MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) Logic Board

Before You Begin

Remove the following parts before you begin:

Tools

  • Adjustable torque driver (10–34 Ncm)

  • ESD-safe tweezers

  • I/O connector cowling tape

  • Nylon probe (black stick)

  • Torque driver (blue, 0.65 kgf cm)

  • Torx Plus 3IP 44 mm half-moon bit

  • Torx Plus 3IP bit

  • Torx Plus 5IP 50 mm bit

  Caution

  • This procedure requires System Configuration. After you’ve completed all removal and reassembly steps, learn how to initiate the System Configuration process.

  • If you’re installing a replacement logic board, you must also install a replacement Touch ID board.

Removal

  1. Follow removal steps 2 through 10 to remove the following five cowlings:

    • Audio board connector cowling (1)

    • Interposer board connector cowling (2)

    • Trackpad connector cowling (3)

    • Display connectors cowling (4)

    • Input/output (I/O) connector cowling (5)

  2. Use the flat end of the black stick to slightly lift the foam cowling cover on the audio board connector cowling (1). Then use the blue torque driver and 3IP half-moon bit to remove one 3IP screw (923-08925) from the cowling (2). Remove the cowling and save it for reassembly.

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

  4. Use ESD-safe tweezers to peel back the polyester film from both ends of the trackpad connector cowling to access the two 3IP screws.

    • Important: Don’t remove the polyester film from the cowling.

  5. Use the blue torque driver and 3IP half-moon bit to remove the two 3IP screws (923-08925) from the trackpad connector cowling.

  6. Use ESD-safe tweezers to peel back the foam cover from both ends of the display connectors cowling.

    • Important: Don’t remove the foam cover from the cowling.

  7. Use the blue torque driver and 3IP half-moon bit to remove the four 3IP screws (923-08925) from the display connectors cowling.

  8. Remove the display connectors cowling and save it for reassembly.

  9. Use the flat end of the black stick to peel up the lower right corner of the I/O connector cowling tape. Then peel the tape off the I/O connector cowling. Discard the tape.

  10. Use the blue torque driver and 3IP half-moon bit to remove the three 3IP screws (923-08925) from the I/O connector cowling. Remove the cowling and save it for reassembly.

  11. Use the black stick to lift the ends of the following eight flex cables off the connectors.

    • Interposer board flex cable (1)

    • Microphone flex cable (2)

    • Display flex cables (3, 4)

    • MagSafe 3 board flex cable (5)

    • USB-C board flex cables (6, 7)

    • Open/close (AMR) sensor flex cable (8)

  12. Pinch the sides of the trackpad flex cable cowling (1) and lift it off the connector (2).

  13. Use the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver and 3IP bit to remove the two 3IP screws (923-09281) (1) (923-09231) (2) from the logic board.

  14. Use the adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to remove the following six 5IP screws from the logic board:

    • Three 5IP screws (923-09560) (1)

    • Two 5IP screws (923-08980) (2)

    • One 5IP screw (923-09233) (3)

  15. Hold the edges of the logic board as shown. Slide the logic board to the left (1) and out toward you (2). Move cables out of the way as you remove the logic board from the top case.

    • Caution: Don’t hold the heat sink (3).

Reassembly

  1. If you’re reinstalling the existing logic board, skip to step 2. If you’re installing a replacement logic board, first install a replacement Touch ID board. Then continue to step 2.

  2. Lower the logic board into the top case (1) and slide it to the right (2). Move aside the battery flex cable (3), I/O flex cables (4), and microphone and display flex cables (behind the top edge of the logic board in the image below).

    • Caution: Don’t hold the heat sink.

  3. Verify that none of the flex cables (1–10) are trapped below the logic board.

    • Caution: Don’t connect the battery flex cable (10) or you’ll damage the logic board.

  4. Set the torque value on the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver to 16 Ncm. Use the adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to reinstall one 5IP screw (923-09233).

  5. Set the torque value on the adjustable torque driver to 14.5 Ncm. Use the adjustable torque driver and 3IP bit to reinstall one 3IP screw (923-09231).

  6. Set the torque value on the adjustable torque driver to 11.5 Ncm. Use the adjustable torque driver and 3IP bit to reinstall one 3IP screw (923-08981).

  7. Set the torque value on the adjustable torque driver to 14.5 Ncm. Use the adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to reinstall two 5IP screws (923-08980).

  8. Set the torque value on the adjustable torque driver to 10 Ncm. Use the adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to reinstall three 5IP screws (923-09560).

  9. Press the ends of the following nine flex cables to the connectors on the logic board:

    • Caution: Don't connect the battery flex cable (identified in the following image by a red X).

    • Interposer board flex cable (1)

    • Trackpad flex cable (2)

    • Microphone flex cable (3)

    • Display flex cables (4, 5)

    • MagSafe 3 board flex cable (6)

    • USB-C board flex cables (7, 8)

    • Open/close (AMR) sensor flex cable (9)

  10. Position the audio board connector cowling over the flex cable.

    • Important: Note the position of the 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.

  11. Use the black stick to gently lift the foam cover (1). Then use the blue torque driver and 3IP half-moon bit to reinstall one 3IP screw (923-08925) (2) into the audio board connector cowling.

  12. Tilt the right side of the interposer board connector cowling under the lip to the right of the connector. Then lower the cowling over the connector. Use the blue torque driver and 3IP half-moon bit to reinstall one 3IP screw (923-08925) into the cowling.

  13. Use ESD-safe tweezers to peel back the polyester film from both ends of the trackpad connector cowling.

  14. Use the blue torque driver and 3IP half-moon bit to reinstall the two 3IP screws (923-08925) into the trackpad connector cowling. Then press the polyester film over both screws.

  15. Position the display connectors cowling over the ends of the microphone and display flex cables.

  16. Use the blue torque driver and 3IP half-moon bit to reinstall two 3IP screws (923-08925) into the outer ends of the display connectors cowling (1).

  17. Use ESD-safe tweezers to peel back the foam near both ends of the display connectors cowling to access the middle screw holes.

  18. Use the blue torque driver and 3IP half-moon bit to reinstall two 3IP screws (923-08925) into the middle of the display connectors cowling (2). Then gently press the foam over both screws.

  19. Position the I/O connector cowling over the ends of the flex cables. Then use the blue torque driver and 3IP half-moon bit to reinstall the three 3IP screws (923-08925) into the cowling.

  20. Remove the backing from the I/O connector cowling tape. Then align the tape with the right edge of the I/O connector cowling as shown.

    • Caution: Ensure that the I/O connector cowling tape doesn’t extend over the edge of the cowling.

  21. Press along the length of the I/O connector cowling tape to adhere it to the I/O connector cowling.

  22. Slightly peel back the top left corner of the adhesive liner. Then slowly roll the liner off the I/O connector cowling tape.

Reinstall the following parts to complete reassembly:

Caution

After you’ve completed all removal and reassembly steps, learn how to initiate the System Configuration process.

Published Date: