News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

August 8, 2007

hardware

My MacBook has a crack problem

Posted Aug. 8, ’07, 8:43 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Hardware

MacBook crackI love my MacBook. It hasn’t quite managed to knock my old PowerBook G3 off the mountain as my favorite Mac ever, but it’s pretty darn close. It’s fast, elegant, full of handy features, and it—usually—looks great.

But after a year of heavy usage and traveling, it’s starting to look a little rough around the edges. Just a couple of weeks ago, I got a letter from Apple—an actual dead tree paid postage letter—reminding me that my one year of free tech support was just about up. “Meh,” I thought to myself, “I’ve never paid for Apple Care before; I think I’ll be okay for now.”

Fast forward to yesterday, when I happened to peer down at my beloved MacBook and notice—horrors—a crack in the top casing. It’s not a big crack, but it’s distracting, like having a hangnail. I know I’m not the only person to have experienced this issue with the MacBooks, but, of course, it makes me question whether or not I should have shelled out for Apple’s extra support.

For the moment, my plan is to take better care of my MacBook, and hope that it doesn’t get any worse. Anybody with a superior solution for me? Give a shout in the comments.


16 Comments

Danny said:

Hey man, my macbook had the same issue - it comes from the little raised plastic areas on the lid and shutting it a bit too hard a bit too often. I unfortunately can also tell you that it only gets worse, I had 2 cracks fairly soon after 1. Of course I simply took it in and got it repaired under warranty, I can't suggest anything else im afraid, but I can just say dont sit on it as it will get worse.
D

August 8, 2007 9:19 AM
Cyrus Farivar Author Profile Page said:

I have the same problem on the lower half of my MacBook, on the right corner. Sucks.

August 8, 2007 9:31 AM
bnid said:

I had the exact problem with mine. I argued with Apple and they ended up replacing the case. Originally, they told me that this wasn't a manufactured defect, but eventually conceded.

August 8, 2007 9:38 AM
wesg Author Profile Page said:

I was going to suggest taking it to Apple and having them replace it, like my friend's MacBook, but then I read you were out of warranty. Looks like you're going to have live with it and not make it worse, or shell out for a new top case. Tough spot, huh Dan.

August 8, 2007 9:47 AM
Jeremy McCullough said:

I know that this seems somewhat ridiculous and kind of inconvenient, but what about a piece of felt cut to fit in between the screen and keyboard when closed. It might be somewhat annoying, but if you have a laptop case, then you could stash it in there when you're using the laptop. It could prevent the problem from getting any worse.

I had the same happen, and I believe it to be from the two notches at the top of the screen. I had my top deck replaced 2 weeks before my warranty ran out.

August 8, 2007 10:03 AM
Christopher MacMinn said:

My friend and I both had this exact problem on our respective MacBooks, and Apple kindly replaced both of our top cases for free—then again, we were under warranty.

You should bring it in and act sheepish and polite, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

August 8, 2007 10:11 AM
Anne said:

I had the same problem with mine and had it replaced under warranty. They told me at the Apple Store that people were having that problem because it's where your hand rests and for some reason that spot ended up being weak on a particular generation of the Macbooks.

August 8, 2007 10:38 AM
Chris Niles said:

Why not see if you can purchase AppleCare for it still? I believe that you can purchase AppleCare even after the original coverage has lapsed. Just go to your local Apple store, and ask if you can get AppleCare even though your original coverage has lapsed. But I would recommend that if they ask why that you say that you want the feeling of security.

August 8, 2007 11:06 AM
Darren said:

Out of warranty repairs are mucho dinero with Apple. I brought my PowerBook G4 in for an non-covered by warranty issue about a bent case. I was told it would cost between $600 - $1000 to repair! I'll live with it until I get a MacBook.

August 8, 2007 11:08 AM
npydyuan said:

I read about this issue right after getting my Macbook. To (I hope) prevent it, I stuck two improvised cushions (made out of little pieces of offset printing blanket) on the lid, right under the raised bits that are apparently the cause of such cracks. It's a little ugly, but--no cracks. There's also a product called Wildeepz (I think) that does the same thing.

August 8, 2007 11:42 AM
Sean said:

Same problem with mine, I've got the first revision MacBook and this just recently started happening (or at least I just noticed it about a month or two ago).

I'm using a piece of scotch tape right now to hold it down for now. Once I get my new iMac and have a computer to use, I'll send this in to Apple care and see if they can replace the casing.

August 8, 2007 12:35 PM
Jonathan said:

I work for a AASP (Apple Authorized Service Provider), and I've seen a lot of these. Apple is currently offering an REP for the yellowing and cracking of the top case on MacBooks. Call your local Apple store or AASP and they'll replace it.

August 8, 2007 1:24 PM
Max said:

I had the same problem with my MacBook; took it to the local Apple Store and had the entire case replaced under warranty. Less than two months later the new case developed several cracks! This time, I asked to trade my MacBook for a MacBook Pro and Apple agreed. It did cost me a few hundred dollars to upgrade, but it was worth every penny! Since this is not an isolated issue, you may be able to get a similar exchange even though your warranty has expired. Alas, you have no chance of getting an extended warranty at this point.

August 8, 2007 4:04 PM
krye said:

I've see top assemblies go for $20 on eBay. It's worth a look.

August 8, 2007 6:38 PM
Brian Polensky said:

I had this same problem and the Apple store fixed it for me. They did mention that it may have been from my laptop backpack not giving the right support.

August 9, 2007 4:00 AM
RHoracio said:

Same problem, warranty left, out of luck.

I was lazy to get Perchlorethylene to fix cracks when they started to develop. Glue is not a good option (mine wrong choice - Cyanoacrylate) as it adds some material to the crack. PCE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perchlorethylene) etches (melts surface of) the plastic and when it waporizes, the surface of plastics gets solid again, joining the two parts. You can gently push them just with your fingers.

Wildeepz are IMHO no good option. They develop point load stress on the bottom surface similar to load notches. One does not know how strong it is and where is the wakest point. I would get rid of them or just lowered their profile. Then put some kind of protection for surface arount the trackpad - Marware? Or something not-bad-looking that would expand the pressure on larger surface.

Geting the top assembly replaced is cleanest option.

August 13, 2007 8:07 AM

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