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MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement

Introduction

Did your MacBook Pro stop recognizing express cards? Use this guide to replace the express card cage.

What you need

  1. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement, Lower Case: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:

    • Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws.

    • Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.

    Edit

  2. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Wedge your fingers between the lower case and the vent, and lift upward to release the two clips holding the lower case to the upper case.

    • During reassembly, carefully align the lower case and then press it firmly until both clips engage.

    • Remove the lower case.

    Edit

  3. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement, Battery: step 3, image 1 of 3 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement, Battery: step 3, image 2 of 3 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement, Battery: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • Whenever working near the logic board, it is always wise to first disconnect the battery to avoid short circuits.

    • If present, grab the plastic tab attached to the battery connector and pull it toward the front edge of the device. For Late-2011 models the battery connector will not have a tab and is simply a plug that inserts straight down into the motherboard--to remove pry the plug straight up.

    • If the plastic tab is missing, use a spudger to pry the connector up from its socket.

    • Pull the tab parallel to the face of the logic board.

    Edit

  4. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement, Right Fan: step 4, image 1 of 3 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement, Right Fan: step 4, image 2 of 3 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement, Right Fan: step 4, image 3 of 3

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the right fan connector out of its socket on the logic board.

    • It is useful to twist the spudger axially from beneath the fan cable wires to release the connector.

    • The fan socket and the fan connector can be seen in the second and third pictures. Be careful not to break the plastic fan socket off the logic board as you use your spudger to lift the fan connector straight up and out of its socket. The layout of the logic board shown in the second picture may look slightly different than your machine but the fan socket is the same.

    Edit

  5. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the three 3.1 mm Phillips screws securing the right fan to the logic board.

    • In the Late 2011 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody these screws will be T6 Torx.

    Edit

  6. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the right fan from the upper case, minding its cable that may get caught.

    Edit

  7. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement, Logic Board: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the left fan connector out of its socket on the logic board.

    • It is useful to twist the spudger axially from beneath the fan cable wires to release the connector.

    Edit

  8. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the three 3.1 mm Phillips screws securing the left fan to the logic board.

    • Remove the left fan from the upper case, minding its cable that may get caught.

    Edit

  9. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2

    • Use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the keyboard backlight ribbon cable.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the keyboard backlight ribbon cable out of its socket.

    Edit

  11. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • Before disconnecting the camera cable, a small plastic retainer stuck to the logic board must first be moved out of the way.

    • Use the tip of a spudger to push the small plastic cable retainer away from the camera cable socket for enough clearance to remove the camera cable.

    Edit

  12. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • Pull the camera cable toward the optical drive opening to disconnect it from the logic board.

    • The camera cable socket is very fragile. Do not apply any upward force to this socket, as it may break off the logic board. Pull the camera cable parallel to the face of the logic board.

    Edit

  13. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the optical drive connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.

    Edit

  14. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the subwoofer & right speaker connector out of its socket on the logic board.

    • Pry up from beneath the wires.

    Edit

  15. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • Use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the IR sensor ribbon cable socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the IR sensor ribbon cable out of its socket.

    Edit

  16. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 3 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 3 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 15, image 3 of 3

    • Remove the following four screws:

    • Two 3.5 mm Phillips screws

    • These may be T5 Torx screws in the Early 2011 model

    • Two 1.6 mm Phillips screws

    • Remove both connector shields from the logic board.

    Edit

  17. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the trackpad connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.

    Edit

  18. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 17, image 2 of 2

    • Use your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the keyboard ribbon cable socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the keyboard ribbon cable out of its socket.

    • For reassembly, it can be helpful to put a small piece of tape on the keyboard ribbon cable (being careful not to stick any to the contacts), to create a small handle. Align the cable with the socket and gently pull with the tape to fully seat it.

    Edit

  19. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 18, image 2 of 2

    • Use your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the express card cage ribbon cable socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the express card cage ribbon cable out of its socket.

    Edit

  20. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 1

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the hard drive cable connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.

    Edit

  21. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 20, image 2 of 2

    • Use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the battery indicator cable socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the battery indicator ribbon cable out of its socket.

    Edit

  22. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 3 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 21, image 2 of 3 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 21, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the black plastic flap attached to the display data cable retainer and rotate it toward the DC-In side of the MacBook.

    • Pull the display data cable out of its socket.

    • The display data cable socket is very fragile. Do not lift the connector upward as you disconnect it, as the socket may break off the logic board. Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board.

    Edit

  23. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following eight screws securing the logic board and DC-In board to the upper case:

    • Six 3.2 mm Phillips screws

    • These may be T6 Torx screws on the Early 2011 model.

    • Two 7.6 mm Phillips screws

    Edit

  24. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 23, image 2 of 2

    • Handle the logic board assembly by its edges only.

    • Lift the logic board assembly from the side nearest the optical drive and lift it away from the upper case.

    • Note that you'll be removing the logic board and DC-in board together.

    • Carefully pull the ports and DC-In board away from the side of the upper case and remove the logic board assembly, minding any cables that may get caught.

    Edit

  25. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement, Express Card Cage: step 24, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement, Express Card Cage: step 24, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the two Phillips screws securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.

    • Both screws are captive to the hard drive bracket.

    • Remove the hard drive bracket from the upper case.

    Edit

  26. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 1

    • Peel the hard drive and battery indicator cables off the adhesive securing them to the express card cage.

    Edit

  27. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 26, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following five screws securing the express card cage to the upper case:

    • Three 2 mm Phillips screws

    • Two 4 mm Phillips screws

    Edit

  28. MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Express Card Cage Replacement: step 27, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the express card cage from the upper case.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

6 other people completed this guide.

One Comment

I remember getting this far when replacing keyboard. Thanks for the refresher.

lovemymac - Reply

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