adhesive backing from the lid angle sensor connector on the audio board.

    • Important: Don't remove the adhesive backing from the audio board flex cable.

  2. Position the audio board in the top case (1).

    • Important: Ensure that the lid angle sensor flex cable (2) isn't trapped under the lid angle sensor connector (3) on the audio board.

  3. Set the torque value on the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver to 16 Ncm. Gently press the audio board against the top case (1) while you use the adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to reinstall the two 5IP screws (923-08924) into the audio board (2).

    • Caution: Don't press against the lid angle sensor connector outlined in red.

  4. Ensure that the lid angle sensor connector is aligned with the display hinge and edge of the top case as shown.

    • Important: If the lid angle sensor connector is not aligned, loosen the two 5IP screws. Adjust the position of the lid angle sensor connector and repeat reassembly step 3.

  5. Press the end of the lid angle sensor flex cable to the lid angle sensor connector on the audio board. Press and hold for 30 seconds to activate the adhesive.

  6. Press and hold the end of the audio board flex cable to the connector (1). Then use the flat end of the black stick to gently lift the flex cable and align the 90-degree bend in the flex cable with the connector on the interposer board (2).

  7. Continue to press and hold the end of the audio board flex cable to the connector (1). Then use ESD-safe tweezers to peel the adhesive backing off the flex cable (2).

  8. Use the flat end of the black stick to gently press the audio board flex cable against the audio board to create a 90-degree bend.

  9. Ensure that the audio board flex cable is parallel to the edge of the top case (1) and parallel to the audio board connector on the interposer board (2).

    • Important: The audio board flex cable should lay flat on the top case.

  10. Then press and hold the audio board flex cable for 30 seconds to adhere it to the top case.

  11. Press the end of the audio board flex cable to the connector to ensure that it didn't loosen during flex cable alignment.

  12. Position the audio board connector cowling over the end of the audio board flex cable.

    • Important: Note the position of the audio board connector cowling in the image below. Ensure that the cowling edge sits below the heat sink and the foam cover sits on top of the heat sink.

  13. Use the flat end of the black stick to tilt up the foam on the audio board connector cowling (1).

  14. Use the blue torque driver and 3IP bit to reinstall one 3IP screw (923-08925) into the audio board connector cowling (2).

Reinstall the following parts to complete reassembly:

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