Repair Laptop

Use this guide to swap out your old heat sink for a new one.

Tools used in this guide

• Phillips #00 Screwdriver
• Spudger

Parts relevant to this guide

• MacBook Air Heat Sink

Step 2

• Slightly lift the lower case near the vents and push it toward the rear of the computer to free the mounting tabs.

Step 3 — Battery 

• Disconnect the battery connector by pulling it straight away from its socket.

Step 4

• Remove the following nine screws securing the battery to the Air:
  • Four 2.9 mm Phillips.
  • Four 3.8 mm Phillips.
  • One 7.2 mm Phillips.

Step 5

• Lift the battery out of the Air.

Step 6 — Hard Drive 

• Disconnect the port hatch ribbon cable from the logic board by pulling it straight up by its black pull tab.
• Pull the audio out ribbon cable off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.
• Use a spudger to pry the audio out ribbon cable connector board off the hard drive bracket.

Step 7

• Disconnect the audio out cable from its socket on the port hatch ribbon cable.

Step 8

• Use a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector up off the logic board.

Step 9

• Use the pointy end of a spudger to de-route the microphone cable from the hard drive bracket.
• Remove the cosmetic screw cover from the adhesive securing it to the hard drive bracket.

Step 10

• Remove the four Phillips screws securing the hard drive assembly to the upper case.

Step 11

• Lift the hard drive assembly out of the upper case.

Step 12 — Heat Sink 

• Use the tip of a spudger to pull the fan cable connector straight away from its connector on the logic board.

Step 13

• Use the tip of a spudger to move the cosmetic fan cover aside.

Step 14

• Remove the following screws securing the heat sink to the logic board:
  • One 5.9 mm Phillips screw.
  • Two 1.9 mm Phillips screws.
• Remove the 1.9 mm Phillips screw securing the processor clamp to the heat sink.

Step 15

• Lift the processor clamp off the heat sink.

Step 16

• Deroute the microphone cable away from the channel in the fan.

Step 17

• Lift the heat sink up off the logic board.
• Be mindful of the microphone cable when lifting the heat sink, as it can get tangled on the top edge of the fan.
• Use the thermal paste guide to properly add thermal paste once you’re ready to put the heat sink back on.

Step 18 — Heat Sink Replacement 

• Remove the four 2.5 mm Phillips screws holding the fan on the heat sink.

Step 19

• Lift the heat sink off the fan.
• Heatsink remains.